L500 | GRATA International > Kazakhstan | Legal 500 law firm profiles

Aliya Zhumekenova is a Partner with Industry and Trade, Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Department of GRATA International in Almaty and Relationships Manager for a number of international clients. Aliya focuses on corporate and commercial issues, data and IP rights protection, investments and business restructuring. She has extensive experience in undertaking and supervising a team work for the long-term clients in the fields of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, FMCG, industrial equipment supplies and service companies.

Almat Daumov

Almat Daumov is a Partner and Head of Natural Resources Department of GRATA International. He focuses on energy and natural resources, M&A, tax law and dispute resolution. For more than 13 years, Almat has advised domestic and multinational corporations and built an impressive oil and gas and mining practice. He has a great experience in undertaking and supervising work for oil and gas, mining and services companies, including Korean National Oil Corporation (KNOC), North Caspian Operating Company (operator of Kashagan, the world's largest oil discovery of the last 40 years), Sinopec, Rosneft, Baker Hughes, Enka, Polyus Gold International, Severstal, Nord Gold, Polymetal.

Askar Konysbayev

Askar Konysbayev is a Partner at GRATA International. He represents clients on a wide range of issues with particular focus on commercial litigation, international and domestic arbitration. He has represented clients in commercial and corporate disputes concerning property rights, real estate, construction, shareholders' rights, breach of contract and many other regulatory legal issues. He also advises on criminal law concerning fraud and anti-bribery matters. Currently, he also acts as an arbitrator in Atameken Arbitration Center at the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs. Our clients appreciate his rich experience and knowledge, as well as his ability to build a clear and successful defense and attack strategies. Askar is currently working on a large case regarding rehabilitation of a debtor and enforcement of creditors’ rights by the client. The case involves multiple court proceedings. He routinely represents the largest Russian airline in Kazakh courts. Askar graduated from Kazakh National University and then received a Master's Degree in law from Queen Mary University (UK). He is fluent in English, Russian and Kazakh.

Assel Ilyassova

Assel Ilyassova is a Partner and the Head of the Tax and Customs Law Department at GRATA Law Firm. She has joined the firm in 2006.

Assel Illyasova

Assel Ilyassova is a Partner and the Head of the Tax and Customs Law Department at GRATA Law Firm. She has joined the firm in 2006. Previously, Assel worked in the Almaty City Tax Authority as a Senior Tax Inspector in charge of legal support of the Tax Committee, including representation of its interests in court. In 2004 Assel was declared the best officer of the Almaty City Tax Committee and in 2006 – the most efficient employee of GRATA International Law Firm.

Baizhan Bekzhanov

Baizhan Bekzhanov is a Partner in Natural Resources team of GRATA International. He focuses on energy and natural resources, M&A, labour law and dispute resolution. Baizhan has an extensive experience advising international and domestic clients on issues related to subsoil use regulation at deals on acquisition of subsoil use assets in Kazakhstan. He has a great experience in undertaking and supervising work for mining, oil and gas and services companies, including CNPC and its subsidiaries, North Caspian Operating Company (operator of Kashagan, the world's largest oil discovery of the last 40 years), Sinopec and its subsidiaries, Kazatomprom and its subsidiaries, Severstal, Nord Gold, Polymetal.

Baizhan Bekzhanov

Baizhan Bekzhanov is a Partner in Natural Resources team of GRATA International. He focuses on energy and natural resources, M&A, labour law and dispute resolution. Baizhan has an extensive experience advising international and domestic clients on issues related to subsoil use regulation at deals on acquisition of subsoil use assets in Kazakhstan. He has a great experience in undertaking and supervising work for mining, oil and gas and services companies, including CNPC and its subsidiaries, North Caspian Operating Company (operator of Kashagan, the world's largest oil discovery of the last 40 years), Sinopec and its subsidiaries, Kazatomprom and its subsidiaries, Severstal, Nord Gold, Polymetal.

Darya Zhanysbayeva

Darya Zhanysbayeva is a Partner of GRATA International. Darya focuses on commercial contracts, real estate and construction.

Igor Lukin

Igor Lukin is a Partner, Head of Corporate, Competition practices and Co-head of Labour practice of GRATA. Igor has more than 9 years’ experience in advising on arranging and closing M&A transactions, creating business ventures, corporate governance, competition issues and labour disputes. Prior to joining GRATA Igor worked for such major law firms as Dentons and Sayat Zholshy and Partners. Igor is a last year PhD candidate conducting his research in the field of corporate law. In 2015, he worked for Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law in Hamburg, Germany as a visiting researcher.

Igor Lukin

Igor Lukin is a Partner, Head of Corporate, Competition practices and Co-head of Labour practice of GRATA. Igor has more than 9 years’ experience in advising on arranging and closing M&A transactions, creating business ventures, corporate governance, competition issues and labour disputes. Prior to joining GRATA Igor worked for such major law firms as Dentons and Sayat Zholshy and Partners. Igor is a last year PhD candidate conducting his research in the field of corporate law. In 2015, he worked for Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law in Hamburg, Germany as a visiting researcher.

