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

Herbert Smith Freehills 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 leading multinational energy consortium

a leading multinational energy consortium in Kazakhstan on prospective treaty arbitration cases against the Republic of Kazakhstan arising from the imposition of environmental fines and penalties arising from the corrosion and fracture of a sour gas pipeline in 2013 and worth more than USD 700 million

a leading multinational energy consortium

a leading multinational energy consortium in Kazakhstan on disputes with the Republic of Kazakhstan concerning tax audit issues and the correct treatment of Export Customs Duties ("ECDs") under Kazakh law

a leading multinational energy consortium

a leading multinational energy consortium in Kazakhstan on pricing disputes with a JSC Kaztransgas subsidiary arising from increased tariffs imposed by a state entity for the transportation of dry gas, including advice on expert determination, treaty arbitration and local court remedies

a consortium of energy companies

a consortium of energy companies on contractor claims arising from productivity issues, disputed variation orders and related matters arising at an oil and gas megaproject in the Republic'

an international E&P company

an international E&P company in Kazakhstan on pricing disputes arising under a 20 year GSA with an Asian counterparty and subject to expert determination

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)

Key contacts

Steven Dalton photo

Steven Dalton

Partner, London

Steven Dalton
Danila Logofet photo

Danila Logofet

Partner, Dubai

Danila Logofet
Craig Tevendale photo

Craig Tevendale

Partner, London

Craig Tevendale
Olga Melo Zanelli photo

Olga Melo Zanelli

Partner, Paris

Olga Melo Zanelli
Dr Patricia Nacimiento photo

Dr Patricia Nacimiento

Partner, Germany

Dr Patricia Nacimiento
William Breeze photo

William Breeze

Partner, London

William Breeze
David Nitek photo

David Nitek

Partner, London

David Nitek
Jeremy Garson photo

Jeremy Garson

Partner, London

Jeremy Garson

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