Kazakhstan

Aequitas specialises in banking and finance, labour and employment, M&A, natural resources and environmental law. The firm has been expanding in the areas of healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Managing partner Olga Chentsova is a key contact. The firm remains ‘Outstanding’ in General business law and Energy rankings.

General business law

Work highlights

Advised international law firm network Ius Laboris on labour law.

Advised a Korean company in the iron and steel industry on the issue of returning a loan extended to a state-owned enterprise organised by the government of Kazakhstan.

Key clients

Bitfury Holding, Covington & Burling, FieldCore, Ipsen, Royal Wagenborg

Client feedback

“All was done professionally and in a timely manner.” – Corporate and M&A

“This is a very strong, reliable and client-oriented team, with a really good balance on what and how. Extremely compliant but not conservative.” – Regulatory

Yuliya Chumachenko

“Great communicator and a trusted partner.”

Larissa Yemelyanova

“Very responsible, diligent and detail oriented.”

IP specialist Bolotov & Partners provide legal services covering registrations of trademark, patent and copyright in Kazakhstan, and other Central Asian Republics of the CIS. The firm assists in the protection and enforcement of trademark rights, preparation of assignment and license agreements, matters related to copyright, utility models, patent and domain name related issues. Managing partner Yuri Bolotov is a registered patent and trademark attorney of Kazakhstan with more than 20 years of experience in IP.

General business law

Work highlights

Advised a leading airline company in Kazakhstan on various IP matters, including registration of trademarks, advertisement issues, utility models and copyrights.

Key clients

Toyota Motor Europe

GRATA International is ranked ‘Outstanding’ in General business law. The firm has been focusing on natural resources in the past year, particularly in mining, and oil and gas. Partner Yerzhan Yessimkhanov has extensive experience in the areas of construction, infrastructure, real estate and telecommunications.

General business law

Work highlights

Advised Singaporean oil company Xingling Petroleum on a dispute between its shareholders.

Advised French specialised service company Societe Manutention Transport Kazakhstan on a dispute between the company and the labour department of Mangistau Region.

Key clients

ArcelorMittal Temirtau, China National Petroleum Corporation, Coalco, Korea National Oil Corporation, ILF Consulting Engineers, SINOPEC Engineering

Founded in 2005, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) law firm Integrites provides legal services in the fields of banking and finance, competition/antitrust, corporate and M&A, dispute resolution, foreign trade and tax. Oil and gas is one of the firm’s key industry focus.

General business law

Work highlights

Assisted a company in the oil and gas industry in its exit from an incorporated joint venture.

Advised an international oil and gas services provider on a new currency control regime in Kazakhstan.

Key clients

Lamor Corporation

Legalmax Law Firm specialises in the registration and protection of IP. Managing partner Mukhammadali Makhmudov focuses on IP, competition and litigation work.

General business law

Work highlights

Advised the Coca-Cola Company on trademark infringement.

Advised Wrigley Company on criminal litigation against the counterfeit goods of Chinese production.

Key clients

Brooksburnett Investments, Celgene International Sarl, Conte Spa, Krasny Oktyabr

Client feedback

“Highly professional. Attention to details. Very quick feedback. Responsive.” – Intellectual property

Zhanna Abylkhanova

“Excellent.”

With offices in Almaty and Astana, Sayat Zholshy & Partners is ranked ‘Highly recommended’ in our General business law table. Senior partner Arman Berdalin leads the firm’s Astana office and he is experienced in corporate governance and M&A.

General business law

Work highlights

Advised a transnational internet corporation on the launching of an international online service ordering system in the Kazakhstan market.

Represented a German chemical and pharmaceutical company before the Kazakhstan antitrust authority on merger control matters.

Assisted Batys Transit in drafting a contract with high-carbon ferrochrome producer Kazchrome.

Key clients

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries

Client feedback

“Customer-oriented. Strategic thinking. Brilliant knowledge.” – Restructuring and insolvency

“We are fully satisfied with the quality of the firm’s services and we would like to mark their capability to generate tailor-made and effective solutions to our problems. We are impressed by their deep knowledge of tax and customs legislation.” – Tax

Rustam Ospanov

“The best attorney our company has ever had. Combination of high ethical values, professional attitude and huge experience.”

“Deep knowledge of taxation, finance and corporate law, as well as their practical application skills.  Finding the most optimal, tailored and viable solutions. Putting the interests of clients first and defending the client's position in the course of negotiations. High performance and well-coordinated teamwork.”

Yelena Tyureikina

“For us, Yelena is an authority on Kazakhstan tax law and we always rely on her advice. Yelena is best known for her professionalism, commitment and willingness to help the firm's clients.”

SIGNUM Law Firm provides legal services in the areas of construction, corporate and M&A, dispute resolution, employment, IP and regulatory compliance. Energy and natural resources, financial institutions, infrastructure, mining and telecommunications are some of the firm’s industry focus. Managing partner Sofiya Zhylkaidarova has a record of advising oil and gas and mining companies for over 20 years on various subsoil use issues, including strategic acquisitions.

General business law

Work highlights

Advised oilfield services company Excellence Logging on its acquisition of the surface data logging business of multinational oil and natural gas service company Weatherford International.

Advised Medtronic Kazakhstan, the local subsidiary of the world's largest medical device company, at the stage of execution of a PPP contract of the creation angiography laboratories in the Kyzylorda region.

Key clients

EnerMech

Client feedback

“Excellent communication skills. Provide considerate and pragmatic advice. Very responsive.” – Corporate and M&A

“Good performance.” – Dispute resolution

“I keep going back to Signum for my company's legal work because they provide legal work to a consistently high and reliable standard.” – Oil and gas

Liza Zhumakhmetova

“Very good communicator. Very responsive. Inspires trust.”

“Excellent all round.”

“Liza responded to all requests promptly and professionally and coordinated with other lawyers in her group to consistently meet our deadlines. I didn't note any areas that required improvement.”

“She and her team were extremely competent and promptly coordinated the due diligence that the company required.”

Sofiya Zhylkaidarova

“Very strong in subsurface legislations and have excellent negotiation skills.”

Tleulin and Partners is known for its expertise in restructuring and insolvency and tax. Managing partner Ilyas Tleulin is a consultant to the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan.

General business law

Work highlights

Advised Elite Fish on its liquidation procedure.

Key clients

Caspian Security Technology

Unicase provides legal services in the areas of corporate and M&A, finance and securities, dispute resolution, environment, labour and tax law. Managing partner Saniya Perzadayeva is an expert in the fields of PPP, project finance and construction. Perzadayeva also advises on finance, infrastructure, renewable energy projects and traditional energy.

General business law

Work highlights

Advised Risen Energy (HongKong) on its acquisition of 100% stake in a company developing solar project Gulshat in Kazakhstan.

Key clients

KPMG (Kazakhstan), Tetra Tech, Trinity International

Client feedback

“Strong legal knowledge. Able to provide direct and honest opinions. Able to accomplish set tasks and targets successfully.” – Oil and gas

Artem Timoshenko

“Excellent and diligent lawyer. It's a pleasure to be working with someone who shares the same qualities and abilities that you pose and see the project through successfully.”