Kazakhstan (asialaw)

Aequitas remains a top-tier choice for local counsel, specialising in banking and finance, labour and employment, M&A, natural resources and environmental law. The firm has been expanding in healthcare and pharmaceuticals, gaining recognition for specialist areas such as insurance, media and customs, while also venturing into bitcoin and cryptocurrency. Managing partner Olga Chentsova is a key contact. The firm welcomed Bernar Alikhan as an associate in October 2024, strengthening its corporate law and dispute resolution practices. In December 2024, associate Zhandaulet Sholanov departed the firm, where he had focused on banking and finance, energy, natural resources and competition matters. 

Artyushenko & Partners is a boutique law firm focusing on real estate and construction. The firm specialises in the construction, development and litigation segments of real estate. Partner Andrey Artyushenko heads the firm’s construction practice and is renowned for his experience in FIDIC and EPC construction contracts in Kazakhstan and ex-Soviet Union countries.

Bolotov & Partners is the leading IP specialist firm in the market. It provides services covering registrations of trademark, patent and copyright in Kazakhstan and other central Asian countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The firm assists in the protection and enforcement of trademark rights, preparation of assignment and licence agreements, matters related to copyright, utility models, and patent and domain name-related issues. Managing partner Yuri Bolotov is a registered patent and trademark attorney of Kazakhstan, with more than 20 years of experience.

Ernst & Young Kazakhstan's multidisciplinary legal team – established in 1992 as the first international professional services firm in the country – provides comprehensive advice across corporate, transaction, energy and natural resources sectors. Operating from offices in Astana, Almaty and Atyrau with approximately 700 professionals, the practice leverages its global network to deliver integrated solutions spanning employment, restructuring, environmental and tax matters. Key partners include Erlan Dosymbekov, managing partner for Kazakhstan and Central Asia, and Dinara Tanasheva, tax and law services leader. The firm strengthened its capabilities with the addition of director Alexey Kolegov from Denuo/DLA Piper in March 2025, enhancing its corporate M&A and real-estate practices. 

Grata International is ranked ‘Outstanding’ in general business law. The firm has been especially active in the natural resources sector in the past year, particularly in mining, and oil and gas. Partner Yerzhan Yessimkhanov has extensive experience in the areas of construction, infrastructure, real estate and telecommunications. 

Founded in 2005, CIS law firm Integrites provides legal services in the fields of banking and finance, competition/antitrust, corporate and M&A, dispute resolution, foreign trade and tax. Oil and gas is one of the firm’s key industry areas. The firm recently opened an office in Atyrau and relocated its Nur-Sultan office to the AIFC tower. Managing partner Kurmangazy Talzhanov leads a team in Almaty that includes partners with specialties in international arbitration and subsoil use.

KPMG Law Kazakhstan's corporate and M&A practice, led by partner Alexey Abramov, comprises 17 lawyers who offer versatile expertise. The team has advised on asset and share deals, complex restructurings and extensive due diligence reviews. Abramov heads KPMG Law in Caucasus and Central Asia. He has more than 20 years of legal consulting experience in real estate, corporate litigation projects, bankruptcy and restructuring.  

Linkage & Mind offers strong capabilities in corporate, energy and oil and gas matters. Recently, the firm’s corporate and finance group has been focused on several natural resources projects, winning new clients along the way. Partners Yerzhan Manasov and Madina Sypatayeva are the key contacts.

MG Partners is a full-service law firm in Kazakhstan with offices in Almaty, Astana and Karaganda. The firm offers services in corporate, commercial, dispute resolution, intellectual property, real estate, land law, blockchain, cryptocurrency, and tax law. With 70% of its clients being non-residents, MG Partners provides multilingual services in English, German and French. The firm has been working on cases involving fintech, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies, reflecting Kazakhstan's position as the third-largest global cryptocurrency mining hub. Senior partner Inna Ionova (Revazova) is a key contact. The firm saw two senior departures in the past year. Ex-partner Meruet Zhunubaeva left in January 2025 to establish her own practice, while former senior lawyer Alexandra Nechaeva joined Sayat Zholshy & Partners in August 2024. Both lawyers had focused on general commercial matters across various sectors. 

Redbrick Law Firm is well known for resolving complex commercial, tax and corporate disputes. The litigation practice covers a wide range of dispute areas while the corporate practice advises on mergers and acquisitions, complex corporate structures, restructurings and governance in cooperation with the litigation team to resolve corporate disputes. The firm's corporate lawyers are popular for M&A transactions involving private companies and the creation of corporate structures, restructurings and governance issues. Key partners include Rauan Dairbekov, Nurzhan Dairbekov and Ainura Dairbekova. 

S&O IP Kazakhstan is a respected team delivering international standard IP advice and services across a wide range of areas including trademarks, patents, copyrights and unfair competition. The firm's expertise is particularly valuable in light of Kazakhstan's role as a major transit route for counterfeit goods in the region of the ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative. S&O IP lawyers work closely with Kazakhstan enforcement authorities to combat IP infringements, which has become increasingly important as the country places new emphasis on IP protection. The firm's client base includes global brands and top-tier local clients across countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States, with industry strengths in fashion, sports, cosmetics, online entertainment, energy and IT sectors. Oleg Ovcharenko and Angelina Tarasova are key figures. In a significant move to bolster its enforcement capabilities, the firm hired Stanislav Kravchuk in January 2024, further enhancing its intellectual property practice.

With offices in Almaty and Astana, Sayat Zholshy & Partners has been serving its clients for more than two decades. The firm has partnered with the International Finance Corporation over the past three years on developing a corporate governance programme for Kazakhstan. Senior partner Arman Berdalin leads the firm’s Astana office and he is experienced in corporate governance and M&A. 

Signum Law Firm provides legal services in the areas of construction, corporate and M&A, dispute resolution, employment, IP and regulatory compliance. Last year the firm was engaged in a number of corporate, finance and regulatory projects that affected industry sectors and helped shape law enforcement practice. Managing partner Sofiya Zhylkaidarova has a record of advising oil & gas and mining companies for more than 20 years on strategic acquisitions and various subsoil use issues.  

Established in 2020, Tukulov & Kassilgov is a Kazakhstan law firm specialising in dispute resolution. Drawing on rich and unique experience of its partners Bakhyt Tukulov, Ravil Kassilgov, and Nataliya Shapovalova, the firm takes on complex cases.

Unicase provides legal services in the areas of corporate and M&A, finance and securities, dispute resolution, environment, labour and tax law. It recently expanded into the neighbouring Uzbekistan market with a new office in Tashkent that focuses on the full economic spectrum, from working on PPP projects to growing its renewables client base. Managing partner Saniya Perzadayeva is an expert in project finance and construction. Partners Artem Timoshenko, Zhanar Abdullayeva and Rausahana Chaltabayeva round out the leadership team.

Zan Hub specialises in business and investment matters in Kazakhstan. The firm has experience in foreign investment projects, state development programmes and strategic initiatives that impact the country's economy. The firm's work encompasses joint venture establishment in key industries, infrastructure project financing, and capital markets preparation. A key figure at Zan Hub is Akylbek Kussainov, a highly regarded partner specialising in corporate and M&A, antitrust, compliance, real estate, and digital economy. With over 10 years’ experience, Kussainov has been involved in large-scale transactions and is active in legislative and professional activities, including contributions to the scientific and practical commentary on the Business Code of Kazakhstan. Semion Issyk joined the firm as partner in January 2025 from White & Case in Kazakhstan. He specialises in general business law with a focus on capital markets, M&A, and banking and finance matters.