The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited, which provides ‘good value, deep expertise and fast responses’, has supplemented its oil and gas work with financing, acquisitions and litigation for manufacturers and construction companies. It represented Garadagh Cement in a land dispute with authorities; advised Hertel on acquiring Swift Group; and represented Azerbaijan Methanol Company on a $300m financing and development. Managing partner Daniel Matthews, Aykhan Asadov and Gunduz Karimov are recommended.

MGB Law Offices Limited provides broad advice to banks, oil services and natural resources companies. It advised EBRD on refinancing an iodine producer and RBS on restructuring an S$18m ship purchase. Managing director Ismail Askerov is ‘definitely a leading individual in the market’, particularly for projects and real estate. Elchin Mammadov is a tax expert.

Corporate and projects practice Omni Law Firm ‘compares well to other firms in the region in terms of skill and price’. It advised EBRD and the IFC on equity investments into Rabita Bank, and represented RBS in its participation exit from the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. Roman Alloyarov is ‘very responsive, clear, solutions-oriented and professional’. Jeyhun Bayramov and Ismail Zargarli are the other partners.

Salans’ ‘very qualified and professional’ group majors in banking and finance, and is advising the state committee on privatising state-held shares in International Bank of Azerbaijan. It advised YapiKredi Bank on a €86m loan and security for the Baku Hilton Hotel, and represented Komercní banka as lender on a $318m export credit facility. Other clients include Coca-Cola and Veolia subsidiary SADE. Office head James Hogan has ‘perfect knowledge of Azeri laws and practices’, and recently promoted partner Kamal Mammadzada is also recommended. Of counsel Vagif Ahmadov left the firm.

BHM Baku Law Centre is notable in the projects and technology spaces. Anar Baghirov is managing partner.

BM International advises foreign and local investors, and has experience on privatisations. Clients have included Lukoil, BNP Paribas, Nestlé and Azerbaijan Airlines. Farhad Mirzayev and Jamal Baghirov are the principals.

IJS Konsult Law Firm has refocused on corporate finance and corporate, commercial and trade support under new managing partner Eldar Majidov following the passing of Ibrahim Zeynalov.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal opened in Baku in February 2010 and advises foreign investors on transactions and tax law. It has attracted several new franchising mandates for restaurants and fashion designers. Clients include Blanco, Tyco and British American Tobacco. Farhad Hajizade is recommended.

EKVITA’s key oil and gas sector company clients include BP. It also advises borrowers on conventional and shari’ah-compliant financing. Rolls-Royce, Seacor and SK C&C are new clients. Recent arrival Anar Karimov and managing partner Ilgar Mehti are the main contacts.

Samir Hadjiyev is the main contact in Michael Wilson & Partners’ three-lawyer team, which advises clients including Credit Suisse.