Igor Kolupayev

Mr. Kolupayev provides full-scope advice related to mergers and acquisitions, general tax planning, tax for M&A and reorganizations, tax disputes, and customs matters.

• Advising the national telecommunications operator of Kazakhstan, on the sale of 51 percent interest in one of the country's largest mobile operators to a Swedish telecommunications company.

• Advising Heineken International on the consolidation of its business with Efes Breweries in Kazakhstan. The transaction involved the client’s sale of a 100 percent participatory interest in Dinal LLP, and its acquisition of 28 percent of shares in Efes Karaganda Brewery JSC.

• Advising a Japanese consortium on the establishment of a joint venture for the acquisition of uranium assets in Kazakhstan, including due diligence, negotiation of transaction documents and application for statutory clearances.

• Advising a major Japanese shipping company on the acquisition of minority interest in a Kazakh logistical company. The assets acquired comprised an international standard terminal with a total surface of 50,000 sqm situated in Almaty region, and mostly used for the import and export of cars from Kazakhstan.

• Advising a major Chinese integrated energy and chemicals company that is engaged in oil and gas exploration and production, in connection with due diligence and indirect acquisition of a controlling stake in a holding entity owning a number of operating (oil and gas) subsidiaries in Kazakhstan.

• Advising a large US-based industrial group on the sale of its power assets in Kazakhstan to a leading power corporation in Kazakhstan.

• Advising Samruk-Kazyna, the sovereign wealth fund of Kazakhstan, on the creation of a EUR100 million Kazakhstan Growth Fund together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Kazyna Capital Management.

• Representing a subsidiary of a multinational oil and gas company in a large transfer pricing dispute with the tax authorities.

• Advising subsidiaries of AES on various tax disputes.

• Representing a Kazakhstani subsidiary of a major steel producing company in disputes with national tax authorities over allegedly unpaid land rent and customs duties.

• American Chamber of Commerce - Tax Working Group
• Kazakhstan Petroleum Law Association - Member
• Assocation of Taxpayers of Kazakhstan - Member