Vugar Mammadov

Practice Areas

Vugar Mammadov

Managing Partner, VLM and Partners

With over twenty years of experience across diverse sectors such as energy, finance, banking, consumer markets, and retail & manufacturing, Vugar Mammadov brings unparalleled insight and expertise to both local and international clients. Vugar began his career in tax and legal practices at PwC Azerbaijan, where he built a solid foundation in law and taxation. He quickly earned recognition at PwC as one of the fastest-promoted professionals within the firm. Recognized for his leadership and vision, he was later invited to establish and lead the Legal Practice at Deloitte Azerbaijan, a tenure that solidified his reputation in the industry. After 12 successful years at Big4 firms, Vugar decided to start his own legal practice.

Since 2022, Vugar has been serving as an arbitrator for the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA), leveraging his extensive knowledge and experience. He provides expert advice on complex business and trade transactions, giant renewable energy projects within the country and overseas, mergers and acquisitions, legal compliance matters, reorganizations and consolidations, and project finance. Vugar's legal, tax, and business acumen are applied to transactional documentation, negotiations, legal due diligence, and the financial aspects of clients' deals.

Vugar’s expertise has earned international recognition. He has served as a legal expert in various foreign courts and arbitrations in Switzerland and the UK, as well as before the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA). His advisory roles extend to global energy projects, including contributions to initiatives in the Pacific Islands region under the Asian Development Bank umbrella.

His extensive involvement in public-private partnerships (PPP) encompasses the full spectrum of activities, from negotiating terms with governments to handling operational and compliance matters. Vugar is also a trusted advisor on investment protection and private international law, reflecting the breadth of his legal acumen.

Career

Former head of Deloitte Legal in Azerbaijan, where I successfully set-up and developed legal practice for Deloitte in Azerbaijan. Prior experience in tax and legal at PwC Azerbaijan (from tax consultant up to Legal Manager).

Professional Memberships

Vugar Mammadov is a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) and serves as an arbitrator for the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA).

Work Highlights

- Successfully represented a foreign company in a landmark case before ICSID.

- Facilitated a groundbreaking renewable energy PPP for a leading foreign corporation in Azerbaijan.

- Conducted in-depth due diligence on renewable energy legislation in an overseas jurisdiction, providing legal and strategic recommendations to enhance its framework.

- Provided comprehensive legal support to an international oilfield drilling company, enabling a strategic partnership with a state-owned entity and launching a drilling project in the Caspian Sea.

- Crafted tax and customs protocols for Production Sharing Agreements (PSA) on behalf of a major oil and gas company in Azerbaijan.

- Advised prominent French and Italian banks on financing arrangements for a heavyweight industry player in Azerbaijan.

- Conducted meticulous legal due diligence on a leading oil and gas company based in Azerbaijan.

Industry Sector Expertise

- International Corporate Structuring

- Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)

- Corporate and Regulatory Investigations

- Tax Law

- Project Finance

- Investment Protection

- Capital Markets

- Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)

- Energy and Renewables Law

- Law Drafting

- Dispute Resolution

Education