Marina Kahiani is a partner of GRATA International. Marina focuses her practice on a wide range of finance transactions, including project finance and capital markets, infrastructure transactions as well as M&A transactions, financial services regulation and workouts and debt restructurings in many industries. Her clients include international finance institutions such as Asian Development Bank (ADB), China Development Bank (CDB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), the World Bank; foreign financial institutions such as Bank of China (Hong Kong), the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, MasterCard, UBS, UniCredit Group and major local financial institutions including banks and microfinance organizations.
Ms. Marina Kahiani joined GRATA Law Firm as a London representative office in September 2008, relocated to Almaty head office in September 2009. Previously Ms. Kahiani also worked for two years as a Banker at BTA Bank, International Funding Department. Marina has over 8 years of experience in Kazakhstani legal services market as well as experience in matters dealing with former Soviet Union.
Education:
- 2009 - LL.M. from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE),
- 2006 - Kazakh Master Degree with distinction from Kazakh Humanitarian Law University (specialisation - International and European Law),
- 2004 - Bachelor degree with distinction from Kazakh State Law Academy (specialisation – Civil and Corporate law).
Industry Sectors:
- Banking and Finance
Practices:
- Capital Markets
- Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions
- Insolvency and Bankruptcy
- Foreign investment
Languages:
- English
- Russian
Publications and Articles:
'Law in Transition' (EBRD Magazine, 2012)
Legal framework of securities market (including IPOs and Eurobonds) in the Republic of Kazakhstan (2015)
Major Kazakhstan legislation changes for 2015
Corporate Governance 2016: Kazakhstan
Corporate Recovery & Insolvency 2016: Kazakhstan
Public Procurement 2017: Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan - Data Protection in the Financial Sector 2017
Kazakhstan: New user identification requirements "further regulate social relations"
Renewable energy projects – next destination for investments in Kazakhstan (2018)
Major Kazakhstan Legislation Changes For 2019
Kazakhstan: Corporate M&A 2020 (Originally published here)
Kazakhstan: First steps to becoming a regional hub for Islamic finance
Testimonials. Legal 500
‘GRATA is still the leading firm to deal with in Kazakhstan. Flexible on fees, responsive, competent, I have complete confidence when engaging them.’
‘The team is very experienced and has a great knowledge of the market and of the specifics of rather complicated transactions.’
‘GRATA has provided high quality legal services to regional and multinational companies active in the market for decades and they have huge experience in the respective area.’
‘GRATA’s banking, finance and capital markets practice in Kazakhstan has unique knowledge and experience in Islamic financing transactions. Therefore, we’ve chosen to work with them.’
‘GRATA is one of a few teams one can fully rely on during a complex transaction. The team is well equipped to work under pressure and delivers high quality products.’
‘Marina Kahiani is friendly, fast and impresses with her knowledge of various aspects of the Kazakhstani law.‘
‘Marina Kahiani is a highly qualified lawyer. She is reliable and responds always timely.‘
‘I personally worked with Marina Kahiani who I found a very hands on person while she partners the firm and handles multiple projects. I certainly recommend working with Marina – she has a great team and is
very responsive. The one distinction I like the most is that Marina focuses on finding palatable solutions for all parties involved and fully manages the legal work stream.‘
