Sectors

Manufacturing Industry, Trade and Services

Description Experience

Manufacturing Industry, Trade and Services

SIGNUM offers a wide range of services to companies working in manufacturing industries, trade and services.

Our experience includes full legal support in business incorporation in Kazakhstan, legal consulting on investment contracts and preferences, drafting and reviewing contracts/agreements with customers/suppliers, obtaining statutory operational, manufacturing and other licenses, approvals, certifications.

Having representatives in almost all regions of Kazakhstan, we can effectively and promptly arrange for obtainment of licenses and permissions (including required approvals of local authorities).

Notwithstanding some liberalization of government regulations, strict requirements still remain in relation to obtaining licenses, permissions and certifications for manufacturing/import/use of certain products (equipment, materials) and to carrying out certain activities.

We, therefore, believe that comprehensive and timely legal advice is essential to our clients.

Service includes the following directions

Contracts and Business Law
Corporate
Mergers and Acquisitions
Tax
Dispute resolution and litigation
Regulatory compliance and environment
Employment and labour
Corporate Investigations

“Excellent work both in analysis and execution. Dedicated and trustable professionals.”

Asialaw Profiles, 2018

Experience

Contracts and Business Law

SIGNUM lawyers have successfully represented the interests of the Client in court proceedings in relation to claims for the recognition of pledge agreements as invalid, recognition of the pledging of leased assets as illegal and the release the encumbered assets;
Representing Turkish construction company in acquisition of construction material plant; further restructuring of transaction in the section concerning a change in obligations due to partial replacement of acquisition subject;
Legal advice for large Italian servicing company in application of provisions of contract for piles and flare fabrication, assembly and installation in respect of distribution of responsibilities;
Legal advice on application of Kazakhstani laws for an international arbitration regarding EPC contract (under FIDIC rules);
Due diligence of malt producing company within framework of obtaining loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development;
Drafting service contracts on drilling of 30 wells for large drilling contractor with main focus on responsibility and insurance issues;
Drafting foundation documents for the Food Consortium proposed by the Islamic Development Bank for the countries of Central Asia and Russia;
Due diligence for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on $18.5 million project loan provided to Kazakhstan-based member of international group of malt manufacturing companies;
Legal advice for large off-shore subcontractor on marine laws and use of vessels; drafting and developing drafts of bareboat-charter agreements, registration of vessels in Aktau seaport.

Corporate

Legal advice on bond issue by LLP with purpose of tax optimization;
Due diligence for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on $18.5 million project loan provided to Kazakhstan-based member of international group of malt manufacturing companies;
Legal advice on insolvency issues under Kazakhstani laws for large international oil-trading company on $15 million dispute;
Due diligence of group of companies (including one of major refineries) belonging to one holding structure in light of its possible acquisition by group of Indian investors;
Due diligence of malt producing company within framework of obtaining loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development;
Drafting foundation documents for the Food Consortium proposed by the Islamic Development Bank for countries of Central Asia and Russia;
Structuring and incorporation of joint venture between large Italian oil-service company and local company for major off-shore oil projects;
Legal advice on incorporation and structuring of joint venture between the world’s leader on engineering and geological research on the sea and land and the collection and interpretation of data and the leading Kazakhstan Engineering Company including representation of the client in negotiations with the partner and the involved state authorities and preparation of the drafts of all main documents on the transaction.

Tax

Providing legal advice to a large European service company on application of customs duty exemptions provided by PSA to subcontractors;
Legal advice for large European service company on tax and customs regulations of special economic zone “Seaport Aktau”;
Legal advice for Kazakhstani founder of UK company with regard to taxation and applicability of Double Taxation Treaty;
Dispute between Dutch provider of geophysical services and the Tax Committee – a case following VAT inspection and the charging of over $300,000 in VAT for geological and geophysical services;
Dispute between international outsourcing company and the Tax Committee – a case following a complex tax inspection and the charging of over $400,000 in PIT, Social Tax and payments to pensions funds;
Legal advice for large construction company on litigation with tax authorities on CIT and VAT.

Dispute Resolution and Litigation

SIGNUM lawyers have successfully represented the interests of the Client in court proceedings in relation to claims for the recognition of pledge agreements as invalid, recognition of the pledging of leased assets as illegal and the release the encumbered assets;
PSA operator and Kazakhstani oil transporting company dispute – a $2.3-million case following early termination of a contract for oil loading services;
Kazakhstani oil corporation and drilling company dispute – pre-court settlement of $1.5-million dispute under a contract for drilling wells;
Dispute between Dutch provider of geophysical services and the Tax Committee – a case following VAT inspection and the charging of over $300,000 in VAT for geological and geophysical services;
Dispute between international outsourcing company and the Tax Committee – a case following a complex tax inspection and the charging over $400,000 in PIT, Social Tax and payments to pensions funds;
Legal advice and representation of oil and gas service company in state labour department on results of labour inspection and its appeal;
Trade union (more than 3,000 employees) and oil and gas condensate project in West Kazakhstan (represented by its general contractor) – dispute regarding change in working conditions, increase in compensations and salaries;
Legal opinion on application of Kazakhstani laws for an international arbitration regarding disclosure of confidential information to foreign courts and arbitration courts;
Legal advice on application of Kazakhstani laws for an international arbitration regarding EPC contract (under FIDIC rules);
Legal advice to a FMCG company during complex tax audit with tax adjustments in the amount of ~$17 million;
Tax dispute for ~$17 million between FMCG company and the state;
Customs case between FMCG company and the state;
Court case between a large chemical company and a local Dealer – court resolution on debt repayment in favour of the Client, including fines and court costs.

Regulatory Compliance and Environment

Legal advice on permissive and regulatory procedures established for building of oil pipeline for major European oil company;
Consulting on obtaining medical license for large European construction company;
Legal advice for offshore contractor on all permissive documentation for construction of artificial island and camp in Caspian Sea;
Consulting on obtaining firefighting license for large international service company working on Caspian off-shore oilfields;
Obtaining firefighting license for large international service company working on Caspian off-shore oilfields;
Obtaining production license for large German telecommunications company;
Obtaining oil production license for large European oil and gas company;
Obtaining license for chemical use for the UK company working on Karachaganak;
Certification of production of Kazakhstan paper processing company;
Consulting on obtaining license for use of radioactive material;
Incorporation and setting up business of marine transportation company;
Legal advice for US catering company on case related to mass intoxication of employees in oilfield camp;
Consulting in obtaining import licenses and permissions for chemicals, precursors and radioactive substances use.

Employment and Labour

Drafting standard employment contracts with variety of types of employees (executives, office employees, shift employees, part-time employees etc.), drafting scope of documents from employment till termination – for a number of industrial companies as well as for service companies;
Legal advice for international company on the compliance of its corporate policies with the legislation of Kazakhstan (Alcohol and Drug Standards Policy, non-discrimination, ethics and anti-corruption etc.);
Labour Due Diligence for international shipping company working in Caspian Sea;
Legal advice for offshore company on possible termination of employment contract due to drunk appearance at place of work;
Legal advice and representation of oil and gas service company in state labour department on results of labour inspection and its appeal;
Legal advice on changing working and payment conditions; dealing with trade union of the service company contracted in offshore project;
Legal advice for Kazakhstani paper converting company on registration of trademark;
Drafting collective agreement for chemical plant;
Trade union (more than 3,000 employees) and oil and gas condensate project in West Kazakhstan (represented by its general contractor) – dispute regarding change in working conditions, increase in compensations and salaries.

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