Biography: Project Finance

Semion specialises in civil law and corporate law, with a focus on M&A, banking, securities and derivatives, financial transactions, currency regulation, bankruptcy and labour law.

Before joining Aequitas in 2004, he worked as a paralegal at a law firm in London.

Recent major projects he has participated in include: advising different international financial groups and institutions (as lead managers) and Kazakh banks on more than 10 different international Euronotes and hybrid securities issues by SPVs of a number of major banks in Kazakhstan; advising different international financial groups and institutions (as lead managers) on international IPOs of a number of major Kazakh banks; advising an international bank (as the bidder and potential acquirer) on the acquisition of two major Kazakh banks, advising the country's major copper mining company and lead managers on the company's international IPO; advising an international rating company on a number of securitisation projects by major banks in Kazakhstan; and advising several international banks on syndicated project, corporate, construction, trade and other business financing, including advising on different types of security available for such financing (including advising on pledge of subsoil use right and dealing with grain and cotton receipts). As well, he has represented the international bank and the international insurance company in Kazakh courts; and advised different international financial groups and institutions on licensing, securities, derivatives, finance, corporate and M&A, currency control, labour, and other Kazakh legislation matters.

He graduated with honours from the Academy of Jurisprudence – Higher Law School Adilet (2003); he holds an LLM from the University of Westminster, London, 2004.

He speaks Russian and English.