Most Highly Regarded Firms: CIS 2010 - Project Finance
Our research identifies 46 leading project finance lawyers in the region.
Magisters has a strong contingent, with four lawyers featured. Olga Khoroshylova heads the capital markets, banking and finance group in Ukraine while Dmitry Dementyev in Moscow “is a fine lawyer”. Marta Khomyak heads the Astana office in Kazakhstan and Anna Rusetskaya provides “excellent counsel” in finance issues relating to Belarus.
At Salans in Kazakhstan Aigoul Kenjebayeva has particular expertise regarding foreign investments into the country and the Caspian region while the “highly practical and business-minded” Abai Shaikenov also advises a range of clients in the banking, real estate and oil and gas sectors. In Kiev managing partner Oleg Batyuk is a member of the board of the central and East European practice group and advises major international companies and financial institutions regarding investments in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova.
We list two lawyers at Linklaters LLP in Russia. Michael Bott advises a range of clients including lenders, borrowers, export credit agencies and multilateral institutions; Daniel Tyrer is “very knowledgeable particularly in the energy sector” and has over 10 years of experience in this industry. Elsewhere in Russia, at Herbert Smith LLP Alexander Currie has worked on numerous large project financings including Gazprom and Wintershall on the €3 billion project financing to develop one of Russia’s largest gas fields. Edward Baring is also highly recommended. Dmitri Nikiforov of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP chairs the firm's Moscow Office and is very well regarded while Alan Kartashkin is “superb”. At Allen & Overy LLP, the “highly knowledgeable” Anthony Humphrey is global head of the Russia practice group and managing partner of the Moscow office. We also identify Tatiana Kachalina of Liniya Prava who is reported to be a “great lawyer”. Anton Klyachin of Salomons provides a “first-rate service” regarding investments into the country.
Our research identifies a further seven leading lawyers in Kazakhstan. Aequitas has two lawyers listed. Tatyana Suleyeva is a co-founder and deputy managing partner of the firm and has “excellent experience” relating to the structuring of transactions and investments in the country. Semion Issyk advises a number of financial groups and institutions and is rated highly in our research. Kenneth Mack is a managing partner of Chadbourne & Parke LLP and has extensive experience in transactions involving Central Asia and Russia. The “brilliant” Sergei Vataev has drafted documents for complex project finance transactions involving innovative use of payment and debt instruments. At Denton Wilde Sapte’s Kazakhstan branch Joel Benjamin represents clients in various industries including oil and gas, mining, banking, electricity, aviation, and telecommunications and media. At Grata Law Firm, managing partner Rashid Gaissin heads the banking and finance department and counsels multinationals and financial institutions. Walter Daniel of White & Case LLP focuses on international oil and gas matters and has previously advised an international consortium on the concession and other Kazakh law issues associated with the proposed US$6 billion financing of a petrochemical complex in the Atyrau region of Kazakhstan.
From the seven outstanding lawyers in our Ukraine list, DLA Piper LLP provides two. Illya Muchnyk is a “star” and advises leading banking and financial institutions and major Ukrainian industrial groups. Oleksandr Kurdydyk leads the finance and projects practice in Ukraine and has significant industry experience in the energy, transport and telecommunications sectors. At Asters Oleksiy Didkovskiy is a “highly skilful lawyer”. From Frishberg & Partners Vladimir Lukovich provides “highly astute” counsel while Oleg Vysochinsky of Grischenko & Partners is a “fantastic lawyer”. At Ilyashev & Partners, Maksim Kopeychykov is “a very worthy lawyer that should be on the list”, while Valentyn Zagariya is also highly regarded in the region.
We select six professionals in Azerbaijan. From Baker & McKenzie Aykhan Asadov is “very impressive”. His partner Vagif Karimli has an “outstanding” practice. MGB Law Offices has two representatives in this chapter: Ismail Askerov advises a number of major oil and gas corporations and also acts for multinational financial institutions on the financing of major vessel and aircraft operators in Azerbaijan. Elchin Mammadov is “certainly a leader in the region” and his previous experience has involved acting for HypoVereinsbank on a US$30 million structured financing in Azerbaijan and abroad. BM Law Firm also has two lawyers on our list. Dilyara Israfilova is “very good” and previously represented a Swiss bank in connection with a US$5 million financing of a fuel conversion and retrofit of Nakhichevan Power Plant. Farhad Mirzayev is “well respected” and has been listed.
In Belarus our research identifies a strong contingent at Borovtsov & Salei. Alexander Botian “is certainly one of the best” while managing partner Vassili Salei is seen as a “world class” lawyer. The “highly accomplished” co-managing partner Maksim Salahub of Sorainen Law Offices advises a number of international financial institutions, transnational corporations and prominent foreign investors venturing into Belarus while at Vlasova Mikhel & Partners Tatiana Emelianova is a “highly respected lawyer”.
In Armenia our research identifies three outstanding lawyers. At Ameria Legal Practice Andrew Mkrtchyan is “the man for project finance in Armenia” and Karen Babalyan is also well respected in this jurisdiction. At Arlex International Ltd managing partner Thomas Samuelian “is an expert” and has over 20 years of experience in international practice.
At Kalikova & Associates in Kyrgyzstan managing partner Gulnara Kalikova is a “very adept lawyer” with a specialism in project finance.
Turcan & Turcan have two representatives listed in Chisinau. Alexander Turcan is “highly reputable” while Octavian Cazac has “a very good understanding of clients’ needs”.