Challenge

The Maidan Square disaster on the eve of the Ukrainian Revolution and the following fall of Yanukovych’s government, triggered the Russian annexation of Crimea and a souring of the relationship between Russia and the West.

On March 5, 2014 the EU Council froze the assets of 18 former Ukrainian high-ranking officials, suspected of involvement in the Maidan Square disaster and misappropriation of state property. Among them Mykola Azarov, the former Prime Minister of Ukraine, and his son Oleksii Azarov, turned to Alber & Geiger for help.

Strategy

The strategy employed was built on an awareness of the full scope of the rule of law in Europe today, looking at the procedural fairness surrounding the sanctions. It required a subtle deployment of innovative legal arguments and emotional intelligence to navigate through the political turbulence, EU officials and peripheral actors to the institutions, for Alber & Geiger to demonstrate their innocence with strong convictions about their executive culpability.

We put forward that the freezing of funds was of a persecutive nature and not within EU competence. The three pronged approach attacked the premise of the sanctions at the right places and times. Alber & Geiger challenged the (1) legality, (2) legitimacy and (3) non-arbitrariness of the action, grasping all the potential playmakers.

Results

Ultimately the we were able to successfully get the freezing orders imposed on Oleksii Azarov removed, and considerably improve the position of Mykola Azarov. We made clear that the arbitrary targeting of individuals lacked a sufficient legal premise.

Through diligent fact finding we were able to cast doubt on the premise of the government’s alleged responsibility in the first place. We ultimately managed to help reinforce the rule of law, getting platform for the notions of fairness and equitable treatment of individuals into the public forum at a time when fairness was not an institutional priority.

Challenge

Alber & Geiger supported IonQ, a leading U.S.-based quantum computing firm, in securing its position in Italy’s ambitious plans to build a Silicon Valley in the southern region of Campania. IonQ sought to participate in a regional tender process designed to attract global leaders in advanced computing and quantum technologies. With tight political competition, fragmented local governance, and high-level scrutiny of non-EU foreign tech companies in a strategic autonomy sector, political navigation was essential.

Strategy

Our team engaged with regional authorities, key stakeholders in Rome, and the EU institutions to ensure that IonQ’s proposal aligned with both Italian innovation priorities and EU digital sovereignty policies. By highlighting IonQ’s technology leadership, commitment to local partnerships, and compliance with EU data and security standards, we helped clear the political path.

Results

IonQ’s inclusion marks a breakthrough for transatlantic tech cooperation in one of Europe’s most strategically targeted innovation corridors.

Challenge

Alber & Geiger was engaged by Xiaomi, the best-selling phone manufacturer in the EU to fend off against initiatives in the member states’ that could spill-over into the European Union. Our team was called in to provide strategic support, monitoring and analysis of ongoing EU policy initiatives and member states cybersecurity reports that had the potential to affect Xiaomi’s business in Europe.

Strategy

Alber & Geiger engaged on a plethora of issues, including EU-China relations, cybersecurity, right to repair, cyber resilience act, corporate sustainable due diligence, sanctions as well as the digital markets act, by providing high-end analysis and advise on content and engagement with the European Institutions, including the European Parliament and the European Commission. We also helped compile language to assist Xiaomi in addressing European Parliament concerns on the need to protect consumers from Chinese mobile phones by highlighting Xiaomi adherence to EU GDPR standards and norms.

Results

We were able to learn firsthand of ongoing EU initiatives in the Commission or in the European Parliament affecting Xiaomi, and quick to provide analysis and message to advocate vis-à-vis the institutions. Alber & Geiger addressed the concerns raised in reports, letters and policy initiatives. This approach enabled us to protect the image of Xiaomi, and its position in the European market.