Kazakhstan is a key market for many businesses and continues to offer growth and investment opportunities. 

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer has a leading practice in Kazakhstan and has for many years served the needs of clients, across a range of sectors, doing business in the Republic. Our Kazakhstan Group supports clients with comprehensive, in-depth knowledge of the Kazakh legal and business environment.

We help our clients, both local and those investing into Kazakhstan, particularly in the energy sector, drawing on our experience negotiating with local interests on major projects. Through our extensive experience of advising on transactions and disputes in and relating to Kazakhstan, we understand how projects are managed in the region and the particular challenges they bring – whether in contentious or transactional matters, in JV matters, in procurement or against contractors.

Our team can work in Russian and English and coordinates activities between our global lawyers and local counsel.

We have advised on some of the largest energy and natural resources projects in the country, including Project Balkhash, Ekibaztus GRES, Tengiz, Karachaganak and the Kashagan oil and gas developments.

We can help you with:

  • corporate law
  • projects and infrastructure
  • construction
  • energy
  • capital markets
  • finance
  • dispute resolution

Experience

A confidential trading house

A confidential trading house in connection with a US$55 million loan to, and offtake arrangements with, a Kazakh mining company

ABN AMRO, Vitol and the other lenders (including MUFG)

ABN AMRO, Vitol  and the other lenders (including MUFG) on a US$1 billion prepayment financing to KMG Kashagan, based on flows from the Kashagan mega-field (Energy Finance Deal of the Year – TXF Perfect 10 Awards 2017)

A multinational energy company

A multinational energy company on disputes arising from the recovery of tax payments from the Republic of Kazakhstan following the importation of oil and gas technology equipment

A Swiss corporate investor

A Swiss corporate investor on investment treaty claims arising from tax audits, retrospective fines and penalties and the tax classification of its business model in the Republic of Kazakhstan

A Kazakh subsidiary of an energy multinational

A Kazakh subsidiary of an energy multinational in an UNCITRAL arbitration in relation to a multinational oil pipeline capacity dispute seated in Stockholm

A leading multinational energy consortium

A leading multinational energy consortium in Kazakhstan on disputes with the Republic of Kazakhstan arising from audit exceptions in an Annual Work Program & Budget

Key contacts

Steven Dalton photo

Steven Dalton

Partner, London, Ukraine Group, Nordic Group, Kazakhstan Group and Central Asia Group

Danila Logofet photo

Danila Logofet

Partner, Riyadh, Middle East, Central Asia Group and Kazakhstan Group

Craig Tevendale photo

Craig Tevendale

Partner, Head of Energy, UK, London, Africa Group, Central Asia Group and Kazakhstan Group

Olga Melo Zanelli photo

Olga Melo Zanelli

Partner, Paris, Kazakhstan Group, Korea Group and Central Asia Group

Dr Patricia Nacimiento photo

Dr Patricia Nacimiento

Partner, Germany, Central Asia Group, Kazakhstan Group, Latin America Group and Ukraine Group

William Breeze photo

William Breeze

Partner, London, Africa Group, Kazakhstan Group, Latin America Group and Central Asia Group

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