Biography: Competition

Rustam began his professional career in 1998 as a lawyer in one of the second-tier banks. In 1999, he joined Sayat Zholshy & Partners as a lawyer and was made partner in 2001.

As a legal adviser, he took part in the liquidation of a large Kazakhstan bank and a number of notable enterprises in the phosphoric and power industries. He has extensive experience in structuring and M&A transactions in accordance with the requirements of tax, corporate and antitrust laws.

In 2009 the firm's tax practice, headed by Rustam, was recognised as the best tax practice in Kazakhstan at the IV Corporate Lawyers Forum 2009. b

Rustam has carried out many due diligence projects for large local companies to investigate possible legal risks related to the acquisition of their business. His work focuses on the preparation and carrying out of transactions on the purchasing of facilities in the power and gas-transport industries, reorganisation of individual legal entities and holding companies. Additionally, he has conducted cases on the protection of client interests in relation to antimonopoly.

Rustam is a Fellow of the Almaty City Bar; the Association of Lawyers; and is an arbitrator of Kazakhstan International Court of Arbitration.

Rustam attended The Kazakh State University of Law, the Faculty of Entrepreneurial Law, and received his diploma with honours, 1998.

He speaks Russian and English.