Subsoil Use

Our firm retains the leading position in the area of subsoil use (Oil & Gas, Mining, etc.). Our highly qualified team of lawyers is able to demonstrate that they can handle the technical and legal complexity of subsoil use contracts and licences, production sharing agreements, joint operating agreements, and more

As a part of our subsoil use issues advising, we also provide you with:

• Advice on and assistance in obtaining a consent of competent authority and, if applicable, a waiver of the state’s pre-emption rights to transfer subsoil use rights and objects linked to subsoil use rights (i.e. shares in a subsoil user or its controlling companies);
• Due diligence reports on subsoil use assets, which include risk assessment of unilateral termination of subsoil use right by the competent authority, assessment of perspectives of extending the term of a subsoil use contract, etc.;
• Legal environment reports on regulation of subsoil use activities in Kazakhstan;
• Legal opinions on compliance of subsoil users with applicable law;
• Advice on issues of geological and mining allotments, including assistance in obtaining them;
• Advice on extension of terms of exploration, production, as well as terms necessary for estimation of commercial discovery (mineralization);
• Advice on issues of local content (in-country value), including whilst procurement of goods, works and services;
• Advice on issues of modification of work programs and other conditions of a subsoil use contract;
• Advice on issues of termination of subsoil use contract or licence by a subsoil user or arguments for challenging the termination by the competent authority.