Yerzhan Shatenov
Managing Director — Astana Office
Yerzhan Shatenov is one of Kazakhstan’s most experienced corporate and construction lawyers, with over 20 years of continuous practice in the Kazakhstani legal market. As Managing Director of Bond Stone’s Astana office he oversees the firm’s practice in the capital, managing direct relationships with government authorities, state agencies, and the AIFC regulatory environment. Yerzhan is a member of the Legal Working Group of the Council of Foreign Investors under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan — a body that places him at the centre of Kazakhstan’s legislative dialogue with international business.
Yerzhan’s practice spans the full range of corporate, commercial, and transactional work that defines the Astana market — M&A, joint ventures, real estate and high-complexity construction, employment law for international workforces, investment regulation, and AIFC advisory. He has led legal support on some of Astana’s landmark construction projects and advised international acquirers on cross-border transactions involving Kazakhstan industrial and real estate assets. His command of Kazakhstan’s regulatory framework — built over two decades of direct engagement with state bodies — is a consistent differentiator on mandates where government relationships matter as much as technical legal analysis.
Yerzhan manages Bond Stone’s co-counsel relationships with Chinese, European, and CIS law firms — coordinating cross-border mandates across Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and serving as the primary point of contact for international law firms requiring Astana-based partner-level engagement. International clients have recognised him for his efficiency, precision, and ability to navigate complex regulatory environments without unnecessary delay.
“Yerzhan demonstrated a strong grasp of Kazakhstan regulatory matters that is not easy to find in a market of this complexity. His contribution to the transaction was significant and we would seek his involvement in any future Kazakhstan work.”
International client — cross-border M&A transaction, Kazakhstan
“Yerzhan’s particular strength was the depth of his regulatory and environmental due diligence. The acquisition came with real legacy complexity and Yerzhan worked through all of it with precision, giving us a clear picture of the risks and how to address them in the documentation.”
Overseas Operations Manager — Australian strategic investor, industrial acquisition
“He brought strong practical knowledge of how regulatory authorities operate on the ground in Northern Kazakhstan — not just what the law says on paper. That local insight helped us avoid delays that could easily have disrupted the transaction timeline.”
International client — cross-border acquisition, Kazakhstan industrial sector
Experience
Construction — Expo-2017
Construction · Astana · Infrastructure
Full-cycle legal support for construction activity connected to the Astana International Exhibit Expo-2017 — licensing, contractor agreements, and permitting at the highest level of construction complexity.
Abu Dhabi Plaza — Development Legal Support
Construction · Astana · Commercial Real Estate
Legal support for Abu Dhabi Plaza — one of Astana’s landmark mixed-use developments — covering construction licensing, contractor agreements, and regulatory compliance throughout the project lifecycle.
Cross-border M&A — Industrial Acquisition
M&A · Kazakhstan · Industrial
Leading regulatory and environmental due diligence on a cross-border acquisition of a Kazakhstan industrial facility — compliance review, post-closing obligations, and coordination with international acquirer’s counsel.
Chinese EPC Client — Contract Review & Branch Advisory
Corporate · Kazakhstan · Energy / EPC
Advising a Chinese EPC contractor on a Kazakhstan power plant project — service agreement review, legal opinion on foreign branch establishment, and corporate authorisation document requirements.
European Manufacturing Group — Dual-City Coverage
Corporate · Almaty / Astana · Manufacturing
Ongoing corporate and regulatory legal support to a major European manufacturing group with operations across both Almaty and Astana — partner-level coverage across Kazakhstan on employment, compliance, and commercial matters.
Chinese Law Firm Co-Counsel — Central Asia
Corporate · Kazakhstan / Uzbekistan · Co-Counsel
Managing Bond Stone’s co-counsel relationship with a major Beijing law firm — coordinating Chinese investor mandates across Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan including M&A, corporate structuring, and regulatory advisory.
Commercial Construction — High-rise Licensing
Construction · Kazakhstan · Commercial
Obtaining construction licences for multiple high-complexity commercial developments in Astana — coordinating with the Committee for Construction and Housing Communal Services on Class I and Class II construction activity permits.
Residential Development — Full Legal Cycle
Real Estate · Astana · Residential
Full-cycle legal support for a residential development in Astana — land rights, architectural permitting, contractor agreements, unit sale and purchase documentation, and buyer mortgage compliance.
Government Relations — Investment Regulatory
Regulatory · Astana · Foreign Investment
Representing international investor interests in regulatory engagement with Astana-based ministries and state agencies — negotiating on Investment Priority Project status, state grants, and regulatory licensing on behalf of foreign investors.
Employment — Expat Workforce Compliance
Employment · Kazakhstan · Manufacturing / Energy
Advising international companies on Kazakhstan’s quota system for foreign workforce — obtaining work permits for senior executives and technical specialists, drafting executive employment agreements, and structuring expat compensation packages compliant with Kazakhstan labour law.
JV Formation — International Consortium
Corporate · Kazakhstan · Joint Venture
Structuring and incorporating a joint venture entity in Kazakhstan between a European strategic investor and a Kazakhstan state-adjacent entity — shareholders’ agreement, management structure, governance documents, and regulatory approvals.
AIFC — Entity Formation & Compliance Advisory
AIFC · Astana · Financial Services
Advising international financial services clients on AIFC entity formation and AFSA regulatory compliance from Bond Stone’s Astana office — coordinating directly with AFSA on licensing and regulatory correspondence.
Recognition & Memberships
Legal 500 EMEA — Bond Stone Top Tier Kazakhstan
Bond Stone ranked Legal 500 EMEA Top Tier in Kazakhstan. Yerzhan leads the Astana office practice contributing to the firm’s ranked M&A and corporate work.
Council of Foreign Investors — Legal Working Group
Member of the Legal Working Group of the Council of Foreign Investors under the President of Kazakhstan.
Almaty Bar Association
Member — “Professional Lawyers of Kazakhstan.” Licensed to practise in Kazakhstan.
Education
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University — Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), 2000
Languages
Kazakh (native) · Russian (fluent)
Practice Areas
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Corporate & Commercial Law
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Mergers & Acquisitions
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Real Estate & Construction
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Employment & Labour Law
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Foreign Investment
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Dispute Resolution & Arbitration
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