LEADER ON THE LEGAL SERVICES MARKET

Aequitas Law Firm was established in January 1993, a year after Kazakhstan's declaration of independence.  At that time, the country was in an extremely difficult economic situation, while the existing post-soviet legislation did not conform to the developing market relations.  However, owing to their academic knowledge combined with the practical experience of work with the state agencies, foreign trade companies and scientific institutions, the lawyers of the firm were able to offer the clients adequate solutions to problems during the period of Kazakhstan's transition to the market economy thus gaining their primary invaluable professional background.

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

Due to its utmost commitment and strict adherence to the high quality service principle, the firm has attained the leading position among the law firms in Kazakhstan.

Over the past years, Aequitas has been one of the Kazakhstan's most recommended law firms in international legal guides and publications, including Chambers Global (The World’s Leading Lawyers, European Counsel, Global Counsel and Legal 500) and has been ranked among the best in Corporate and Commerce, Energy and Mineral Resources, Banking and Capital, Energy and Natural Resources and some other areas.

We can proudly state that our clients are major international corporations and financial institutions representing such world famous brands as ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, Tengizchevroil, Kazakhmys, World Bank, EBRD, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse, RBS (Kazakhstan), ABN AMRO, AIG, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, ING Bank, Chase Manhattan Bank, Citigroup, Fitch Ratings, GE, Volvo, Access Industries, Oriflame and other.

The firm's reputation is supported by close professional ties with the world's largest international law firms, including Debevoise & Plimpton, Norton Rose, Linklaters, Freshfields Bruckhouse Deringer, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Vinson & Elkins, Allen & Overy, LeBoeuf, Baker Botts, Herbert Smith, and by corporate and personal membership in professional organizations, such as IBA (International Bar Association), AIPN (Association of International Petroleum Negotiators), EUROBAK (European Business Association of Kazakhstan) and KPLA (Kazakhstan Petroleum Lawyers' Association).

Aequitas is a member of CIS Leading Counsel Network (LCN) (more...). Also testifying to the firm's high qualification is election of Aequitas lawyers as judges and arbitrators of the courts of arbitration under the Chambers of Trade and Industry of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, IAC (International Arbitration Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan), International Court of Arbitration of IUS Legal Center, KIA (Kazakhstan International Arbitrage) and ICAC (International Commercial Arbitration Court).

The firm's potential allows providing a full spectrum of legal services: we are capable of rendering assistance on practically all issues our clients may have arising in Kazakhstan, be it legal support of integrated projects, advice on various civil law matters, establishment of new companies, obtainment of licenses or representation in courts at any level.

Aequitas is widely known for its research and analytical work and over the past several years the firm has been preparing reviews on various areas of Kazakhstan legislation for IBA (Getting the Deal Through annual report) and World Bank (Doing Business in… annual reports).  Our lawyers' analytical articles and reviews on different aspects of Kazakhstan legislation are regularly published in specialized magazines and analytical-and-legal compendia in Kazakhstan and abroad.

The firm’s partners have been actively participating in the development and improvement of the most important acts of Kazakhstan's civil and economic legislation, including such fundamental laws as the Civil Code, Foreign Investment Law, Petroleum Law, Subsoil Law, Law on International and Commercial Arbitration, various laws on legal entities, etc.

The firm has a head office in Almaty and offices in Astana and Atyrau.  Apart from Russian, Aequitas lawyers and most of the personnel speak English, Kazakh and other languages.  The firm's staff also includes professional translators, which enables services of the highest quality in languages most widely used in business practice.