Bolotov & Partners LLP is well-regarded for its ‘excellent intellectual property rights enforcement practice’ ,with the firm covering a full spectrum of trademark and patent spectrum including prosecution, litigation and transactional instructions. The team is led by managing partner Yuri Bolotov, who is renowned for his work in trademarks, patents, utility models and industrial designs, alongside advising the firm’s clientele ranging from small startups to large corporations in a variety of industries. Saule Kulzhambekova has participated in court hearing relating to IP rights as a representative of the Institute of Patent Examination of Kazakhstan and as a specialist in trademark protection, while Zhanat Nurmagambetov is engaged in issues related to criminal and customs measures of trade mark rights protection, including issues related to parallel import and import of counterfeited goods. Yuliya Lokteva is another key contact.
IP and TMT in Kazakhstan
Bolotov & Partners LLP
Practice head(s):
Yuri Bolotov; Saule Kulzhambekova; Zhanat Nurmagambetov
Other key lawyers:
Yuliya Lokteva
Testimonials
‘Excellent IPR enforcement practice, proactive personnel.’
‘Zhanat Nurmagambetov is brilliant at IP rights enforcement. In particular, he is engaged in issues related to application of pretrial, civil, administrative, criminal and customs measures and is good at them.’
Key clients
Toyota Motor Europe
Philip Morris International
The Coca-Cola Company
Louis Vuitton
Hermes
Work highlights
- Represented Louis Vuitton in customs seizure, settlement procedures and destruction processes in relation to over eleven thousand counterfeit sneakers, which were imported by a third party with LV and NIKE trademarks before the start of official sales.
- Advised Toyota Motor Europe on a criminal case on illegal import and sales of counterfeit spare parts from China through Chinese citizens.
- Represented a client on a criminal case on the illegal sales of counterfeit Hennessy, involving the collection of evidence, revealed sales point and test purchases.
Dentons
Dentons provides a full-service within IP, with the team consisting of lawyers, patent and trade mark attorneys who have extensive experience in all areas of intellectual property and information technologies, including registration of intellectual property rights through to enforcement. Co-leading the practice is Victoria Simonova has over twenty five years experience in advising clients on a wide variety of Kazakhstan and international law issues including representing individual inventors, artists and entrepreneurs, alongside being the key lawyer involved in IP and personal data related issues in the European Business Association of Kazakhstan. Aliya Seitova also co-leads the practice and has experience in representing clients before the local trade mark and patent offices and courts, alongside issues related to unfair competition.
Practice head(s):
Victoria Simonova
Other key lawyers:
Aliya Seitova
Testimonials
‘Victoria Simonova and Aliya Seitova both show a high level of professionalism, strong technical skills, as well as commitment to serving clients and readiness to help.’
Key clients
Red Bull GmbH
GRATA International
GRATA International's IP practice, led by Timur Berekmoinov handles a full range of intellectual property work in Kazakhstan and across the region. Yerzhan Yessimkhanov heads the firm's TMT practice and provides legal support to international technology companies. Gleb Yevseyev is noted for his involvement in pioneering telecoms work.
Practice head(s):
Timur Berekmoinov; Yerzhan Yessimkhanov
Other key lawyers:
Gleb Yevseyev
Testimonials
‘Customer-oriented and flexible approach to solving non-standard issues.’
‘Attention to detail and full involvement in the essence of the request.’
Key clients
Blingby LLC
Accord Healthcare Limited
GE Healthcare Russia & CIS
Roche Kazakhstan LLP
Nobel Oil Service (UK) Limited
SMART Technologies ULC
SLP INVESTMENT LLP
Yandex
Axenix
Amdocs
China Telecom
Huawei
CM.com
Cloud Payments
Bitrix24
Interpay
Sitronics
Baker & McKenzie - CIS, Limited
Baker & McKenzie - CIS, Limited offers a full-scope of intellectual property-related work including trade mark, design and patent prosecution, copyright, transactional and contractual advice, alongside customs registration of IP assets and anti-counterfeiting services. Azamat Kuatbekov is the managing partner and has experience in cross–border transactions and complex disputes, whereas Andrei Yorsh specialises in IP infringement work such as trad emark enforcement and pharma patent issues. Nurgul Abdreyeva is noted for her active practice advising in cross-border transactions and regulatory advice.
Practice head(s):
Azamat Kuatbekov; Andrei Yorsh
Other key lawyers:
Nurgul Abdreyeva
Key clients
British American Tobacco
L’Oréal
Work highlights
- Assisted L’Oréal S.A. in managing its trade mark portfolio and protecting its IP in Kazakhstan.
SIGNUM Law Firm
SIGNUM Law Firm are experienced in advising on all types of intellectual property and tech issues relating to Kazakhstan, with the firm advising on various issues involving transactional IP relating to cross-border M&A deals, regulatory IP and telecoms issues, international and local compliance and contentious IP matters. Managing partner Sofiya Zhylkaidarova provides IP advice to clients on transactions and projects that involve registration, transfer, protection and management of IP.
