K&P

Vardan Stepanyan – Yerevan Office and Kyiv Office

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 10:37:46 +0000

Vardan is a corporate and finance lawyer with private practice experience on Armenian legal market since 2001 and in Ukraine since 2009. He is the Managing Director of K&P Law Firm and is heading Banking and Finance teams of the firm. Vardan also contributes to the firms M&A, Securities and Corporate Finance, Competition and Tax law matters. His private practice focuses on financial institutions, Insurance, Energy and Mining as well as Media and Entertainment industries.
He has extensive experience in banking and finance work and in restructuring and insolvency, with an in-depth knowledge of Armenian, Ukrainian and international law and practice and of complex international finance transactions. He has advised and lead K&P teams in numerous transactions involving syndicated finance, project finance, trade finance, IPOs, debt restructuring, requisition finance and settlements.
Experience
• Consulted Unibank OJSC Armenia in its processes of Initial public offering in particular drafting of the Prospectus and its presentation and registration with the Central Bank,
• Consults C-Quadrat Ampega Asset Management Armenia (a subsidiary of C-Quadrat Investment AG, Austria, and Talanx Asset Management GmbH, Germany) on market entry, company establishment matters and implementation of new businesses, obtainment of respective permits and licenses from CBA, advised on pension law and investment fund regulation matters in Armenia, relations with Central Bank of Armenia, Central Depository and other stakeholders.
• Advised VTB Russia with respect to a large financing project for Teghout CJSC including advising on securing the interests of the Bank under the transaction, drafting of financing agreements and documents with consideration of energy sector legislation;
• Provided consulting to Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) OJSC (a major Russian mobile telecommunication systems operator) during its acquisition of one of the two mobile operators in Armenia. Services included due diligence of Armenia Telephone Company (Armentel) CJSC in cooperation with Latham & Watkins LLP and PriceWaterhouseCoopers;
• Provided legal consulting and assistance to the shareholders of Armimpex Bank CJSC (currently Ameriabank) in relation with sale of the Bank shares to a foreign investor and in the M&A process.
• Acted as counsel for KfW (German development bank) in the negotiations in relation to granting of collateral for a loan extended by KfW to ArmRusGasprom CJSC. Advised KfW on Energy Law related matters, and reviewed the collateral arrangements with specific reference to further securing the interests of KfW under the Loan agreement with ArmRusGasprom CJSC.
• Consulted Mary Kay Inc. and later Mary Kay Armenia on Armenian market entry requirements, procedures, business operation, licenses and risks, including on matters of labor and employment, import and customs clearance, sales force management, trade and taxation, etc.;
• Advised Atomredmetzoloto OJSC (Russia) – a Russian mining company, in its investment program with respect to Armenian Uranium mining and its current activities and transactions in Armenia.
• Advised European Investment Bank on a number of loan extensions to Armenian finance and regulatory institutions with respect to compliance with Armenian legislation.
• Advised the shareholders of “Hidroenergia LLC”, operating and maintaining “Yerevan Lake Hydro Power Plant” and “Kotayk Irrigation Canal Hydro Power Plant” selling all generated electricity on to ENA (Electricity Networks of Armenia).
• Represented Star Divide CJSC a retail company operating one of the major chains of supermarkets throughout Armenia before the State Commission on Protection of Economic Competition on price fixing issue. Assisted Star Divide CJSC in its shares purchase agreement with EBRD;
• Provided long term consulting and legal representation of the Save the Children Federation in the Ministry of Justice, Central Bank and Microenterprise Development Charitable Fund Kamurj, Consulted on Management structure and competences of the management bodies with a focus on the Board of Trustees.

