Mining in the CIS
Sources highlight a prevailing international interest in mining activity in the CIS. Our research uncovers 20 lawyers in four jurisdictions, praised for their expertise in this sought-after and heavily regulated industry.
Five names feature from Macleod Dixon ELP, with a 3:2 split between Russia and Kazakhstan. Moscow-based Levon Kocharyan is an “outstanding practitioner with a very impressive practice”. Frequently credited as “leading in the field”, Kocharyan has over 17 years of experience, during which he has developed a quality and depth of expertise that garners international acclaim as “one of the finest mining lawyers in the CIS”. Aydin Jebrailov is praised for his “expert management of large-scale transactions” and “invaluable assistance [to clients] on complex regulatory compliance issues”. Anatoly Andriash is a “first-class practitioner” and provides an “exceptional client service”. Maxim Telemtayev manages the firm’s practice in the Kazakhstan and in other central Asian countries from the Almaty office. A “go-to name” for international companies, sources highlight his “exceptional calibre” in the M&A and mining areas. Yerzhan Kumarov is “very highly regarded” for his “broad commercial know-how”.
Four lawyers are listed from Baker & McKenzie - CIS Limited. One of the most highly regarded individuals in our Russian mining research, Alexey Frolov, is a “meticulous practitioner” and a “reliable, sensible and trusted adviser”. CIS managing partner Carol Patterson is “very effective” and supervises a talented team on significant mining transactions in Russia. In Ukraine, Svitlana Romanova is “excellent”. In Kazakhstan, Azamat Kuatbekov is “terrific” and “always a pleasure to work with”.
Two names are listed from SNR Denton. In Kazakhstan, Marla Valdez is “an absolute must for inclusion” and one of the most highly nominated practitioners in our research. Karen Krug is a “very strong practitioner”.
At Chadbourne & Parke LLP, Kenneth Mack is the managing partner of the firm’s office in Kazakhstan, renowned for his mining and oil and gas expertise and highlighted by contributors for his “superb” mining pedigree. Joining him on the list, Victor Mokrousov is “tremendously knowledgeable” and “an invaluable industry resource”.
White & Case Kazakhstan LLP’s Marat Ibragimov is repeatedly recommended to researchers, as one eminent source attests, “he is a fantastic lawyer; highly experienced with a good academic background”. In Russia, Marc Polonsky is a name that contemporaries “hold in high esteem”, advising the likes of YUKOS Oil Company, BNP Paribas and PetroNeft Resources Plc.
Olga Chentsova at Aequitas is a “very prominent practitioner” with a noteworthy client base of major international mining companies. Fellow partner Natalya Braynina receives high industry applaud as an “experienced, very knowledgeable adviser” and is also highly recommended in our oil and gas and M&A chapters.
At Grata Law Firm in Kazakhstan, Rashid Gaissin is a “sharp lawyer”. Aicholpon Jorupbekova is “highly recommended” from Kalikova & Associates in Kyrgyzstan and in the Ukraine, LMP Law Firm’s Christina Maciw is “a sound practitioner” and “a joy to work with”.