Oleksandr Leshchenko: The National Association of lobbyists of Ukraine should become a self-regulatory body of the profession

The National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine (NALU) has been established: a new professional organization intended to become a self-regulatory body in the field of lobbying. Oleksandr Leshchenko, Managing Partner at LESHCHENKO & PARTNERS, has joined the Association’s Board.

Earlier, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law that, for the first time, regulated lobbying activities in Ukraine at the legislative level. On September 1, 2025, the National Register of Lobbyists was launched, administered by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP). The Register establishes the official status of lobbying professionals and verifies their integrity. Currently, more than 30 lobbyists are registered.

The National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine was created to serve as a platform for self-regulation in the lobbying sector. Its mission is to unite professionals, set standards and ethical rules, and ensure transparency and quality of lobbying activities. The Association is designed to act as an intermediary between business, society, and the state, so that this new profession for Ukraine develops under clear and civilized rules.

More than 20 members have already joined the Association, including lawyers, media representatives, and entrepreneurs. The organization is open to all individual lobbyists and is represented not only in Ukraine but also in London, Brussels, and the Netherlands.

Speaking at the Association’s presentation, Oleksandr Leshchenko emphasized that the adopted lobbying law is a framework act and requires further refinement:

“As the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine, we will propose to the Verkhovna Rada to amend the law in order to improve the regulation of lobbying activities. Our key proposal is to grant the Association the powers of a self-regulatory body, similar to the National Bar Association of Ukraine. This would allow us to establish standards and ethical rules, as well as perform administrative functions, including disciplinary responsibility. Such an approach would ensure transparency and effective oversight of the profession.”

In addition, the Association intends to:

• develop unified professional standards and a system of ethical rules;

• introduce mechanisms of self-control and disciplinary accountability for lobbyists;

• prepare proposals for Parliament regarding the taxation of lobbying activities, since the current Tax Code does not provide such procedures;

• represent the interests of Ukrainian lobbyists internationally;

• establish a regular dialogue with the Verkhovna Rada, the government, and the NACP to improve the legislative framework.

In the near future, the Association plans to hold an official presentation for government bodies, MPs at all levels, the business community, and the diplomatic corps.

Oleksandr Leshchenko stressed that the creation of the Association is not only an important step in establishing a new profession in Ukraine but also a tool for ensuring transparency in law-making activities.