The Legal 500

Within Legal market overview, Grata Law Firm is a second tier firm,

17-partner Grata Law Firm is ‘cost-effective’ and retains ‘a strong local team’ in Kazakhstan despite Colibri Law Firm’s breakaway in other markets, although its network across Central Asia and the Caucasus was reduced by the split. This ‘very professional’ team mainly acts for foreign clients and is able to handle sizeable and complex corporate, financial, mining, energy and natural resources transactions. It is local counsel for the renovation of Ekibastuz HPP 2 power plant, advised EuroChem on negotiations for the construction of a new fertiliser factory, and advised MIE Holdings on its acquisition of Emir-Oil from BMB Munai Inc. It acted for the underwriters on the IPO of a large telecoms corporation, and advised Sberbank on a $2bn loan to Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation plc. In addition the firm has expertise in IP, litigation and tax. Notable wins included representing a subsoil user in its successful appeal to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan over the Tax Authority’s refusal to refund VAT. Other clients include EBRD, the IFC, and Lufthansa. Shakhrukh Usmanov has ‘good knowledge and is always responsive, collaborative and disciplined’. Samat Daumov, tax expert Assel Ilyassova and managing partner Rashid Gaissin are also recommended. Akhmetzhan Abdullayev, Tlek Baigabulov, and Aidar Sarymsakov are the other senior partners. Counsel Maksim Grekov joined from White & Case Kazakhstan LLP in October 2011.