LEGAL 500 EMEA · IFLR1000 · AIFC REGISTERED LEGAL ADVISER
Bond Stone in Kazakhstan
Legal 500 EMEA ranked counsel for international investors, AIFC participants, and cross-border business groups — operating from Almaty and Astana since 2007.
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Why Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is Central Asia’s dominant investment destination. With FDI inflows reaching USD 20.5 billion in 2025 — a 14.4% increase year-on-year — and GDP growing 6.5% in real terms in 2025, Kazakhstan’s economic expansion is becoming increasingly diversified beyond commodity exports, with manufacturing investment increasing 47.4% in 2025 alone.
Kazakhstan’s Investment Policy Concept, approved in October 2024, sets an ambitious target of attracting at least USD 150 billion in FDI by 2029 and introduces a national digital investment platform enabling investors to submit permits online without direct government interaction. Major tax code reforms are set to take effect in 2026, creating both opportunities and compliance obligations that foreign investors must navigate with experienced local counsel.
At the centre of Kazakhstan’s international financial architecture sits the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) — an independent financial jurisdiction operating on English common law principles, with its own arbitration centre and court. The number of cases completed by the AIFC Court increased from five in 2019 to 1,000 — demonstrating the AIFC’s growing role as the preferred dispute resolution forum for international investors in the region.
GDP 2025 (IMF)
GDP Growth 2025
FDI Inflow 2025
FDI Stock Jan 2025
Bond Stone in Kazakhstan
Bond Stone has advised international investors in Kazakhstan since 2007 — through economic cycles, regulatory reforms, and landmark cross-border transactions. Our practice is ranked by Legal 500 EMEA and IFLR1000, and our founder holds personal AIFC Registered Legal Adviser status — one of a limited number of practitioners authorised to advise on AIFC law and appear before the AIFC Court.
We operate from two offices in Kazakhstan: Almaty (Esentai Tower, 77/7 Al-Farabi Avenue) and Astana (Kazakhstan’s capital and home of the AIFC).
Almaty Office
Esentai Tower, 8th Floor
77/7 Al-Farabi Avenue
Almaty 050059, Kazakhstan
Our Services in Kazakhstan
Business Formation
Company formation across all legal structures — TOO, AO, AIFC entities, branches, and representative offices. Registration, charter documentation, and sector-specific licensing.
Corporate & M&A
Full-cycle M&A advisory — due diligence, transaction structuring, SPA and SHA drafting, regulatory approvals, and post-acquisition integration.
AIFC & Digital Assets
AFSA licensing, AIFC entity formation, Investment Tax Residency applications, and digital asset regulatory compliance.
Dispute Resolution
Representation before Kazakhstan courts, AIFC Court, ISTAC, and ICC arbitration. Enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards.
Employment & Labor Law
Work permits, employment contracts, CEO appointments, and workforce restructuring under the Kazakhstan Labour Code.
Energy & Natural Resources
Mining licence applications, subsoil use agreements, energy project structuring, and EPC contract negotiation.
Tax Advisory
Corporate income tax structuring, VAT compliance, transfer pricing, and tax treaty analysis for foreign investors in Kazakhstan.
Real Estate & Construction
Land acquisition, construction project structuring, contractor agreements, and dispute resolution for real estate projects.
Intellectual Property
Trademark registration, IP due diligence in M&A transactions, licensing agreements, and enforcement of IP rights before Kazakhstan courts.
Our Kazakhstan Team
Sanat Ablakov
Founder & Managing Partner
18+ years Kazakhstan & AIFC practice. AIFC Registered Legal Adviser. LL.M. Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Yerzhan Shatenov
Managing Director, Astana
AIFC regulatory advisory, AFSA licensing, digital asset structuring, and AIFC Court proceedings.
Asell Aliasheva
Partner, Almaty
Corporate law, employment, pharmaceutical sector licensing, and regulatory compliance.
Alexandr Satidi
Partner
M&A structuring, shareholder agreements, and cross-border investment mandates.
Landmark Matters
Moynak Hydropower Plant
Legal advisory to China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE / China Three Gorges) on Kazakhstan’s largest Chinese-financed energy project.
USD 360 million
CEFC / KMG International
Cross-border M&A advisory on one of the largest Chinese-Kazakh energy sector transactions.
USD 3.68 billion
Petropavlovsk Tannery Acquisition
Full-scope legal support for cross-border acquisition — corporate, land, environmental, and employment matters. Australia / Kazakhstan.
USD 12 million
AIFC Digital Asset & Fintech Licensing
AIFC regulatory advisory for multiple digital asset and fintech companies seeking AFSA licensing — payment system operators and digital asset platforms.
Multiple mandates
Rankings & Recognition
Legal 500 EMEA
Top Tier — Energy & Natural Resources · Corporate & M&A
IFLR1000
Recommended Firm — M&A · Energy & Infrastructure
Asia Law Profiles
Recognised Firm
AIFC Registered Legal Adviser
Kazakhstan at a Glance
| Capital | Astana |
| Commercial capital | Almaty |
| Population | 21 million (2026) |
| GDP 2025 | USD 302.75 billion (IMF, current prices) |
| GDP Growth 2025 | 6.5% in real terms |
| GDP Growth 2026 YTD | 3.7% (January–May 2026) |
| FDI Inflow 2025 | USD 20.5 billion (+14.4% year-on-year) |
| FDI Stock | USD 166 billion (National Bank of Kazakhstan, Jan 2025) |
| Financial Centre | AIFC, Astana (English common law) |
| Bond Stone Offices | Almaty (Esentai Tower) · Astana |
| Bond Stone Entity | Bond Stone TOO |
| KZ Law Source | adilet.zan.kz |
| Key Sectors | Energy · Mining · Manufacturing · FinTech · Real Estate |
Speak to our Kazakhstan team
For a confidential discussion about your Kazakhstan or AIFC matter, contact Bond Stone directly.
📧 info@bondstonelaw.com
📞 +7 (701) 729 7672
Request a Confidential Consultation
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