Overview
Baker & McKenzie – CIS, Limited’s market-leading office provides a ‘consistently excellent level of service’. Managing partner Azamat Kuatbekov is ‘extremely effective, both in negotiation and overall guidance regarding litigation in a difficult environment’. The ‘outstanding’ Curtis Masters is also singled out for high praise. A highlight for the firm was advising JPMorgan and BNP Paribas on a due diligence review of the national uranium producer, Kazatomprom, which was making a debut $500m Eurobond issue. Other clients include GlaxoSmithKline, Rina Industry, Alcon and Lukoil.
The highly rated team at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is ‘very committed’ and provides ‘quality advice. It responds to requests immediately and with enthusiasm’. Managing partner Aset Shyngyssov is singled out for his ‘overall leadership and commitment to our relationship’. Dividing his time between Almaty, London and Moscow, Brian Zimbler has an excellent track record for corporate and project finance. Recent highlights include advising China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) on its $2.7bn, 100% takeover of Mangistau Investments, a joint venture between CNPC and JSC NC KazMunaiGas, Kazakhstan’s national oil company. Other clients include KazMunaiGaz Finance, Astrium, Maersk Oil, Mittal Group and Nomura.
SNR Denton has a very strong reputation in the market, and its full-service offering covers major infrastructure, energy, corporate and finance matters, both on the contentious and non-contentious side. The 19-lawyer team includes four partners and is headed by the hugely experienced Marla Valdez, who is also managing partner for the firm’s extensive Central Asia network. Banking partner Joel Benjamin, energy and infrastructure specialist Victoria Simonova and oil and gas expert Almas Zhaiylgan also come highly recommended.
Salans has an excellent reputation for major disputes, and is considered by some to be the ‘best offering in Kazakhstan’. Clients report being ‘very pleased with the level of service, local knowledge and attention to detail’. Managing partner Algoul Kenjebayeva is ‘out on her own in quality’, while the ‘excellent’ arbitration head Yuliya Mitrofanskaya is ‘highly intelligent and a tireless worker, who I would welcome the opportunity to work with again’. The firm is currently acting on several multibillion-dollar international arbitrations. The firm also has an active banking practice, where Abai Shaikenov is the main contact. Clients include EBRD, Eurasian Bank and Kazakhmys.
White & Case Kazakhstan LLP’s ten-lawyer Almaty office maintains an excellent standing, advising its international clients on the full range of corporate, energy, infrastructure, finance and real estate transactions. The firm’s highly respected office head Yuriy Maltsev passed away, however the firm continues to offer its clients a broad base of expertise, including Michael Rayson and Marat Ibragimov. Recently it advised Barclays Capital, HSBC and RBS as joint lead managers on a $700m Eurobond offering for the state-owned railway JSC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy. Maxim Telemtayev joined from Macleod Dixon ELP at the start of 2011.
Among Kazakhstan’s domestic firms, Aequitas is one of the standout names. Formed in 1993, the 20-lawyer firm advises on the full range of contentious and non-contentious matters, and is regularly referred work by leading international law firms. Managing partner Olga Chentsova has a very good reputation, particularly for energy and natural resources work.
Bracewell & Giuliani LLP’s highly regarded Kazakhstan office is particularly active on the finance and capital markets side, and recently advised Kazatomprom on its $500m Eurobond issue. On the corporate side, it recently represented Ufex Advisors Corporation on the $140m sale of the oil and gas field operator Caspi Neft JSC. Gregory Vojack is highly recommended.
Chadbourne & Parke LLP’s highly rated three-partner office offers a combination of high-end transactional and dispute resolution advice. Managing partner Kenneth Mack divides his time between Almaty and Washington DC, and is supported by Sergey Vataev, who is particularly strong on the disputes front, and corporate partner Victor Mokrousov.
Askar Moukhitdinov heads the quality seven-lawyer team at Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, which has offices in Almaty and Astana. The firm has been very active on the dispute resolution front, and recently advised a major oil and gas company on a $1.5bn UNCITRAL arbitration.
Grata Law Firm remains ‘one of the key players’ in Kazakhstan, with five domestic offices as well as a network that extends throughout Central Asia, including offices in Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Georgia. The firm’s three senior partners Akhmetzhan Abdullayev, Tlek Baigabulov and Aidar Sarymsakov are very experienced practitioners.
Canadian law firm Macleod Dixon ELP is recommended for energy and natural resources work, but is also active in real estate, dispute resolution and general corporate advice. Recently it advised ShalkiyaZinc, a Kazakhstan mining group, on its sale of a multimillion-dollar stake in the company to SAT and Company JSC. The team includes Yerzhan Kumarov, but former managing partner Maxim Telemtayev left for White & Case Kazakhstan LLP at the beginning of 2011.
Michael Wilson & Partners’ name partner Michael Wilson is considered by one client to be ‘the smartest western lawyer in Kazakhstan, and perhaps all of central Asia’. The ten-lawyer firm provides its clients with a strong full service offering. Recent highlights include advising Deutsche Bank on several derivatives transactions with counterparties in Kazakhstan.
Established in 2005, the domestic firm Linkage & Mind LLP is a relatively new entry onto the market. The three-partner firm is headed by Madina Sypatayeva and includes Arnur Amirgaliyev. Recently, it advised the financing company on the construction of a hydrocarbon production plant at the Atyrau Oil Refinery.
Olympex Advisers’ managing partners Bolat Toktarov and Diyar Yereshev are praised for their ‘in-depth knowledge of the industry and operating environment’. Head of corporate Yessen Massalin is ‘an excellent lawyer and a highly skilled expert in corporate and M&A’. Highlights included advising JSC KazMunaiGas Exploration Production on the $1.66bn acquisition of 50% stake in the Kazakhstani oil company JSC Mangistaumunaigas.
ORIS is another domestic firm building a strong reputation, and is a referral favourite among major international law firms. Described by one as ‘a new breed of Kazakh firm, offering good advice and a strong dedication to client service’, while another considers it ‘excellent for banking and corporate matters’. The firm’s managing partner Amir Tussupkhanov and Aituar Madin come highly recommended. Clients include Pilkington Glass, EBRD and BNP Paribas.
The ‘excellent’ and ‘highly professional’ Sayat Zholshy & Partners receives very strong feedback from an impressive range of international clients and is considered ‘very good value for money’. Managing partner Vitaliy Vodolazkin is singled out for his ‘outstanding litigation guidance’, while the firm is commended for its ‘flexibility that by no means diminishes the quality of its service’.
With over 20 lawyers, Signum Law Firm is a well-regarded full service firm that is particularly strong in oil and gas-related work. Managing partner Sofiya Zhylkaidarova and Abylkhair Nakipov have very good reputations.