Kerman & Co sets sights on Kazakhstan after gaining Almaty office of US lawyer

EXPANSION: small firm to build natural resources practice and presence in central Asia

A five-partner central London law firm is to step up its presence in Kazakhstan and nearby countries after absorbing the Almaty office of a US lawyer who worked there.

Natural resources lawyer Alexander Lesser has joined Kerman & Co as a consultant after many years in the former Soviet republic.

He headed the Kazakhstan office of US firm Squire Sanders & Dempsey before setting up his own practice in 1996 with local partners.

That firm - Lesser Zhakenov & Newton - has now been dissolved.

Denton Wilde Sapte is the only City firm with an office in Kazakhstan, while solicitor Michael Wilson has his own practice there.

As well as Squire Sanders, several other US firms have a presence in the country, including Baker & McKenzie, Coudert Brothers, Leboeuf Lamb Greene & Macrae, and White & Case.

Mr Lesser, who qualified as a solicitor this month, said that 'for personal reasons, I'd had enough' of living in Kazakhstan.

He will be based in London, but will travel to Kazakhstan when necessary.

He linked up with Kerman & Co through its work for a mutual client, Celtic Resources Holdings, which is in the process of transferring its listing from Ireland to the UK.

Kerman & Co's senior partner, Andy Kerman, said the firm has been active in this field for some years: 'We see the natural resources area in territories such as Kazakhstan and Russia to be of considerable interest and importance.'

The Almaty office is being used as and when necessary, but Mr Kerman said there was every chance that it will have permanent staff in time.

'We're very bullish,' he said.

Mr Lesser will continue to split his time with Alternative Investment Market-listed Oxus Mining, where he is vice-president and general counsel.

He explained that Oxus did not require him full time as it is currently working on financing the construction of a gold mine in Uzbekistan.

He said: 'It doesn't have an intensive need for legal advice.'

Neil Rose