Most Highly Regarded Firms: CIS 2010 - Mining
Mining is a key industry in the CIS region and our research uncovers 25 lawyers in four countries who are considered leaders in this competitive marketplace.
Macleod Dixon LLP places six lawyers in this chapter. Maxim Telemtayev supervises the firm’s practice in Kazakhstan and Central Asia alongside managing the Almaty office, and he was recognised for his transactional, financing and complex reorganisation work on behalf of domestic and cross-border mining companies. Project finance “expert” Yerzhan Kumarov and “up and coming” associate Alexey Bukhtiyarov are also listed in Kazakhstan. Moscow-based Levon Kocharyan specialises in transactions and joint ventures with particular focus on precious metals. Also placing highly in the Russia capital is the “excellent” Aydin Jebrailov, who has extensive experience of negotiating, structuring and financing subsoil transactions as well as advising clients on regulatory and environmental issues. Antoly Andriash is managing partner of the firm in Russia and has a “great reputation” for acquisitions, dispositions, project financings and IPOs, and also has an in-depth knowledge of the Kyoto protocol and its application in Russia.
At Baker & McKenzie, Alexey Frolov’s practice combines mining with oil and gas work and he frequently advises major international gold mining companies in their operations in Russia. Carol Patterson joins him in Moscow where she acts as managing partner and represents international mining companies making investments and acquisitions in the region. Azamat Kuatbekov is based in Almaty and recently represented several Kazakh subsidiaries of a major US power company in proceedings against the Kazakh antimonopoly authority. The “outstanding” John Connors is managing partner of the Almaty office and he advises foreign clients investing in mining and power projects in Central Asia. Azamat Chinetov is also recognised in Kazakhstan. In Ukraine Svitlana Romanova is praised for her dispute resolution work on behalf of international power companies.
Marc Polonsky divides his time between the London and Moscow offices of White & Case LLP and specialises in corporate acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and financings in the energy and natural resources sectors. Marat Ibragimov represents the Almaty office where he focuses on disputes, M&A and capital markets work for energy companies.
Ivan Trifonov is managing partner of Squire Sanders & Dempsey LLP’s Moscow office and has extensive experience with corporate and regulatory legislation in the CIS and Central Asia. Sergey Treshchev is also listed at this office and earned praise for his international trade, leasing and other transactional work in the sector. Elsewhere in Russia, Michael Cuthbert is Clifford Chance’s regional managing partner for the CEER and is well known for his project structuring in the natural resources and energy industries. At Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Sergei Diyachenko is “highly rated” for his knowledge of acquisitions, joint ventures and investments in the oil and gas and mining sectors.
Aequitas is represented on our list by managing partner Olga Chentsova and Natalya Braynina, who combine a practice in energy law with a strong environmental focus.
Elsewhere in Kazakhstan, Kenneth Mack is managing partner of the Almaty office and renowned for his experience in this area and for his oil and gas work. He recently acted for a major local mining company in due diligence on its assets and its merger with a London Stock Exchange listed company. Marla Valdez is managing partner of Denton Wilde Sapte’s Central Asia practice and founded both of the firm’s offices in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Regarded as a “fantastic natural resources lawyer”, her energy work was also brought to the attention of researchers.
Other local leaders stood out in our research. Christina Maciw is head of CMS Cameron McKenna’s energy and projects team in Kiev and “well known throughout Ukraine”. In Armenia, Edith Khachatourian of International Legal Consulting is a “real asset to her clients”, while Aicholpon Jorupbekova of Kalikova & Associates in Kyrgyzstan was repeatedly recommended to researchers.