The University of Chicago Law School has launched the Malyi Center for the Study of Institutional and Legal Integrity, a center that will stimulate new research on the sources of sound institutions, their consequences, and the conditions of their endurance. The center is funded by a generous commitment from Pavel Malyi, LLM ’95. Tom Ginsburg, the Leo Spitz Distinguished Service Professor of International Law and a leading expert on international and comparative law, is the new center’s faculty director.

“We live in an era in which institutions of every kind are under siege from multiple directions. To meet this challenge, we need to better understand the origins of good institutions, how they decay, and the potential sources of institutional resilience,” said Ginsburg, who is internationally known for his expertise on constitutional design and democracy around the world. “With this transformative gift, the University will be able to maintain and extend its leading role in this effort. We hope to support cutting edge research both at Chicago and elsewhere, and to connect the world’s leading scholars with the next generation.”

The gift follows one made in 2021 by Malyi establishing the Malyi Scholarship Fund, which supports students in the Law School’s LLM program, with a preference for those from Ukraine, Russia, and other post-Soviet states. The first four Malyi Scholars arrived at the Law School in fall 2022.

“Mr. Malyi’s extraordinary generosity builds upon two of the Law School’s strengths: our stellar LLM program, which draws brilliant scholars from around the world, and the exceptional contributions of our international and comparative law scholars, whose work is redefining the field and advancing important conversations about the rule of law around the world,” said Dean Thomas J. Miles, the Clifton R. Musser Professor of Law and Economics. “We are proud to launch the Malyi Center and delighted to welcome the first Malyi Scholars, and we are immensely grateful for the gifts that made both possible.”

The Malyi Center will focus on expanding academic research in international and comparative law by Law School faculty; encourage real-world impact via activities such as conferences, events, speakers series and other collaborations with practitioners; and support additional scholarship in international and comparative law from the academic community outside the University.

“It is a great honor and privilege to support the Law School in this initiative,” Malyi said. “From its pioneering research in Law and Economics, the University of Chicago Law School has been at the forefront of thinking about the role of institutions in shaping human interactions and influencing development of societies. It is just the right place to advance our understanding of institutions and to formulate the right recommendations for decision makers in many countries around the globe.”

Malyi, who has worked in corporate finance for more than 25 years, is partner and co-founder of the independent EU-based financial firm Matrix Capital. From 2013 to 2015, he was CFO and deputy chairman of the management board of Russia’s largest petrochemical company, SIBUR Holding. He also served as a member of the board of directors of SIBUR Holding from 2010 until 2013. In 2015 he was recognized as the “Best CFO in the Russian petrochemical industry” by the National Association of Managers. Prior to joining SIBUR Pavel had been leading the UBS investment banking team for Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine for six years. His earlier career involved stints at the oil company Yukos as well as at JPMorgan and Skadden, Arps.

Pavel graduated in 1991 from the Moscow State University of International Relations with a degree in International Law. In addition to his LLM, Pavel also holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.