When Ukrainian lawyer Svitlana Lapitska relocated from Ukraine to Germany in 2022, she was not only leaving behind her legal career in Kyiv but also navigating the uncertainty of rebuilding her professional and personal life amid conflict.

Having begun her career as an in-house lawyer in the telecommunications sector before moving into private practice at Arzinger, Interlaw’s partner firm in Ukraine, Svitlana had already developed extensive experience in commercial litigation, dispute resolution, and enforcement proceedings. Yet the outbreak of conflict in Ukraine transformed both her professional trajectory and personal priorities. 

Relocating with her young son and mother-in-law, Svitlana described the move to Germany as one of the most difficult decisions of her life. Her husband was only able to join the family a year later. At the same time, she remained determined to stay connected to international legal work, supporting colleagues on cross-border contractual and sanctions-related matters from the outset. 

Through connections facilitated by Interlaw, Svitlana was introduced to BRP RENAUD, Interlaw’s partner firm in Stuttgart, Germany, at a time when the network was coordinating support and relocation initiatives for Ukrainian lawyers and businesses across several firms based in Europe. That introduction would ultimately become the foundation for rebuilding her legal career in Germany. 

“Interlaw played an important role at a time of significant uncertainty,” Svitlana explains. “It was more than a professional network. It was a platform enabling cross-border connections and practical support.” 

Today, Svitlana works as part of BRP RENAUD’s Ukraine Desk, advising on cross-border legal matters involving Ukrainian and German businesses. Drawing on nearly a decade of combined in-house and private practice experience in Ukraine, she supports German companies investing in Ukraine, as well as Ukrainian businesses expanding into Germany and across the European Union. 

Her work spans contracts, disputes, sanctions-related issues, and corporate matters, with her Ukrainian litigation background providing clients with practical commercial insight in often complex international situations. 

Re-establishing her career in a new jurisdiction required significant adaptation. Following her relocation, Svitlana secured admission to the Stuttgart Bar Association, enabling her to continue practicing Ukrainian and international law while gradually developing a more international and cross-border practice. 

Language presented another challenge. Arriving in Germany without German language skills, she initially worked primarily in English while continuing to build her fluency over time. At the same time, she steadily expanded her role to include client management, project leadership, and business development responsibilities. Throughout this period of transition, Svitlana also welcomed her second child, returning to work after just four months of maternity leave, an experience she says reinforced both the importance of resilience and the value of institutional support. 

She credits BRP RENAUD’s supportive culture as being instrumental in helping her rebuild professionally and personally. “From the outset, I found the environment very open and practical. My colleagues supported me not only professionally but also guided me through the practical realities of settling in Germany, from accommodation and administrative procedures to cultural differences and everyday life,” she says. 

According to Svitlana, the trust and responsibility she was given despite language barriers and the challenges of adapting to a new legal system demonstrated the firm’s genuine commitment to investing in people. 

Looking back on her journey, she believes adaptability has become one of the defining characteristics of modern legal careers. “Today, careers are no longer defined by borders, but by adaptability, trust, and the ability to connect different legal systems.” 

For lawyers facing forced relocation or considering rebuilding their careers abroad, her advice is simple: remain open to change and do not expect a perfectly linear path. “Your experience remains valuable, even if it does not immediately appear transferable in a new jurisdiction. Most importantly, rebuilding is absolutely possible, even if it takes time.”