Hogan Lovells wins Financial Times North America Innovative Lawyers 2025 Award for groundbreaking Ukraine mineral rights agreement
Washington, D.C. – Global law firm Hogan Lovells has been named the winner of the “Innovative Lawyers in Dealmaking” category of the 2025 Financial Times North America Innovative Lawyer Awards for the firm’s work advising the Government of Ukraine on a groundbreaking mineral rights agreement with the United States. Hogan Lovells was ranked 7th overall among North American firms.
The agreement establishes the Reconstruction Investment Fund, a Delaware limited partnership jointly governed by US and Ukrainian government agencies. This innovative structure enables long-term, market-based co-investment in critical minerals and related infrastructure projects while preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty. Among its unique features, certain U.S. military assistance is treated as an in-kind capital contribution, aligning national security support with economic recovery.
Hogan Lovells CEO Miguel Zaldivar was quoted in the Financial Times North America Innovative Lawyers Special Report commenting on the agreement, “We were ideally situated to advise the government of Ukraine in this very high-profile matter . . . Our client’s instructions were clear: help us create a win-win agreement for Ukraine and the US.”
The Hogan Lovells cross-practice team was led by International Trade partner Deen Kaplan, M&A partners Megan Ridley-Kaye and Peter Cohen-Millstein, and Natural Resources partner Adam Kushner.
The firm was also recognized as “Standout” in the Unlocking Capital category for advising Strategic Sports Group on its US$3 billion investment in PGA TOUR Enterprises, announced in January 2024. That deal created a new commercial subsidiary for the PGA TOUR and included equity stakes for more than 150 players, reinforcing the TOUR’s competitive position. This deal was led by Global Head of Sports and partner Matthew Eisler and partner Russell Hedman, with support from tax partner Mark Weinstein.
In addition, partner Jessica Ellsworth, who co-heads the firm’s Appellate Practice, was shortlisted in the Individual Practitioner category for securing several landmark wins, including a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding FDA authority in the mifepristone case, and dual victories for Merck in the Third Circuit. Her work has had a major impact in the pharmaceutical industry, among other sectors.
These honors underscore our ability to deliver innovative, market-shaping solutions for clients navigating complex, high-stakes challenges worldwide.
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