Asem B. Bakenova assists clients with all aspects of corporate law matters, infrastructure transactions, and intellectual property (IP) matters. She helps clients draft and negotiate agreements and other supporting documents, including fixed price, cost reimbursable, and hybrid engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) arrangements for major infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan; chemical feedstock and offtake agreements; and trademark protection, copyright, and technology licenses. Asem has also represented our clients in numerous joint ventures arrangements, including new machinery production facilities.
Extended Profile
In addition to her corporate law practice, Asem is also involved in pro bono work. Before joining Morgan Lewis, she was an associate in another international law firm. Prior to that, she worked as in-house counsel for a leading local engineering firm in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. Asem is a native speaker of Russian and Kazakh and fluent in English.
Asem is admitted to practice as a patent attorney in Kazakhstan.
Selected Representations
Representing two leading local refineries in connection with the modernization of the refineries and, particularly, drafting and negotiations of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts and ancillary agreements.
Representing a subsidiary of the national welfare fund in connection with the establishment of chemical production in southern Kazakhstan and, particularly, drafting of the equipment supply and construction contract, feedstock and off-take agreements, and technology license agreements.
Representing a local subsoil use company —joint venture of a foreign key integrated energy business and a Kazakhstan national oil and gas company—in connection with the construction of a new gas processing facility and, particularly, drafting tender documentation as well as drafting and negotiations of EPC contracts.
Representing and advising large gas operator in connection with the termination of a concession agreement.
Representing and advising several worldwide leaders in machinery and equipment production in connection with their participation in public and quasi-public procurements and various corporate and operational matters.
Representing and advising large railway production concerns in connection with the establishment of joint ventures with the subsidiaries of a national welfare fund.
Advising leading technology and software providers on various IP matters (including trademark protection and licensing and copyright licensing).
Advising charity foundation in connection with copyright laws and regulations and inclusive education project on a pro bono basis.
Education
University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 2006, LL.M.
Admissions
Eligible in Kazakhstan
Awards and Affiliations
Recommended, Banking, Finance and Capital Markets, Kazakhstan, The Legal 500 EMEA (2019)
Member, Law Firm of the Year, Energy/Projects: Power (including Renewables), Chambers USA (2018)
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Energy, Law360 (2016)
Member, Energy Law Firm of the Year, US News & World Report/Best Lawyers (2015)
Rising Star, IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate (2019–2021)
Notable Practitioner, IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate (2018)