Mariia Khorun

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Mariia is a founder of the Law Office of Mariia Khorun, PLLC and Of Counsel at Heredia & Uvalle Consultoría Estratégica. She is a licensed attorney and a Notary Public in the State of New York. She has broad experience in Corporate Law, Cross Border Transactions, M&A, Intellectual Property, Due Diligence, and Notary Public Services. 

Prior to launching her private practice, Mariia worked as an in-house attorney at a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) licensed by the US Small Business Administration. Mariia also interned at the Supreme Court of North Carolina for Chief Justice Newby where she gained exposure to a broad array of appellate litigation on the Court’s docket.

Mariia studied law at National University Odesa Law Academy in Ukraine prior to earning her LL.M. from Duke University School of Law. She is an admitted attorney in the State of New York, at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York (federal), at the US Tax Court and authorized to practice law in Ukraine. Besides running her law practice, Mariia serves as a Board Trustee of Heritage Springs, a US-based nonprofit tasked with preserving historic houses of worship, cemeteries, and settlements in Eastern and Central Europe. In this capacity, she traveled to Ukraine to successfully legalize an ancient synagogue that existed de facto but did not exist de jure. She leads the efforts on applying for international grants and cooperating with various organizations in different jurisdictions.  

Mariia takes a few need-based pro bono cases every year. Past matters included preparing a US visa extension application, obtaining necessary US apostilled paperwork required for transporting human remains abroad, reinstating an immigrant’s forfeited identification documents, and registration a tax-exempt religious organization in the State of New York.  

Mariia is fluent in English, Ukrainian, and Russian.

Experience.

• Led negotiations of a financial technology company’s acquisition.
• Advised a potential loans purchaser on a portfolio of defaulted bank loans and negotiated the matter with the bank.
• Advised an Opportunity Zone startup on the requirements of the federal Opportunity Zone program (tax incentives).
• Advised a business on issues pertaining to converting into a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) and operating a nonprofit
• Oversaw public communications and rebranding of a regulated investment company for legal compliance.
• Attended the largest IT conference in Eastern and Central Europe and arranged for a Ukraine-based insurance technology startup to pitch before a US-based investment company.
• Negotiated a manufacturing agreement between a Canada-based e-commerce business and a US-based manufacturer.
• Conducted trademark research and filed trademark registration applications with the US Patent and Trademark Office.
• Filed anonymous Freedom of Information Request for private clients (access to public information, government accountability).
• Performed legal compliance for SBA loans (PPP, EIDL).
• Incorporated companies in NY.
• Developed strategies in compliance with the law, to minimize income tax liability regarding ordinary and capital gains income. 
• Advised clients on and drafted non-disclosure agreements for the clients.
• Advised businesses on small business stock incentives.
• Public-private partnership experience.

Education.

• LL.M. (Master of Laws), Duke University School of Law, Durham, NC, United States of America, 2016.
• Master’s Degree, Civil & Commercial Law, Summa Cum Laude, National University Odesa Law Academy, Odesa, Ukraine, 2012.
• LL.B. (Bachelor’s Degree, Civil & Commercial Law), Summa Cum Laude, National University Odesa Law Academy, Odesa, Ukraine, 2011

License.

• The State of New York.
• The US District Court for the Southern District of New York (federal).
• The US Tax Court.
• Authorized to practice law in Ukraine.

Certifications.

• New York City Women-Owned Business Enterprise (ESG)

Speaking Arrangements.

• “The Opportunity Zone Program and Technological Solutions for the Opportunity Zone Investment,” a US Small Business Administration webinar, April, 2020, https://youtu.be/1KV4UFObfCc