Lawyers in Kazakhstan

Larissa Orlova

Of Counsel

Verum LLP

Larissa Yemelyanova

Partner

AEQUITAS

Laura Stamkulova

Laura Stamkulova has more than 15 years of experience working as an in-house lawyer in the commercial and non-profit sectors. Laura’s legal experience includes serving as head of the legal department at a geological and drilling company and a leading educational institution, in addition to senior in-house positions at a large uranium joint venture of a major European company, a sovereign wealth fund, and an educational holding. Laura’s practice areas span subsoil use, education, corporate, contract and labor law matters.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Leila Madieva

Leila Madieva advises clients on corporate, finance, tax and regulatory matters in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. She has significant experience representing multinational companies and investors in cross-border transactions, merges and acquisitions, joint ventures, and major investment projects. Leila regularly counsels on subsoil use, licensing, labor, customs, and tax issues and has represented clients in administrative and judicial proceedings. Her background includes leadership roles in a Big Four firm, senior positions with international law firms, and sector experience spanning mining, construction, and retail.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Leila Makhmetova

Leila Makhmetova is counsel, Director of Environmental Law Department and Licenses and Permits Department of GRATA International. She focuses on litigation and dispute resolution, environmental law, health and safety, administrative law. Leila Makhmetova has extensive experience in environmental dispute resolution. Her success in representing clients has been constant and consistent. Leila’s clients include some of the most prominent figures in heavy industry. Previously, Leila was a Senior Lecturer at the Kazakh University of Law and Humanities and a legal expert at the Institute of Legislation governed by the Ministry of Justice of RK.

GRATA International

Marina Kahiani

Marina Kahiani is one of the leading partners of GRATA International qualified to advise on Kazakhstani law and AIFC law. Marina focuses her practice on a wide range of finance transactions, including project finance, aircraft finance and capital markets, infrastructure transactions as well as M&A transactions, financial services regulation and workouts and debt restructurings in many industries.

GRATA International

Maxim Burak

Maxim Burak is a Partner at GRATA International in Astana. Maxim got a lot of experience and deep knowledge in the oil and gas industry, subsoil use and corporate transactions. Maxim’s experience includes obtaining the refusal of the state from the priority right to purchase the alienated subsoil use rights in mergers and acquisitions, consulting subsoil users on local content, implementation of full legal support additional agreements to contracts for subsoil use, in particular regarding the extension of the exploration period and the percentages of Kazakhstani content and implementation Due Diligence contracts on subsoil use.

GRATA International

Maxim Telemtayev

Partner

White & Case Kazakhstan LLP

Mirbek Kydyrov

Partner

Verum LLP

Murat Madykov

Senior Associate

Verum LLP

Nazym Bekturova

Nazym Bekturova is a Counsel at Dentons’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice team in Kazakhstan. Dispute resolution Posco Daewoo Corporation: Successfully representing before court with respect to a claim in the amount of US$4 million that was awarded in full. Posco Daewoo Corporation: Successfully representing in four ICC arbitration proceedings with respect to debt recovery from various Kazakhstan debtors; total amount of US$6.6 million recovered. Posco Daewoo Corporation: Representing in local courts with respect to the recognition and enforcement of Arbitral Awards issued in the above ICC arbitrations. EBRD: Representing in the terminated bankruptcy and ongoing rehabilitation proceedings of Kazakhstan Kagazy JSC. Confidential client (major Islamic bank): Representing in a US$19 million dispute against a Kazakhstan debtor which was finalized by a settlement agreement with terms beneficial to the client. Energy and natural resources Cameco Corporation: Advising on and successfully closing the restructuring of the uranium subsoil user JV Inkai LLP, a joint venture with Kazatomprom National Atomic Company JSC. Confidential client (company group specializing in nuclear power and renewable energy with uranium reserves in Kazakhstan): Advising on and assisting in successfully obtaining various regulatory approvals in Kazakhstan with respect to the internal restructuring of the group. Confidential client (major German multinational building materials company): Advising and successfully closing the acquisition of two participatory interests in a Kazakhstan producer of widespread minerals leading to the client becoming its 100% owner, successfully obtaining all the regulatory approvals required in the subsoil use sector to complete both transactions. Confidential client (a Hong Kong investment company with a stake in a Kazakhstan wolframite subsoil user): Advising on possible settlement between the shareholders. Confidential client (major oil and gas producer): Advising on issues of extension of the exploration and production terms of the subsoil use contract. Confidential client (major oil and gas producer): Advising on various issues of subsoil use (export of geological information, liquidation of consequences of subsoil use). Confidential client (Malaysian bank): Advising on issues of extending the exploration and production terms under the pledged subsoil use rights.

Dentons

Nikolay Pak

Nikolay Pak has over 20 years of professional experience, including 16 years in Kazakhstan’s customs authorities and 6 years in consulting. He leads the customs regulation practice of Fortune Partners LLP, providing comprehensive support to domestic and international companies across various industries such as subsoil use, trade, FMCG, manufacturing, and telecommunications. His expertise includes customs value control, classification and duties, appeals of customs decisions, refund of overpaid duties and taxes, and consulting on customs procedure structuring and EAEU legislation development. Nikolay also advises clients on pre‑trial and judicial appeals related to customs disputes and represents businesses before government authorities.

Fortune Partners LLP

Nikolay Yefimchuk

Associate Partner / Customs Law Practice Nikolay leads the Tax and Customs Law practice of Fortune Partners LLP. He has more than 25 years of experience, including 15 years in government service and 10 years in consulting. He advises major Kazakhstan and international clients on complex tax and customs matters and participates in legislative development projects at national and EAEU levels.

Fortune Partners LLP

Nurgul Abdreyeva

Baker & McKenzie - CIS, Limited

Nurlan Kubenov

Partner

Unicase Law Firm

Nurlan Sholanov

Counsel

AEQUITAS

Nurzhan Stamkulov

Nurzhan Stamkulov is managing partner in Synergy Partners Law Firm. He has an extensive legal experience with more than 18 years, 12 years in legal consulting area. He manage complex legal assignments, provides business and legal advice to the clients. He manages the legal works in the firm via his expertise on regulatory, corporate, fiscal and M&A transactions. His one step ahead approach and sharp tax advice are the most valuable in M&A deals.

Synergy Partners Law Firm LLC

Olga Chentsova

Chairman of the Board of Partners

AEQUITAS

Olga Uriupinskaia

Senior Associate

Dentons

Olzhas Kassenov

Director of Tax Department Fortune Partners LLP (2023 – present)

Fortune Partners LLP

Pavel Boulatov

Counsel

White & Case Kazakhstan LLP

Pavel Kornilov

Counsel

Kinstellar LLP

Raushan Zhazykbayeva

Counsel

AEQUITAS

Raushana Chaltabayeva

Partner

Unicase Law Firm