Biography
Askhat Kasenov is an experienced counsel in White & Case global M&A and Corporate Practice Group based in Astana.
Over 20 years he has gained practical experience in such areas as oil and gas, energy, M&A, finance, corporate governance and law, and construction.
Additionally, he has a broad hands-on experience in legislative work, corporate issues, and regulatory compliance in Kazakhstan.
He has led the Legal Department of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan, providing legal support in matters related to regulation of banking and payment systems, digital assets and digital currency circulation, as well as foreign currency monitoring. He successfully carried out the National Bank's legislative initiatives, developed strategy for cross-border asset protection and sanctions compliance policies. In particular, Askhat was responsible for developing and overseeing a legal strategy in a multijurisdictional arbitration enforcement dispute.
Most recently, Askhat was responsible for in-house legal and contracting functions within the framework of the largest at the time petrochemical project in Central Asia, including negotiating EP/EPC contracts with international and local contractors while ensuring compliance with subsequent sourcing requirements by Sinosure as applicable to export insurance coverage in the context of project financing. He also negotiated long-term offtake contracts, technology transfer and licensing arrangements, and contributed to developing a proactive strategy to mitigate sanctions and compliance risks in the project execution phase. He was actively involved in facilitating amendments to construction regulation in Kazakhstan with the view to implement international standards in cost estimation.
He has extensive experience of working in key roles at the country's central bank, national oil & gas company, state asset holding company, private equity and financial institutions in Kazakhstan.
Experience
His recent experience includes:*
- Leading contract negotiations work stream resulting in the award of EPC packages in the petrochemical industry with the total value in excess of US$6 billion;
- Finalizing and concluding long-term offtake agreements for a future petrochemical plant in Kazakhstan;
- Facilitating a farm-in by a Chinese investor into an operating joint venture project company in Kazakhstan;
- Realizing rule-making initiatives with the view to adapt local smeta requirements to international cost-estimate standards;
- Reaching settlement with a debtor resulting in full collection of delinquent debt (of approximately 25 billion Kazakhstani tenge) following court proceedings, administration of court award and mediation procedures;
- Developing a legal and contract framework and drafting documentation for a complex transaction involving acquisition and subsequent merger of two separate major industrial assets in Kazakhstan; and
- Acting as a local counsel for an international law firm representing the Government of Kazakhstan in a foreign investment ad hoc arbitration dispute resulting in a favourable arbitral award.
Prior to joining White & Case Askhat has held managing positions at various national, quasi-national companies and financial organisations along with the energy companies.
* Experience prior to joining White & Case