Asem B. Bakenova

Partner

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 complex infrastructure and industrial projects in and outside of 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.

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 Astana, Kazakhstan. Asem is a native speaker of Russian and Kazakh and fluent in English.

Asem is entitled to represent the clients in AIFC Court and is admitted to practice as a patent attorney in Kazakhstan.

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  • Represented 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
  • Represented 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
  • Represented a quasi-state client on construction of an enrichment factory on the basis of zinc and lead deposit in the Kyzylorda region. The work included a complex legal support on EPC-contract based on FIDIC Yellow Book form and C-contract using FIDIC Red Book form, contractual strategy, procurement, etc., and related advice.  We also represented the client in financing of the project by EBRD
  • Represented a Kazakhstan private mining company in connection with construction of the processing plant on the basis of gold deposit in Central Kazakhstan using FIDIC Silver Book (EPC Turnkey) form of contract
  • Represented a Kazakhstan private mining company in connection with construction of power infrastructure for the purposes of construction and subsequent operation of the processing plant on the basis of deposit of precious metals using FIDIC Red Book form of contract
    The UAE based advance technology group (primarily in the defense industry) in connection with construction of the laboratory in UAE on the basis of FIDIC Red Book form of contract
  • Represented a leading financial institution in connection with financing of the construction of mining processing plant. The work includes advice on EPC and equipment supply arrangements of the borrower
  • Represented a leading financial institution in connection with financing of the construction of mining and processing plant. Our work included advice on general contractor agreements, project manager agreement and equipment supply arrangements of the borrower
  • Represented and advising large gas operator in connection with the termination of a concession agreement
  • Represented 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
  • Represented and advising large railway production concerns in connection with the establishment of joint ventures with the subsidiaries of a national welfare fund
  • Advised a leading technology and software providers on various IP matters (including trademark protection and licensing and copyright licensing)
  • Advised a charity foundation in connection with copyright laws and regulations and inclusive education project on a pro bono basis
  • University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 2006, LL.M.
  • Eligible in Kazakhstan
  • Has registered rights of audience at the AIFC Court

Ranked, Corporate & Finance, Kazakhstan, Chambers Global (2024, 2025)

Ranked, Corporate & Finance, Kazakhstan, Chambers Asia-Pacific (2024, 2025)

Highly Regarded; Women Leaders, Kazakhstan, IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate Central Asia Guide (2023)

Recommended, Banking, Finance and Capital Markets, Kazakhstan, The Legal 500 EMEA (2019, 2023–2025)

Recommended, Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Kazakhstan, The Legal 500 EMEA (2023–2025)

Recommended, Dispute Resolution, Kazakhstan, The Legal 500 EMEA (2023–2025)

Recommended, Energy and Natural Resources, Kazakhstan, The Legal 500 EMEA (2023, 2025)

Recommended, Real Estate and Construction (Including Projects), Kazakhstan, The Legal 500 EMEA (2023, 2025)

Highly Regarded, Kazakhstan, IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate Guide (2021, 2022)

Rising Star, Kazakhstan, IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate Guide (2019–2020)

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)

Notable Practitioner, IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate (2018)