Practice head(s):
Liza Zhumakhmetova; Sofiya Zhylkaidarova; Abylkhair Nakipov
Key clients
Wolt
Isoplus
Work highlights
- Advising a leading global provider of information and communications technologies relating to the certification of produce in Kazakhstan, including on IP and TMT related issues.
- Representing a global group of companies specialising in video game development and publishing on developing template agreements ensuring due regulations of IP and copyright.
- Advising an entrepreneur, owning a chain of restaurants in Kazakhstan, on a potential trademark dispute.
AEQUITAS
Led by Yelena Manayenko, AEQUITAS advises on local law issues across the TMT spectrum, including data processing, lease of communication channels and cryptographic information protection, with the team regularly providing and preparing articles and guides on the cryptocurrency, digital assets and other principles relating to TMT. Kirill Greshnikov specialises in digital, corporate and commercial law with a focus on TMT within the financial sector.
Practice head(s):
Yelena Manayenko
Other key lawyers:
Kirill Greshnikov
Key clients
Elements Group AG
MG Partners
MG Partners practices across the region from Almaty, Astana and Karaganda, with a focus on intellectual property law and advisory work around the cryptocurrency space. Inna Revazova is the managing partner and heads the IP and TMT practice, alongside being one of the authors of guides on intellectual property law in Kazakhstan. Ayazhanym Alzhan and Alexandra Nechaeva are names to watch.
Practice head(s):
Inna Revazova
Other key lawyers:
Ayazhanym Alzhan; Alexandra Nechaeva
Key clients
Arca Holdings JSC
ALMATINO
Astamedia LLC
Telesoft LLC
SpetsLiftMontazhService LLP
Qulix Systems
‘Kuchenland Home Rus’ JSC
AQFS LLC
PETOŠEVIĆ
PETOŠEVIĆ is led by Aliya Madiyarova in Kazakhstan and, in addition to its Astana presence, provides intellectual property and related services across Eastern Europe, non-EU Balkan countries and CIS countries. The firm formed CWB Group with Middle East-focussed IP practice Cedar White Bradley IP LLP in early 2023 to expand its capabilities in servicing and managing intellectual property portfolios across the globe. Dilliya Chansyheva handles the prosecution, enforcement and contentious IP matters before administrative bodies in Kazakhstan, and has experience as a senior trade mark examiner.
Practice head(s):
Aliya Madiyarova
Other key lawyers:
Dilliya Chanysheva
Testimonials
‘They are prompt and efficient.’
‘Dina Petošević has been very helpful.’
‘The team covers wide-range of geographical area, and provide stable quality of services. PETOŠEVIĆ Group and CWB Group merged in 2023. So, I’m very much looking forward to seeing what would happen by this collaboration.’
Sayat Zholshy & Partners
Sayat Zholshy & Partners supports national and international telecommunications companies operating in Kazakhstan, handling market entrances, competition law issues and transactional matters. In addition, the firm provides proper registration of intellectual property rights and relevant legal advice, such as support at all stages of documentation processing. Aidyn Bikebayev provides a full range of intellectual property advice, while Vitaliy Vodolazkin is a known for IP disputes work.
Practice head(s):
Aidyn Bikebayev
Other key lawyers:
Vitaliy Vodolazkin
Key clients
Beeline Kazakhstan
theSAY Pharma
Kcell JSC
Tukulov Kassilgov Shaikenov Disputes (TKS)
Tukulov Kassilgov Shaikenov Disputes (TKS) handles cross-border projects within IP, IT and data protection, with the team able to carry out instructions on AI, big data and other projects which intersect law with information technology. Since research concluded, Natalia Shapovalova left the firm.
Testimonials
‘The team is very client-oriented and creative in offering the decisions to their customers. Very professional and very knowledgeable.’
‘Our experience with the partners of this law firm spans 15 years, during which time they have applied innovative practices for our region. The staff of this law firm is distinguished by exceptional professionalism in the delivery of services. We would especially like to note the knowledge and experience of working in the jurisdiction of the Astana International Financial Center operating in the Republic of Kazakhstan.’
Key clients
Smart Parking Technologies
medac GmbH
Pharmacyclics LLC
Salem Social Media LLP
Mareven Food Tian-Shan LLP
Astellas Pharma Europe B.V.
Work highlights
- Represented Salem Social Media LLP in a dispute concerning copyright and the issues of protected and unprotected elements of the work.
- Instructed by Mareven Food Tyan-Shan LLP in trade mark enforcement dispute, successfully proved that the packaging of the client’s product did not infringe the plaintiff’s trademark rights.
- Represented Pharmacyclics LLC in patent enforcement and patent validity disputes.