Kamila Urazalina

Kamila Urazalina is a Counsel of the Tax and Customs Law Department at GRATA Law Firm. Kamila joined GRATA after working as a consultant at Ernst & Young, Almaty, and a lawyer of the Customs Department of Almaty city.

Leila Makhmetova

Leila Makhmetova is counsel, Director of Environmental Law Department and Licenses and Permits Department of GRATA International. She focuses on litigation and dispute resolution, environmental law, health and safety, administrative law. Leila Makhmetova has extensive experience in environmental dispute resolution. Her success in representing clients has been constant and consistent. Leila’s clients include some of the most prominent figures in heavy industry. Previously, Leila was a Senior Lecturer at the Kazakh University of Law and Humanities and a legal expert at the Institute of Legislation governed by the Ministry of Justice of RK.

Liya Akzhanova

Liya Akzhanova has diverse knowledge in various fields of law. She joined «GRATA» law firm in 2011. Before working in large companies as the shipyard of the Mangystau region and Zhardem LLP in senior management roles, she worked as an accountant and HR manager. In the period from October 2018 to October 2019, she worked in the position of Secretary of the Board of Directors in Astana Financial Services Authority, Astana International Financial Centre (based on a common law jurisdiction)

Marina Kahiani

Marina Kahiani is one of the leading partners of GRATA International qualified to advise on Kazakhstani law and AIFC law. Marina focuses her practice on a wide range of finance transactions, including project finance, aircraft finance and capital markets, infrastructure transactions as well as M&A transactions, financial services regulation and workouts and debt restructurings in many industries.

Marina Kahiani

Marina Kahiani is one of the leading partners of GRATA International qualified to advise on Kazakhstani law and AIFC law. Marina focuses her practice on a wide range of finance transactions, including project finance, aircraft finance and capital markets, infrastructure transactions as well as M&A transactions, financial services regulation and workouts and debt restructurings in many industries. Her clients include international finance institutions such as Asian Development Bank (ADB), China Development Bank (CDB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), the World Bank; foreign financial institutions such as Bank of China (Hong Kong), the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, MasterCard, UBS, UniCredit Group and major local financial institutions including banks and microfinance organizations. Marina Kahiani joined GRATA Law Firm as a London representative office in September 2008, relocated to Almaty head office in 2009. Previously Ms. Kahiani worked for two years as a Banker at BTA Bank, International Funding Department. Marina has over 17 years of experience in Kazakhstani legal services market as well as experience in matters dealing with former Soviet Union.

Maxim Burak

Maxim Burak is a Partner at GRATA International in Astana. Maxim got a lot of experience and deep knowledge in the oil and gas industry, subsoil use and corporate transactions. Maxim’s experience includes obtaining the refusal of the state from the priority right to purchase the alienated subsoil use rights in mergers and acquisitions, consulting subsoil users on local content, implementation of full legal support additional agreements to contracts for subsoil use, in particular regarding the extension of the exploration period and the percentages of Kazakhstani content and implementation Due Diligence contracts on subsoil use.

Samat Daumov

Samat Daumov is a Partner and Director of GRATA International office in Astana. Samat pays significant attention to the management and development of the firm. From 2013 to 2019 he was acting as Managing partner of Kazakhstan offices.

Saule Akhmetova

Saule Akhmetova is a partner and the Director of the Almaty branch of GRATA International. She has extensive experience in various areas of law, including corporate law, taxation, investment, contract law, intellectual property law, data protection, and litigation. Saule has successfully represented and defended the interests of major international and Kazakh companies in negotiations with government agencies and local authorities on a wide range of issues. In addition, she has a successful track record in litigation, handling administrative and economic disputes and commercial, tax, and intellectual property litigation to protect clients' interests. Saule has authored numerous publications on applying local investment, taxation, intellectual property, and subsoil use legislation. Saule holds a License for advocate activity granted by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan and is a member of the Kazakhstan Bar Association. Saule graduated with honours from the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Furthermore, she obtained a PGC in Information Technology & Telecommunication Law from the University of Strathclyde. Currently, Saule is pursuing a PhD at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

Shaimerden Chikanayev

Banking and Finance

Shaimerden Chikanayev

Shaimerden Chikanayev advises international financial institutions, investors, sponsors, developers and government entities on energy and infrastructure transactions, including public-private partnerships (PPP) in Kazakhstan and rest of Central Asia and Caucuses. Shaimerden has developed concentrated knowledge in a wide range of industries, in particular in energy, healthcare, utilities and social infrastructure, and transportation. Mr. Chikanayev is admitted to practice in Kazakhstan from 2003 and he has an advocate status (member of the Almaty City Bar Association).

Shakhrukh Usmanov

Shakhrukh Usmanov is a Partner and Head of Trade and Industry and Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare departments. He advises and leads projects for many multinational companies in pharmaceutical, healthcare, consumer goods, information and technology industries on various matters including commercial, employment, tax, customs, intellectual property and litigation. Shakhrukh has an extensive experience on representation of pharmaceutical clients in negotiations with state authorities and third parties. He also successfully supervised representation of clients interests in a wide variety of judicial disputes in the Republic of Kazakhstan, both commercial and those in relation to actions of state authorities.

