Ukraine-based Anna Ogrenchuk talks to Magdalena Parkitna about her experience of becoming a successful commercial litigator as well as her role as a president of the Ukrainian Bar Association and a managing partner when her country is at war.

Anna Ogrenchuk is a co-founder and a managing partner of LCF Law Group in Ukraine, and she has nearly 20 years of experience in representing clients in complex litigations. In July 2021, she was elected the President of the Ukrainian Bar Association (UBA), the first woman to achieve this position and a post she held for two years. During her presidency over the UBA, her country was invaded by Russia. Under Anna’s leadership, the Bar Association has launched charitable assistance to Ukrainian lawyers affected by the war and also set up a hotline providing free legal help to war victims. Anna has consistently been recognised as one of the most prominent female lawyers who have contributed to the development of the legal profession in Ukraine. And in 2025, she has been elected the Head of the Supervisory Board of the Human Rights Institute at the UBA.

Talking to Magdalena Parkitna, Anna Ogrenchuk remembers how the first Constitution of Ukraine, which was adopted in 1996, was a turning point for her and prompted her to pursue a career in law. She also recalls some of the struggles that she has faced as a female lawyer and also what prompted her to start her own practice. She talks about how her presidency at the UBA was shaped by Russia’s invasion into Ukraine, what the UBA achieved during the two years and how the legal community came together as a united front, providing support to those who needed it most. Anna also reflects on how her own law firm and the people that work with her have been affected by the war.

Please be advised that the episode contains some descriptions which some listeners may find upsetting.

Mirjam de Blécourt is a leading employment lawyer and a partner at Baker McKenzie in Amsterdam. During her phenomenal carrier, she has been listed multiple times as one of the 200 most influential people in the Netherlands by the Dutch newspaper, de Volkskrant. She has also published a book titled Vrijgevochten in 2019 about her path to the top and how she managed her professional carrier whilst also being a mother. She is an advocate for women’s rights and frequently speaks about the issues around diversity and inclusion, leading her to winning the Inclusion & Diversity Champion Award from her own law firm, Baker McKenzie.

Talking to Magdalena Parkitna, Mirjam de Blécourt recalls her journey of becoming a lawyer and also describes some of the challenges that she has encountered. She remembers how she felt when she picked up the first copy of her book and what prompted her to write her story. She also talks about the mentoring program that she has started together with female partners at other leading Dutch law firms, where women share stories and support the next generation of female lawyers. 

Lydia Shadrach-Razzino is a successful lawyer and a partner at Baker McKenzie’s corporate practice in Johannesburg. In 2022, she was awarded the Ince Deal Maker of the Year award, the first woman to receive this recognition. She is an advocate for gender diversity and has frequently spoken about the issue.

Talking to Magdalena Parkitna, Lydia Shadrach-Razzino recalls her experience of becoming a successful female lawyer and also shares her advice for aspiring young women who are looking to make a carrier in law. 

Join Tim Noble, CEO of Chambers and Partners, Kushraj Cheema, our North America Research Director and Alek Quick-Tomašević, our Research Manager, as they discuss key trends in one of the biggest legal markets.

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