Caspian Legal Center

Background and Contacts
Caspian Legal Center (CLC) is a Baku-based full-service Azerbaijani law and tax consultancy firm mainly specialized in business law. In addition to Chambers and Partners, CLC is internationally ranked and recognized by Legal 500, IFLR 1000, World Tax 2020-22 and World TP 2020-2022.

Contacts us via: [email protected], [email protected]:

Tel: +99450 289 89 73, address: 15 "8th November Avenue", 15th floor, office 98, Azure Business Center

Team
Managing Partner Mr. Farid Nabili is member of Taxation Committee at the International Bar Association, being selected as National Tax Reporter for Azerbaijan by the International Bar Association (2019-2022). Before joining CLC, Mr Nabili has led Tax Law Reforms Unit at the Ministry of Taxes where he authored several chapters of the Azerbaijani Tax Code currently in force; led Legal Department of one of the largest private investment groups in Azerbaijan and, worked as leading lawyer for the Central Bank of Azerbaijan.

Legal Manager and a Chevening scholar Mr Orkhan Beydiyev, who holds LL.M degree from Queen Mary University and has worked as the unit head at the Ministry of Economy before joining CLC, supports and advises the team relying on his unique practical experience in business regulation and commerce in Azerbaijan.

Key Clients
The majority of the clients are multinational enterprises, including several FORTUNE Global 500 companies operating in Azerbaijan or having business transactions with local companies.

The recent Key Clients are: Four Seasons Hotel, MAN Energy Solutions Schweiz AG, British American Tobacco, Pasha Development (Pasha Group), International Committee of Red Cross, Azerbaijan Energy Regulation Agency, UN International Organization for Migration, Scanwell Norway, Hikvision, Gilan Holding, HCL Technologies, Bolt, Shanghai Electric Group, Midea Group, Huawei Azerbaijan, Explico/Vodafone, METKA EGN, FINCA Azerbaijan, AzeriGaz and several contractors of BP and SOCAR.

In addition, CLC has supported high-net-worth individuals, from about 30 countries of the world, while moving businesses and investments to Azerbaijan, purchase of real estate, setting up businesses and joint ventures with local partners; as well as, local businesses in their cross-border and foreign businesses abroad.

Practice Areas
Below the main direction of services are summarized. For the details, please visit the website: www.caspianlegalcenter.az

Corporate and Company Law Services 

Corporate law services are based on real-life practices, taking into consideration of all law and tax perspectives. It covers all aspects of corporate and company law, starting from the incorporation of legal entities and branches, re-structuring (reconstruction), mergers and acquisitions, share transfers, up and until insolvency and liquidation of a legal entity.

Energy and Oil-Gas 

Legal and tax consultancy in the oil and gas industry, as well as, energy and renewable energy industry in Azerbaijan are among the experience areas. CLC provides consultation on large scale projects including PSAs, Host Government Agreements (HGA), Joint Operating Agreements, Engineering Procurement and Construction Contracts, Drilling Contracts and Services Agreement with Contractor and subcontractors.

CLC supports energy and renewable energy companies for entering Azerbaijani market, and advise on special peculiarities of local regulations.

Taxation and Accounting Support 

CLC provides full tax planning, tax filing, payroll and accounting support, as well as, tax dispute resolution for foreign companies and multinational enterprises operating in Azerbaijan. The team is well experienced in international taxation, including double taxation, transfer-pricing regulations, and international tax optimization advisory.

Contracts and Transactions  

CLC provides multi-language contract negotiation, drafting and review services in various industries, particularly international and cross-border contracts and joint ventures in Azerbaijan.

Contract lawyers at CLC represent clients in all areas of international business transactions and commercial operations, including sale and distribution of goods and services (including purchase multi-million goods such as air-crafts, import of agricultural machinery, large-scale construction projects et c), licensing issues, taxation of transactions, compliance with investment regulations, and representation during commercial negotiations.

Employment and Immigration  

CLC’s Labor and Employment team provides customized preventive and consultative services, as well as representation in administrative and judicial litigation regarding employment and labor regulations. We are skilled in obtaining temporary residence and work permits for foreign expats working in Azerbaijan. We constantly represent clients in accelerated work permit procedures via SOCAR endorsement letter in oil-gas industry.

Finance and Banking 

CLC provides legal advisory on major topics covered under finance and banking laws and regulations of Azerbaijan. CLC has represented the shareholders of the first merger in banking industry in Azerbaijan, and constantly provide legal opinion for multi-million loan and financing agreements, for both the international lenders and local borrowers.

Construction Law  

FIDIC trained construction lawyers of CLC have provided legal support for the design and construction contracts of Central Bank, Ministry of Taxes new headquarters, as well as AFC and ACC construction materials production plants, and several 5 star hotels in Azerbaijan. We have authored Azerbaijani chapter of International Construction Contracts Law (2nd ed, Whiley 2018, L. Klee)

Litigation  

CLC, with its attorneys who are member of Azerbaijan Bar Association, provides legal services and related representation for its clients before their business partners, state authorities, the judiciary branch and national courts going through all procedural phases of mediation and international arbitration, including the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in Azerbaijan.