Natural Resources

Our team has a long-term experience in subsurface-related area of law and a deep knowledge of economic and technical facets of this sector.

Our services are procured by oil & gas and allied enterprises, including, exploration, production, processing, transportation and other service companies who support oil & gas businesses in the country. Our natural resources lawyers always try to find optimal and unconventional solutions for the most challenging problems. Our expertise spans a broad range of services, including, but not limited to, advice on how to obtain and/or transfer a subsoil use right and relevant licenses and permits, comprehensive legal support throughout the entire process of natural recourses management, representation and defence in courts and government authorities, etc.

Comprehensive transaction support in connection with the acquisition of promising oil deposits in the Aktobe and Atyrau Oblasts, including the drafting of a foreign investment agreement and its extensive discussion, both inside and outside Kazakhstan, for a number of months

Comprehensive legal support in connection with the acquisition of a fuel retail network (including 80 retail facilities throughout Kazakhstan) by a foreign investor

In a project implying the acquisition of control over a large Kazakhstan field, elaborating a strategy for protection of (i) an investor against potential actions on the part of the Seller and (ii) the Client’s investments against any claims of the government, including, but not limited to, the collection and analysis of information about the prevailing practice in the treatment of investors’ claims against the Republic of Kazakhstan from the perspective of international treaties/conventions

Representing a major foreign-invested oil and gas producer in connection with the appeal against a tax notice received from Kazakhstan tax authorities in relation to a production sharing agreement

Representing the largest Kazakhstan petroleum product distributor in connection with the appeal against actions of antitrust authorities

Representing a major oil and gas service company in arbitration proceedings initiated by a counteragent who claimed damages, and working on a counterclaim for enforcement of contractual obligations

Successful defence of a major oil producer operating in the Mangistau Oblast, Republic of Kazakhstan, in a lawsuit arguing unlawful assessment of extra taxes and other obligatory payments to the budget totalling to 65 mln US dollars by Kazakhstan tax authorities

Successful defence of a major foreign-invested oil producer in the Atyrau Oblast, Republic of Kazakhstan, in a lawsuit arguing unlawful assessment of extra taxes and other obligatory payments to the budget totalling to 8 mln US dollars by Kazakhstan tax authorities

Representing and defending a leading undertaking on the Kazakhstan fuel market in a lawsuit arguing allegations of dominance abuse and unlawful assessment of monopoly gains in the amount of approximately 70 mln US dollars

Challenging (in the court of first instance) the findings of an antitrust investigation conducted by the Kazakhstan Antitrust Authority who accused the Client of dominance abuse on the fuel retail market (the Client was dominating on the fuel retail market in most of Kazakhstan regions)

Arranging for the issuance, maintenance and renewal of permits for employment of over 90 foreign employees of an East European oil and gas service company providing drilling, overhaul, engineering, maintenance, operation and inspection services to oil and gas field operators in Kazakhstan

Representing an oil producer in connection with the litigation over severance package which resulted in the complete denial of the severance pay to the Client’s former employees

Issuing a legal opinion on the matters arising from the IPO of a Kazakhstan oil company on the London Stock Exchange

Rendering legal assistance with the drafting of a crude oil pledge and security agreement covering the floating charge over stock, on the one side, and the charge of a future asset, on the other side

Conducting a comprehensive legal due diligence of a Kazakhstan oil and gas producer at the request of a shareholder thereof; Analysing a prospectus of share issue from the perspective of Kazakhstan law; and Issuing a legal opinion on the IPO process

Arranging for the issuance, maintenance and renewal of permits for employment of over 40 foreign employees of a UK-based international oil and gas service company providing well development and testing services in a number of Kazakhstan regions

Challenging a tax notice received by a major oil and gas service company from Kazakhstan tax authorities in connection with unlawful tax assessments

Arranging for the registration of a trademark of a major Kazakhstan LNG carrier

Issuing a legal opinion and commentary on corporate matters arising out of a joint venture between the Client and a Kazakhstan competent authority

Arranging for the simultaneous issuance of two licenses and considerable quotes for two affiliated oil and gas service companies whose operations involve the use of hydrochloric acid

Arranging for the issuance and maintenance of numerous licenses for well drilling, testing, overhaul and related services provided by an oil and gas service company