The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Kazakhstan > Banking, finance and capital markets

Dentons is noted for its work advising local and international financial institutions and large corporations on complex syndicated bank lending, asset finance, capital markets, structured finance and Islamic finance mandates. The practice also has experience in cross-border transactions and regularly acts for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and Citibank. Group head Abai Shaikenov actively advises clients in Kazakhstan and focuses on M&A and general corporate transactions including cross-border acquisitions and disposals, privatisations and corporate financing transactions. Counsel Vassiliy Zenov's expertise encompasses banking and finance, capital markets, financial regulations and PPP work, while Ali Imanalin made senior associate in 2019.

As one of the leading Kazakh firms in banking and finance, Kinstellar LLP regularly handles a broad range of high-profile, complex transactions. Recently, the team has expanded the practice to advise clients in the renewable energy sector, and has advised on all but one of the major international IPOs out of Kazakhstan. Team co-heads Joel Benjamin and Adlet Yerkinbayev have extensive experience in corporate and commercial deals, and associate Yerlan Akhmetov specialises in capital markets, banking and finance, and M&A mandates.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP advises high-profile Kazakh and global corporate and financial institutions on a variety of projects in the banking, finance and capital markets arenas. The team is highly experienced across a range of sectors in Kazakhstan and the broader CIS region including the energy, infrastructure, telecoms, banking and capital markets industries. The practice is also supported by lawyers in London and Moscow. Aset Shyngyssov is managing partner and focuses on banking, finance, and capital markets. Klara Nurgaziyeva handles complex financing matters and securities issues.

White & Case Kazakhstan LLP has market-leading expertise in major transactions across equity and debt capital markets in Kazakhstan, supported by teams in the UK and US. Recent highlights include advising NAC KazAtomProm on its IPO on the London Stock Exchange and the Astana International Exchange, and advising a syndicate of banks on NC KazMunayGas's update to its $10.5bn GMTN programme. Group co-head Maxim Telemtayev advises state bodies, banking institutions and major local and international companies in the energy, mining and oil and gas sectors, while fellow co-head Pavel Kornilov handles capital markets transactions. Karina Sultanaliyeva is now at AGZ / Zan Hub.

AEQUITAS assists clients with local business financing transactions, security issues, bank loans and acquisition financing mandates. The team also handles the issuance and placement of shares, depository receipts and bonds on financial markets. AIG is a key client for the practice, which also recently advised Deutsche Bank on a variety of matters. Yelena Pestereva leads the banking and finance team and is experienced in corporate and compliance mandates, including environmental legislation work. Nurlan Sholanov is also a noteworthy practitioner.

Baker & McKenzie - CIS, Limited has a diverse capital markets practice, which covers securitisation, debt capital markets and equity capital markets transactions. The department also advises on traditional forms of secured and unsecured lending, and has a small but growing Islamic financing practice; it recently advised on the only instance in Kazakhstan where an existing regular commercial bank became an Islamic bank. Curtis Masters, a US-qualified practitioner, is director of the Kazakhstan office and specialises in cross-border financial transactions, M&A, privatisations, leasings and labour and bankruptcy work, and mandates in the aviation, insurance and real estate sectors. Senior associate Gulnur Bekmukhanbetova advises clients on tax matters and also handles complex bankruptcy and insolvency issues; she is also a recognised expert in aircraft leasing and financing work.

Deloitte TCF, LLP provides banking and finance advice to clients operating in the financial services sector including assisting with loan transactions, financing deals, loan restructurings and reorganisation matters. The group's client roster includes oil and gas companies, food manufacturing conglomerates, railway businesses and car manufacturing plants. Practice head Agaisha Ibrasheva focuses on M&A, corporate law, project finance, HR and subsoil use mandates. Olessya Kirilovskaya has experience spanning legislation issues, oil and gas work, environmental legislation matters and tax disputes.