Membership
Armenian Bar Association

Languages
Armenian, Russian, English and Ukrainian

Tatul Khudatyan

admin — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 10:41:38 +0000

Tatul Khudatyan is a partner in K&P Law firm since its establishment in 2004. He is a highly regarded attorney on the Armenian market with an established record in real estate and banking transactions.
Tatul represents and advises multinationals, industry associations and government authorities. He handles complex legal and interdisciplinary issues confidently, often involving highly focused knowledge in several related areas of law and policy and affecting the business of the client on the Armenian market. He has built up a solid expertise in broad range of legal matters within the real estate industry, construction, and investments. He specializes in all aspects of real estate development and acts for public and private sector, land owners, investors, debt financiers, developers and contractors through contractual joint ventures, project agreements, development management agreements and funding documents direct and indirect. He is also advising leading television and radio broadcasters, telecommunication and IT companies in matters related to software licensing, including regulatory and intellectual property issues. His experience also includes advice on mergers and acquisitions and participation in infrastructure and privatization projects.
He has previously practiced commercial banking law at the HSBC Bank CJSC and later has joined the ‘Armenia Telephone Company’ (ArmenTel) CJSC as Head of Real Estate Listing and Management Division. Prior to joining the Karakhanyan & Partners Mr. Khudatyan has also practiced at ‘Harutiunian & Associates’ Law Office.

Experience
• Advises Majid Al Futtaim Holding Dubai (operating Carrefour Supermarket in Armenia) on its market entry, company registration, corporate structures, lease of commercial premises, food safety standards, licenses and other matters.
• Advises Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) – a US Government related Private Corporation carrying out loan transactions outside the United States, on three projects in particular with respect to a lending to local Universal Credit Organization for the purposes of provision of mortgage loans to local borrowers, acted as local counsel with respect to a financing extended to a local hotel complex managed by an international brand for the purposes of renovation and restructuring, and acted as local counsel for OPIC with respect to a financing of the purchase of a major Hydro Power Plant by a US energy company.
• RENCO CJSC (Italy) – Italian engineering construction Services Company investing in development projects in Armenia and carrying out a number of public and private construction projects, represented in negotiations with State authorities on the matters of legal documents necessary for the implementation of the investment project and obtaining construction and engineering licenses, counseling and drafting of investment agreements, public land sale/purchase contracts, and other agreements between the Company and the State;
• Caldera Resources Inc. – Diamond, gold and base metals exploration and Development Company, headquartered in Canada engaged in exploration and development of properties in Australia and South-East Europe, provided due diligence of title documents and property exploration licenses and certificates; advised regard to signing a joint venture agreement with Global Gold Corporation for the development of the Marjan Gold-Silver Deposit in Armenia; comprehensive legal counseling in transactions of share purchase, corporate incorporation and registration in Armenia.
• Provided consulting to HSBC Bank Armenia –with respect to preparation and public registration of the security documents for more than 200 private customers; full legal assistance in loan transactions, including legal counselling on domestic legal aspects of the transactions.
• Consulted Valletta LLC – a large food producing and distributing corporation in Armenia, which also includes the SFC fast food chain, production of “Biella” meat products, “Premier” coffee, importer of a number of food products. Services rendered included legal counseling and advisory in corporate, tax, labour, intellectual property, as well as antitrust matters; preparation of legal documents for real property transactions and local normative acts;
• Several years of consulting to Star Divide CJSC – a company operating one of the major chains of supermarkets throughout the Republic, including legal assistance of current activities of “Star” supermarket network directed at infrastructure development and regulation; legal counseling of Star Divide shares purchase agreement with EBRD and advisory in corporate, tax, labour, intellectual property, antitrust matters;
• Consulted Sovrano LLC – a major Armenian corporation with respect to current activities of the company pertaining to import and distribution of different products, legal consulting on trademark matters and anti-trust practices.
• Advised Shant TV – one of the top telecommunication (TV) companies broadcast within Armenia, as well as in Europe, the United States of America, Russia and CIS countries, Middle East and Gulf region, including on preparation of international license agreements, TV program airtime license agreements and trademark matters;

Membership and qualification

Member of the Armenian Bar Association
PhD in Phsycology

Languages
Armenian, Russian, and English

Gayane Virabyan

admin — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 10:48:04 +0000

Gayane has acted as lead counsel for several multinational financial, IT, energy, real estate, advertising and retail companies in high-profile transactions. Gayane represents both Armenian and international clients on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, focusing her practice on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations and corporate governance matters. She also specializes in antitrust matters, securities law compliance and reporting. Gayane advises clients in connection with their investment activities and legal issues, including issues concerning business entity formations, corporate finance, debt and equity investments in Armenia, and IP matters. She works with major foreign investors to agree on and develop tailored structures, as well as manages the efficient implementation of projects while ensuring compliance with local and international legal requirements.

