Zafar Vakhidov

Languages Spoken

English, Russian, Uzbek.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, NYS (US).

Professional Memberships

• Chairman of Uzbekistan Antimonopoly Experts Council;

• Chairman of the Life Sciences and Healthcare Committee of EuroUz Association (Uzbekistan);

• Chairman of the Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals Committee of KazBAR Legal Association (Kazakhstan);

• Advisor to Association of International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Companies in Uzbekistan;

• Advisor to Association for Support and Development of Pharmaceutical Industry in Kazakhstan;

• Member of Communications Committee of KazBAR Legal Association (Kazakhstan).

Practice Areas

Life Sciences

Zafar is widely recognised for his market-leading expertise in life sciences, advising pharmaceutical, medical device and healthcare companies on complex regulatory matters. His practice spans a broad range of issues, including promotion and advertising compliance, public procurement and pricing, manufacturing localisation projects, market access strategies, and healthcare policy. Drawing on deep knowledge of local regulatory frameworks and international best practices, he is regularly involved in industry workgroups and expert committees in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

E-commerce & Data Protection

Zafar advises clients on compliance with evolving e-commerce and data protection regimes, including online advertising, cross-border data transfers, and AI-based service provision. He assists with drafting/reviewing data transfer agreements, internal policies, customer licence agreements, and personal data processing frameworks, supporting clients in managing regulatory risk in fast-developing digital markets.

Competition Law

Zafar provides expert advice on antimonopoly and unfair competition matters, including risk assessments, contractual reviews, the development of commercial and compliance policies, and pre-court appeals. He is well regarded for his proactive and practical approach and actively participates in competition law expert boards.

Commercial Contracts

Zafar regularly reviews and drafts a wide range of commercial agreements, including distribution, manufacturing, marketing, market research, lease, and sale and purchase contracts. His work has a particular focus on complex transactions and regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices and consumer goods.

Compliance

Zafar assists multinational clients with the design and implementation of compliance programmes across Central Asia, covering anti-corruption, competition, currency control, and ethics matters. He advises on risk assessments, due diligence, and internal investigations, helping clients operate in challenging regulatory environments. He also acts as counsel to industry associations of pharmaceutical companies.

Corporate & M&A

Zafar advises on domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, corporate restructurings, and the establishment of local operations. He supports clients throughout the transaction lifecycle, from structuring and due diligence to negotiation and execution.

Government Relations

Zafar provides ethical and strategically focused government relations support, advising clients on regulatory and policy engagement with governmental authorities and industry bodies. He assists with the drafting of regulatory legal acts in the areas of pharmaceuticals and environmental protection. Leveraging his strong institutional relationships and deep regulatory insight, he facilitates effective dialogue and collaboration with key stakeholders.

Employment

Zafar advises on a full range of employment and HR matters, including employment agreements, internal policies, and migration issues, delivering pragmatic and business-focused solutions.

Work Highlights

• Advised a biopharmaceutical company on the regulatory aspects of a multi-jurisdictional project in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, namely reviewed distribution agreements for compliance with local pharmaceutical and commercial regulations.

• Reviewed informational, scientific, and related materials for the Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan markets on behalf of a leading global pharmaceutical company.

• Advised a major pharmaceutical company through regular updates on legislative amendments and key healthcare and pharmaceutical developments in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and prepared and delivered in-person legal, political, industry, and macroeconomic overview presentations covering the Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan markets.

• Prepared and presented legal, political, industry and macroeconomic overview presentations on Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and their pharmaceuticals markets for the global top management of a major international pharmaceutical company. This included market and regulatory framework of the pharmaceutical industry in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as well as the strategy goals the respective governments aim to achieve.

• Prepared a legal analysis of applicable legislative requirements and restrictions governing the processing of personal data of the client’s employees, applicants, customers, business partners, and suppliers in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

• Advised on a multi‑jurisdictional assessment of access to unregistered orphan medicines in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Armenia, providing regulatory analysis that enabled the client to evaluate program expansion and navigate complex local frameworks.

• Assisted a global healthcare and biopharmaceutical company and its distributor in substantiating its legal right to supply an unregistered medicine to a state purchasing company.

• Supported a leading international consulting firm in assessing the regulatory and institutional framework governing international clinical trials in Uzbekistan for a government beneficiary, including a detailed legal review and a gap analysis benchmarked against international best practices.

• Delivered a focused legal assessment of the regulatory requirements and restrictions affecting the client’s proposed marketing motivational program aimed at retail pharmacies and pharmacists, identifying key compliance risks related to accumulation and the use of cashback in external payment systems.

• Provided comprehensive legal support to a marketing and distribution pharmaceutical company in launching intermediary healthcare services powered by artificial intelligence, including the development and implementation of internal personal data processing and protection policies and aligning the company’s operating model with Uzbekistan’s personal data protection requirements.

Publications

Zafar's publications can be viewed here: https://vakhidovlaw.com/en/resources/publications

Career

September 2021 - present, Partner, Vakhidov & Partners, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan;

January 2020 – September 2021, Director, Ernst & Young, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan;

March 2015 – December 2019, General Counsel, Teva, Kazakhstan;

February 2006 – February 2015, Associate, Baker & McKenzie, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan;

September 2005 – January 2006, Legal Adviser, Uzbek Republican Copyright Agency, Uzbekistan.

Education