Criminal Lawyer: Criminal Defence Attorney

When to contact a criminal lawyer

The best time is before your first conversation with investigators—for example, when you receive a summons or learn that a pre-trial investigation may be underway. A criminal lawyer can be essential even when the situation appears minor. A person may go to an interview “just to explain” and leave with a different procedural status. Having a lawyer acting in your interests at that moment can significantly affect both the course of the case and the person’s future.

Delay is especially risky in the following situations:

• you are summoned by an investigator, the police, or the prosecutor’s office;
• you have been served with a notice of suspicion or detained;
• your home or office is being searched, or you have been warned about a search;
• a relative has been detained and you do not know where to begin;
• the case is already before a court and you need a defence;
• you are a victim, but the investigation is not progressing.

Before meeting a lawyer, write down the chronology of events: when the summons arrived, who called, and which documents were served. Keep summonses, messages, and photographs of documents. Do not sign papers you do not understand. Remember that you have the right not to testify against yourself or close relatives.

Witnesses should also be careful. Their statements may sometimes become grounds for suspicion against the witness personally, so it is safer to attend questioning with a criminal lawyer. Drug-related cases are a typical example: they have specific procedural features, and a person’s status may change abruptly. You can read more on our drug lawyer page.

Consultation and initial assessment

The first conversation with a specialist matters. It should provide as much clarity as possible and form a practical starting point. The lawyer begins with a simple question: what is your current procedural status? This is necessary to identify your rights and obligations, which differ depending on whether you are a witness, victim, suspect, or accused person.

The lawyer then reviews your documents and, where case materials are available, analyses them. The result is a clear plan of action designed to maximise the prospects of a successful outcome, without making unjustified promises because the court reaches the final decision independently.

During the consultation, the lawyer will usually:

• clarify your procedural status;
• review the documents you bring or send;
• identify the real risks at the current stage;
• explain what you can do now and what you should avoid;
• advise whether a consultation is sufficient or full legal support is required.

You can receive assistance online, by phone, or at an in-person meeting. The company’s office is in Kyiv, so a criminal lawyer in Kyiv can meet you personally. If you are looking for a criminal lawyer in Lviv or another city, it is convenient to begin with a remote consultation. At this stage, legal assistance is equally available regardless of your location. We can later travel to the place where our direct involvement is required.

Defence and representation in criminal proceedings

Once proceedings are under way, a criminal defence lawyer takes over communication with the investigating authorities. You no longer have to navigate procedural rules and formalities alone, which also helps reduce psychological pressure.

Criminal defence may include several areas of work, depending on the stage of the case:

• participation in interviews and other procedural actions to protect the suspect’s rights;
• urgent attendance during a search and supervision of seized property;
• motions, including applications to change a preventive measure;
• complaints against decisions or inaction by investigators and prosecutors;
• collection and verification of evidence for the defence;
• representation at court hearings, appeals, and cassation proceedings;
• other actions required by the case.

A criminal defence lawyer handles all of this work, studies the case in depth, and carefully prepares the necessary procedural documents.

We also assist victims. They need support just as much, and we act with the same persistence and focus on results. Clients often contact us when a complaint has been registered but the investigation is stalled or moving too slowly. In these situations, the lawyer prepares motions, challenges inaction, and represents the client in court. With our assistance, clients can effectively protect their rights and interests and seek fair compensation.

We do everything legally possible to ensure that exemption from criminal responsibility:

• is as likely as possible for a client who is a suspect or accused person;
• is as unlikely as possible for the client’s opponent when we represent a victim.

How a lawyer works and what cooperation includes

The practice at PRIKHODKO & PARTNERS Law Firm is headed by Artem Kovalyov, PhD and criminal law attorney. He is an expert in criminal and international law and also specialises in offences in the military and financial sectors. Thanks to the work of his team, our firm was recognised among the leading criminal law practices in the Market Leaders 2026 ranking.

Cooperation with the practice follows a clear sequence, so you understand your current stage and what comes next:

• You submit a request on the website or call us.
• We contact you, clarify the initial details, enter into an agreement, and issue an invoice.
• We provide a full consultation and prepare a step-by-step action plan.
• We follow the plan and report every development in the case and its implications.

If you are ready to take the first step, contact us through the website form. We will call you back and agree on a convenient consultation format.

Cost of legal services

It is difficult to determine the exact cost of a defence in advance because cases differ substantially in scope and complexity. The fee for a criminal lawyer is therefore calculated only after a detailed assessment of the situation. The main factors are:

• the format of involvement, from a one-off consultation to full representation;
• the complexity and number of alleged episodes;
• the stage at which you contact us;
• the scope of work, including the number of hearings and investigative actions;
• the number of participants in the proceedings.

The agreement specifies exactly what the fee includes, so you can review it before work begins.

Would you like a calculation for your situation? Submit a request, and we will call you back.

The current price table below provides preliminary guidance before you submit a request.

Please remember that the figures in the table are estimates. The final fee is calculated individually, and we explain in detail why the quoted amount applies. Our pricing is transparent and fair and depends on the legal circumstances rather than an attempt to profit as much as possible from a client’s need for assistance.

The earlier a defence lawyer becomes involved, the more opportunities remain for well-considered decisions without life-changing mistakes. If you need a criminal lawyer, contact PRIKHODKO & PARTNERS Law Firm. Telephone numbers are listed at the top of this page, where you can also submit a request for us to call you back.