Interview With SIGNUM Partners | KPLA Magazine 'Subsoil Use And Law'

Every law firm defines success as being in demand on the market, having a presence of its own niche in the business of law practice, and a pool of regular customers.

It is obvious in the business of law practice such success is mainly brought by an image formed in the market. The image is formed either by the names of individual lawyers or, as is the case with SIGNUM Law Firm, by well-organized and highly professional team. To form a successful image for domestic law firms on the market is very challenging due to various factors. Nevertheless, over 10 years of its existence SIGNUM has gone a long way and is now one of the leading regional law firms. The upcoming anniversary is a good occasion to have a talk with the team members, to reflect, share plans and give advice to the young generation.

We had a fruitful interview with the following leading lawyers: Abylkhair Nakipov, Partner, has extensive experience in the sphere of subsoil use and energy. Currently he successfully practices business law and contracts.

Gaukhar Kudaibergenova, Senior Associate of the firm, the youngest member of the senior management. She has more than 8 years of experience in the field of legal consultancy gained by working at SIGNUM.

Liza Zhumakhmetova, Partner, head of M&A practice at SIGNUM. She has many years of experience in mergers and acquisitions, is a qualified lawyer in Kazakhstan, as well as one of the few in Kazakhstan admitted to legal practice in the State of New York.

Victoriya Trofimovich, Senior Associate, practices corporate law and labor law. In addition, she has extensive experience in the oil and gas sphere.

Talgat Sariev, Partner, specializes in court litigation. His experience includes successful dispute resolution with government authorities on tax issues.

Sofiya Zhylkaidarova, Managing Partner, initiated the interview answering to the first question.

Sofiya, this year SIGNUM Law Firm celebrates its 10 years' anniversary. Could you please share how you decided to create the company?

Sofiya Zhylkaidarova: In 2006, some of my colleagues (we are still together) and myself decided to organize our own law practice. We had certain work experience and a desire to create something new. Reflecting on reasons for our decision, I come to the conclusion that we have been guided by the sense of professional maturity. The sense when one strives to feel independent in decision-making, meanwhile being a part of a coherent and united team sharing similar principles and values. By that time I had experience in a Kazakhstan law firm, including the experience both as a lawyer providing services to clients, and as a manager in charge of about 10 young specialists.

We aspired to create a team that would meet the highest professional requirements, based on the main principles as integrity, cooperation and mutual assistance. We have always dreamed of a highly effective team, tutoring own staff, where subordinates would always be able to rely on managers as professional mentors with personal touch. That is how we imagined a perfect team, a Dream Team, to be. We wanted to create an environment without employee turnover, so that we would always work with people we trust. We wanted our clients to be not just individuals and companies ready to pay us money, but clients who share our principles. Until present day we have been working to create the Dream Team, and, I believe, we succeed.

Abylkhair, you also took the chance and together with the other founders ventured upon the creation of a new law firm in 2006. Could you share your memories of how it was?

Abylkhair Nakipov: At first we did have some small doubts. But the first months of independent work proved that we were acknowledged as specialists and professionals, and people were ready to cooperate with us. At first clients resorted to specific lawyers, but eventually they were attracted by the name of the company which has become a kind of "quality mark". Of course, it took time and hard work, but it's nice to know that one of the goals we sought was achieved.

What has changed in the company over the years?

Sofiya Zhylkaidarova: We have grown incredibly over 10 years. In 2006, SIGNUM consisted of 4 people in a small office, united by a keen idea. Today, we have a huge office at our disposal, a greater number of employees, and the number of our clients has increased tenfold. We ourselves have become much more efficient. It now takes a lawyer much less time to perform the same amount of work as before. We have ceased to be "masters of all trades". Many of us completed further education and increased insight in particular fields of law. Today, I dare to call any of us a "bright star" in his or her practice. We obtained high ratings from international rating agencies, clients recognize us, and we constantly receive the most positive feedback from them.

Our goal is extra satisfaction of clients, meaning not only provision of quality, but also a desire to give them more than they expect from us. The same "excessive demands" principle applies to certain risk assessment, and we strive to offer more than just a legal opinion, looking at the case from business and commercial perspective as well. Whoever lawyer our client applies to, he is sure to receive an equal level of service. That is how the "dream team" should work.

How does the company feel itself in the market? Has the crisis affected its work in a positive or negative way?

Abylkhair Nakipov: In general, the amount of work remains the same, but there have been changes as to the structure and nature of legal inquiries. At the moment, in particular, the amount of work increased in such practices as Dispute Resolution and M&A. Personally, my practice witnesses a demand for enforcement of certain contractual terms, preparation of standard contracts forms, interpretation of certain contractual provisions for courts and arbitration purposes. At the same time, while the number of new development projects has not decreased, not all these initiatives result in practical implementation.

Liza Zhumakhmetova: Indeed, there were some concerns that the crisis would affect lawyers and other professionals involved in the consulting activities, and that the number of orders would decrease. Fortunately, these fears were unfounded. The amount of work has not reduced, and even increased in some practices (such as in mergers and acquisitions - M&A). This is due to the fact that in the wake of the crisis many companies cannot cope with their commitments because of lack of financial capacity and, therefore, either seek for strategic investors to jointly further develop business, or completely sell it. In a time of crisis the number of such companies in the market increases, and the purchase price of shares/participating interests becomes more attractive for foreign and domestic investors. Therefore, we work in full swing, hiring professionals, as well as...