Laws of the Astana International Financial Centre

The interest of business to the Astana International Financial Centre ("AIFC"), a special jurisdiction based on the principles of commercial laws of England and Wales, has been growing steadily over the past years.

In 2019, AEQUITAS became a participant of the AIFC. In 2024, AEQUITAS won the Excellence in Ancillary Services award as part of the AIFC Best Awards at the AIFC Astana Finance Days 2024 where prominent experts were awarded for their outstanding contributions to the AIFC development.

The firm's lawyers possess great experience and profound knowledge in the application of the current laws of the AIFC, its legal acts, and regularly undergo trainings organized by the AIFC Academy of Law. Our lawyers actively participate as the volunteer lawyers of the AIFC Law Pro Bono Office.

The firm's portfolio covers registration of major companies in the AIFC, obtainment of required licenses, successfully closed M&A projects, including benchmark cross-border transactions. Our M&A support includes full range of services starting from comprehensive legal due diligence up to registration of rights to acquired shares and assets.

Yekaterina Khamidullina, AEQUITAS Partner and Director of AEQUITAS AIFC Branch, studied at King’s College London where she acquired knowledge in the sphere of laws of England and Wales, international financing, regulation of cryptocurrencies, blockchain, financial technologies, and data protection.

In 2024, Tair Kulteleev, AEQUITAS Partner and Head of Registrations, was awarded a letter of appreciation by the AIFC management for the AIFC laws awareness raising activities. Tair is registered as a legal adviser for the AIFC laws issues and was included in the official list administered by the AIFC Legal Services Board.

Kirill Greshnikov, AEQUITAS Senior Associate, is highly experienced in advising clients on the issues of setting up and registering companies, doing business in the AIFC, advertising of cryptocurrencies, anti-money laundering, obtainment of the AFSA licenses, membership of the AIFC participants in the Astana International Exchange (AIX). In 2024, Kirill was accredited by the AIFC and now acts as AEQUITAS employee responsible for anti-money laundering and financing of terrorism.

Yerbol Almen, AEQUITAS Associate, is experienced in advising on the issues of registration of companies, labor laws of the AIFC, including the issues of cancellation of labor relations. He also published certain articles regarding the AIFC laws.

SERVICES

• Full legal support of registration of companies in the AIFC and provision of all types of post-registration services.
• Drafting of corporate/constituent documents for the companies registered in the AIFC.
• Advising on the issues of acquisition of companies in accordance with the current laws of the AIFC.
• Due diligence.
• Advising on the issues of corporate management in the AIFC, licensing, pledge of shares of the AIFC resident companies and AIX.
• Advising in the sphere of personal data protection, digital assets, activities of cryptocurrency exchanges, digital mining, turnover and advertising of cryptocurrencies.
• Issuing the good standing legal opinions regarding the legal capacity of legal entities registered in the AIFC.
• Advising regarding the issue of shares by the companies registered in the AIFC.
• Drafting of the partnership agreements under the AIFC laws.
• Advising on the issues of re-domiciliation of foreign legal entities to the AIFC territory.
• Drafting of employment contracts governed by the AIFC laws and advising on any issues of the labor laws of the AIFC.
• Advising regarding registration of currency contracts.
• Drafting of legal opinions regarding applicable sanctions and complex verification of information relating to shareholders, beneficial owners and entrepreneurial activities, which will be carried out in the AIFC, including the type of goods and/or services.
• Checking companies in the sanction lists of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), lists of the European Union, and checking the goods as to absence in the lists of double-purpose goods.
• Services of a process agent.
• Legal support of liquidation of legal entities and their structural subdivisions. Provision of services of an Official Liquidator under the AIFC laws.