Bond Stone's partners hold AIFC Legal Adviser status and advise on AFSA licensing for financial services, digital assets, and capital markets — as well as dispute resolution before the AIFC Court.
Authorisation applications for banking, brokerage, asset management, insurance, and ancillary services activities within the AIFC. Includes rulebook analysis, business plan structuring, and regulatory correspondence with AFSA.
AFSA licensing for digital asset exchanges, custodians, and investment managers. Advisory on the AIFC Digital Assets Framework, token classification, and cross-border structuring for projects seeking AIFC registration.
AFSA-regulated capital market activity licensing, AIX listing advisory, prospectus documentation, and transaction structuring for equity and debt issuances through the AIFC capital markets framework.
Proceedings before the AIFC Court, enforcement of AIFC Court judgments across Kazakhstan, arbitration under the rules of the AIFC International Arbitration Centre (IAC), and advice on enforcing foreign awards in Kazakhstan.
Incorporation of AIFC companies and partnerships, constitutional documents under the AIFC Companies Regulations, and ongoing governance advice for AIFC-registered entities.
Drafting and review of commercial contracts governed by AIFC law, advice on the AIFC Implied Terms in Contracts and Unfair Terms Regulations, and governing law clauses for cross-border transactions.
The Astana International Financial Centre has its own body of law, the AIFC Acts, which may draw on the law of England and Wales and the standards of leading financial centres. Kazakhstani law applies to matters that the Constitutional Statute and the AIFC Acts do not regulate.
The AIFC Court is a separate court system staffed by international judges, whose judgments are enforced in Kazakhstan on the same terms as Kazakhstani court judgments. Abroad they are treated as foreign court judgments: the New York Convention covers arbitral awards, not court judgments. Parties should weigh this when choosing between the Court and arbitration.
Bond Stone advises on AIFC work from its Almaty and Astana offices, and its partners hold AIFC Legal Adviser status.
Governs formation, interpretation, and enforcement of commercial contracts within the AIFC.
Provides for terms implied in contracts and controls unfair terms.
Establishes the AIFC Court's jurisdiction, procedure, and enforcement mechanisms.
Sector-specific conduct and prudential requirements for all AFSA-authorised financial services firms.
Dedicated regulatory regime for digital asset activities, including exchanges, custodians, and investment managers.
Bond Stone's partners hold AIFC Legal Adviser status, which covers advice on AIFC law. Rights of audience before the AIFC Court come from registration with the AIFC Court Registry. Advisory services on AIFC law and AIFC registration strategy are delivered from Bond Stone's Almaty and Astana offices, structured as advisory (from Kazakhstan) rather than as registered agent filings within the AIFC zone itself.
The AIFC Legal Adviser registration covers individual practice rights; AIFC Court appearance follows registration with the AIFC Court Registry. A firm that provides legal services in the AIFC as an AIFC Participant needs an AFSA licence for Providing Legal Services (AIFC Legal Services Regulations 2022, Schedule 1, definition of Legal Services Provider).
Our team handles AFSA licensing applications, AIFC entity formation, and AIFC Court matters. All engagements commence with a signed Engagement Letter.