Project description:

Challenge: EVERLEGAL acted as the implementing partner of the NRC in a large-scale research project focused on dormant inheritance and ownerless property. The project aimed to find solutions for local communities to provide internally displaced persons (IDPs) with access to safe and long-term housing. A major challenge was the difficulty in transferring ownership of property left without owners or heirs. The research was carried out in three regions of Ukraine: Lviv, Ternopil, and Khmelnytskyi.

Solution: The company conducted an in-depth legal analysis, studied real-life cases from communities, and gathered insights through surveys and interviews with key stakeholders — including representatives of public authorities, local communities, and both international and national organisations. The company also analysed relevant European practices. The collected data allowed it to identify existing barriers (legal, institutional, and administrative) and develop actionable, locally-adapted recommendations — from step-by-step guidance to templates for municipal-level regulatory documents.

Result: The project produced:

• a comprehensive analytical report outlining the scale of the problem and proposing practical mechanisms for its resolution;
• a handbook for local self-government bodies with practical guidance, case studies, document templates, and clear instructions;
• a consolidated overview of legal and institutional cooperation between central and local authorities in the area of managing heirless and abandoned property.

On 31 July 2025, EVERLEGAL presented the outcomes of the project during a meeting of the HLP Technical Working Group, which brought together leading organisations working in the field of humanitarian response and HLP development in Ukraine.

Partners:

NRC (Norwegian Refugee Council), KfW Development Bank and the Government of Germany.

Category: Ukraine Recovery

Company: EVERLEGAL

About the company: 

EVERLEGAL is an independent Ukrainian law firm with a sectoral focus. Founded in 2015, our company now brings together 50 lawyers and ranks among the top 10 law firms in Ukraine. Our mission states: “We help our clients overcome challenges by providing commercial and pragmatic legal advice, attracting the best legal talent, focusing on understanding our clients’ businesses, and using innovative service methods.” EVERLEGAL was named the Law Firm of the Year in Europe in the “Most Impactful ESG Initiative 2024” category according to The Lawyer European Awards.