Timur Berekmoinov

Timur Berekmoinov is a Partner, Head of Intellectual Property team of GRATA International. He focuses on trademarks, patents, copyrights, commercialisation of IP, pre-trial protection of IP rights, protection of IP at the Border, IP litigation.

Timur Berekmoinov

Timur Berekmoinov is a Partner, Head of Intellectual Property team of GRATA International. He focuses on trademarks, patents, copyrights, commercialisation of IP, pre-trial protection of IP rights, protection of IP at the Border, IP litigation. Mr. Berekmoinov is a registered patent and trademark attorney in Kazakhstan. He has extensive experience in assisting with the registration of trademarks of national and foreign companies; analysing licencing agreements, assignment contracts and franchise agreements for the transfer of trademark rights; industrial property preparing and filing applications for registration of inventions, utility models, industrial designs; patent researches; preparation of warning letters from foreign and domestic companies to violators of their IP rights; representation of international corporations in courts of various levels and state agencies.

Yerbolat Yerkebulanov

Yerbolat Yerkebulanov is a Partner and Head of Subsoil Use Department (Almaty) of GRATA International. He has extensive experience in advising international clients on issues related to Oil & Gas, Mining, M&As, EPC contracts, commercial agreements, regulated procurements,

Yerbolat Yerkebulanov

Yerbolat Yerkebulanov is a Partner and Head of Subsoil Use Department (Almaty) of GRATA International. He has extensive experience in advising international clients on issues related to Oil & Gas, Mining, M&As, EPC contracts, commercial agreements, regulated procurements, Prior to joining GRATA International in November 2010 Yerbolat gained experience as a legal counsel in the largest cellular communications operating company in Kazakhstan (07/2001-01/2006) and in the company owning two hydrocarbons contracts (02/2006-10/2010). He has substantial experience in undertaking and supervising work for a number of oil and gas, mining and services companies, including, inter alia, Korean National Oil Corporation (KNOC), Rio Tinto, North Caspian Operating Company (Kashagan oil superfield), Polymetal, NordGold, Sinopec, Baker Hughes, Eurochem, Repsol, Pertamina, ENRC, CGNPC, Mubadala, MOL, JBIC, Tethys, MIE Holding, Severstal; or with regard to such companies as KPO (giant Karachaganak gas and condensate field), Maersk (Dunga field), Maten Petroleum, etc.

Yerzhan Yessimkhanov

Yerzhan Yessimkhanov is a Partner, Head of Telecommunication & Transport, Construction & Infrastructure department of GRATA International.

Yerzhan Yessimkhanov

Yerzhan Yessimkhanov is a Partner, Head of telecommunication & transport, construction & infrastructure department of GRATA International. Yerzhan has extensive experience in the areas of Construction and Infrastructure, Real Estate and Telecommunications. Prior to joining GRATA International, Yerzhan worked in the Kazakhstan Investment Fund group, in a major Kazakh development company, and in the largest international law firm. Yerzhan acted as a consultant on a number of large infrastructure projects realized over the last decade in Kazakhstan, including work as a head of the legal team of Kazakhstani largest ski resort reconstruction project realized within the frameworks of Asian Games 2011; leader of the team of consultants working on reconstruction of the largest electrical energy producing enterprise in Kazakhstan with overall project value of approximately US$ 700 million; and leader of the team of consultants representing Kazakhstan’s largest infrastructure construction company in several judicial proceedings with overall value of the claims of approx. US$ 70 million. Yerzhan led the project on legal support of launch of Uber service in Kazakhstan, and represented a shortlisted consortium of Spanish, French and Turkish companies in a second stage of public tender for construction and operation of Big Almaty Ring Road (BAKAD), including review and negotiations over concession agreement with the Ministry of Investments and Development.

Zaira Sarsenova

Zaira Sarsenova is a Partner and Branch Director of GRATA International in the city of Atyrau. She focuses on natural resources (oil and gas), transport and telecommunications, construction and infrastructure For almost 10 years of experience, Zaira has advised domestic and multinational corporations and built an impressive oil and gas, corporate and commercial practice. She has a great experience in undertaking and supervising work for oil and gas, mining and services companies on domestic and international level.

Zhandarbek Ramazan

Zhandarbek Ramazan is a Counsel and Co-Director of the Litigation Department at GRATA International, Kazakhstan. Zhandarbek has over 12 years of experience as a judge of the Specialised Interdistrict Economic Court of Almaty city, where he addressed the most complex commercial, corporate, construction, tax and environmental disputes. In addition, Zhandarbek represented clients in courts of general jurisdiction, arbitration courts, and in arbitration proceedings. Zhandarbek is an expert in tax and customs disputes. He chaired the hearing of a huge number of disputes in various categories of civil law relations, issue of many judicial acts, and thousands of hours of other court hearings. At GRATA International, Zhandarbek handles disputes of any complexity to potently protect our clients’ interests.

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