The Legal 500

Azizov & Partners advised Schneider Electric Industries on due diligence and regulatory compliance during an acquisition. Hewlett-Packard, Johnson & Johnson and Tethys Petroleum are also clients. Managing partner Aziz Aripdjanov is recommended along with Ilkhom Azizov, who provides ‘great experience, integrity and excellent client service’.

Colibri Law Firm is a new law firm which broke away from the Tashkent office of Kazakhstan-headquartered Grata Law Firm in November 2011. This highly regarded Tashkent team moved en masse, and is regarded as ‘always reliable for the quality of services it provides, coupled with good turnaround time and value for money’. It provides comprehensive contentious and non-contentious advice, primarily to foreign clients. While operating under its previous banner, in 2011 the team had advised Petronas, Sasol Synfuels and Uzbekneftegaz on project finance and agreements with the government for a proposed $3.5bn gas-to-liquid plant; and ING Bank as mandated lead arranger of financing to develop Surgil gas field. Ravshan Rakhmanov and Otabek Suleimanov acted on several aforementioned matters, as did Umid Aripdjanov, whose ‘vast experience in the local oil and gas industry and sharp business acumen enable him to deliver best-in-class legal services’.

‘One of the leading law firms in Uzbekistan’, Legalmax Law Firm is ‘very professional and fulfils instructions very quickly’. It is particularly noteworthy for its dispute resolution and dedicated IP practices. Clients include Samsung, Bacardi and several Russian banks. Managing partner Muhammadali Makhmudov has ‘good analytical ability. Also, he’s a good negotiator – he very carefully and politely explains the client’s point of view to the counterparty’. Corporate lawyer Jakhongir Azimov ‘works fast and very smoothly’, and senior associate Olga Atik is also well regarded.

Leges Advokat is ‘professional, fast and accurate’, and provides ‘high-quality service’. It has a strong record representing financial institutions, and advised the lender consortium on a $500m financing for Lukoil to develop the Khausak-Shady-Kandym gas field; and represented Société Générale as lender on aircraft financing. It is acting for Uz-Kor Gas Chemical LLC operating company as borrower on project financing to develop Surgil gas field. Other clients include Asian Development Bank, the IFC, GlaxoSmithKline Export and Microsoft. Managing partner Nizomiddin Shakhabutdinov and Azamat Fayzullaev are ‘very experienced in Uzbekistan laws’.

ASG Law Firm covers various disciplines, but focuses primarily on corporate and commercial support for international clients, including Mitsui & Co and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Umid Ubaydullaev is the key corporate partner, and Saidazizkhoja Saidkhodjaev is the managing partner.

Avent Advokat provides general legal advice to oil companies and oil services providers. Eldor Mannopov is the managing partner.

Mukhamedjanov & Partners provides ‘very competent and practical advice’ to SMEs and larger companies, including manufacturers and investors. Recent work has focused on corporate restructuring, investments and dispute resolution. Davron Khasanov and managing partner Ibrahim Mukhamedjanov are highly experienced.

SNR Denton’s Tashkent team is ‘capable and professional’, particularly for energy and natural resources work. Experienced managing associate Mouborak Kambarova heads the team with support from Kazakhstan-based Marla Valdez.