Aequitas Law Firm was founded in January 1993, a year after proclamation of Kazakhstan independence. During that time the country was in a very difficult economic situation and the existing post-soviet legislation did not meet the requirements to the developing market relations.  However, owing to academic knowledge, combined with work in the state agencies, foreign trade companies, and scientific institutions, the lawyers of the firm were able to offer to the clients an adequate resolution of their problems during the period of Kazakhstan's transition to the market economy, and gained very valuable experience of providing legal services.

Yuri G. Bassin Professor, Doctor of Law, the Honored Worker of Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, was one of the founders of the firm.

Due to a tremendous self-devotion and strict compliance with the principle of high professional level of services, the firm gained a leading position among the law firms in Kazakhstan.

Over the recent years, the worldwide law directories European Counsel 3000, Global Counsel 3000 and "Legal 500"named Aequitas as one of the most recommended law firms of Kazakhstan.  Chambers Global - The World's Leading Lawyers edition recognized Aequitas as a leader in the corporate and commercial law sector and in the energy and natural resources section and in a number of other nominations, including a banking and finance sector.

We are proud that that we can name among our clients major multinational corporations and financial institutions which represent the world-known brands as ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco; Tengizchevroil; Kazakhmys; World Bank; EBRD; JP Morgan; Merrill Lynch; Credit Swisse; RBS Kazakhstan; AIG; BNP Paribas; Deuthsche Bank; HSBC; ING Bank; Chase Manhattan Bank; Citigroup; Fithch Ratings; GE; Volvo; Access Industries; Oriflame, and others.

The prestige of the firm is also confirmed by close professional contacts with the major international law firms, including Debevoise & Plimpton; Norton Rose; Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Vinson & Elkins; Allen & Overy; Dewey & LeBoeuf; Baker Botts, as well as by corporate and personal membership in professional organizations, including IBA (International Bar Association), AIPN (Association of International Petroleum Negotiators), EUROBAK (European Business Association of Kazakhstan), KPLA (Kazakhstan Petroleum Lawyers Association).

Aequitas is a member of CIS Leading Counsel Network (LCN)

High qualification of our firm is evidenced by the firm's lawyers being members of the arbitration tribunals and courts of arbitration under the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic, International Arbitration Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan (IAC), International Arbitration Tribunal of the Legal Center "IUS," Kazakhstan International Arbitrage (KIA) and International Commercial Arbitration Court (ICAC).

The potential of the firm allows providing our clients with a full range of legal services: we can render assistance in almost every matter which may arise with our clients in Kazakhstan, whether a legal support of complex projects, advising, establishment of new ventures, licenses obtaining, or representation in the court of any level.

One of the well-known aspects of the activity of the firm is research and  analytical work.  Over the recent years, Aequitas makes reviews of the various branches of the Kazakhstan legislation for the IBA (annual publication «Getting the deal through»); for the World Bank (annual reports of the World Bank - Doing Business in [2005, 2006, 2007]).  Analytical papers and reviews of our lawyers on the various aspects of Kazakhstan law are regularly published in specialized journals and analytical legal reviews in Kazakhstan and abroad.

Partners of the firm directly participated in the development and improvement of the most important acts of civil and economy legislation of Kazakhstan, including such basic laws such as the Civil Code, the Law on Foreign Investments, the Law on Petroleum, the Subsoil Law and Subsoil Use, the Law on PSA, the Law on International Arbitration Courts and Commercial Arbitration, laws on different legal entities, etc.

The firm has a spacious, well-equipped modern office in downtown Almaty, and also branch offices in Astana and Atyrau.  Most of our lawyers and staff are English-speaking; we also have professional translators on the staff, which makes it possible to provide high-quality services in languages most commonly used in business.