Languages
Armenian, Russian and English

Armine Mkrtchyan

admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 10:52:56 +0000

Armine is a licensed Attorney with more than 12 years of private practice and a Senior Council at K&P.
She mainly practices civil and administrative law and deals with real estate matters, registration, reorganization, liquidation of legal entities and various other matters of corporate nature. She has a strong network among the State bodies and governmental institutions in particular with Notaries, State Register of Legal Entities and State Committee of the Real Estate Cadastre. She councils and represents the clients before the Courts of Armenia and generally conducts the litigation process.
Another field of expertise for Armine is a Family Law and legislation; in particular she has provided legal support and drafting of legal documents in connection with the surrogacy procedures in Armenia.
Experience
• Represents “MAjid Al Futtaim Hypermarket” (Carrefour brand) an international retail company before State bodies, in particular before Notaries and State Committee of the Real Estate Cadastre in relation with the real estate lease transactions.
• Advises and represents Research Center of Maternal and Child Health in connection with surrogacy matters.

Membership
Armenian Bar Association

Languages
Armenian and Russian

Ani Nargizyan

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 07:47:24 +0000

Ani has joined K&P as an associate lawyer in 2013 and is part of the corporate team advising on various commercial law matters including real estate agreements, bilingual contracts and investment fund licensing.
Ani holds bachelor degree in Law from French university in Armenia and during her summer vacation periods, she gained valuable experience interning for K&P. During her internship she assisted in drafting and reviewing business contracts and advising clients on various legal issues.
Ani also interned for International automaker Citroën during her 2 month internship in France within a university program.
She is now completing her Master’s degree in Law in American university of Armenia.
She specializes in commercial real estate lease agreements and visa migration laws for corporate employees.

Experience

• Advises “MAjid Al Futtami Hypermarket” (Carrefour brand) an international retail company on its commercial real estate lease agreements and visa migration for employees of the Company.
• Consults Mary Kay Inc on drafting bilingual agreements and internal matter of internal policies.
• Acts as a Counsel for “C-Quadart Ampega Asset Management Armenia” pension fund on its daily legal issues and communication with Central Bank of Armenia.

Languages

Armenian, Russian, English, French

Careers

admin — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 13:45:12 +0000

K&P Law Firm offers a unique blend of exciting practice and sophisticated client base. We cover legal and business issues across a range of sectors and disciplines, from real estate and investment to tax and employment. Our firm offers finest professional working environment in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.

Our success, both now and in the future, depends entirely on the quality of our people. Our aim is to provide you with challenging work that reflects your career preferences as well as your skills and experience. At the same time our overriding goal is to deliver an exceptional service to our clients. Although the precise nature of the work you are involved in will vary day by day, the quality of our client base means that the work you do will be sure to be both stimulating and challenging.

At the moment we have no vacancies announced. However we will be happy to review your application and will contact you shall we get an opening appropriate for you.
If you wish to apply for a job at K&P Law Firm please email your CV and a cover letter explaining you motivation and stating the areas of your interest to: office@kp.am.

Elina Nersisyan

admin — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 08:28:10 +0000

Elina has extensive experience in insurance law and financial services, having worked for many years in the insurance industry. Currently, she represents both Armenian and international clients on various corporate and commercial matters, with a focus on domestic Corporate Governance, Real Estate, IT, and Labor and Employment law. Elina earned her Bachelor’s degree in Law from Yerevan State University and her LLM from the American University of Armenia. She is a member of the Armenian Bar Association.

Languages

Armenian, English, Russian

Tax

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 12:19:05 +0000

K&P’s services include advising on the different types of taxation, registration, deductions, payments and reporting. By advising our clients on all matters of corporate activity taxation we help them understanding taxes and meeting taxation obligations, avoiding late payment penalties. K&P’s lawyers represent large and medium-size businesses, domestic public and private companies, and financial institutions, including banks, insurance companies and credit organisations. We advise on M&A tax planning, banking taxes, employment taxes, real estate taxes, VAT, corporate tax, income tax, customs duties and other indirect taxes.
Among wide range of services our lawyers:
• provide strategic legal consulting to identify tax effective structures and avoid unnecessary liabilities across the full range of commercial and financial transactions;
• offer pragmatic advice and legal expertise to ensure that tax planning is documented and implemented effectively
• provide advises on all aspects of domestic tax, providing a full support on taxation in business operation.

Real Estate

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 12:18:41 +0000

Acting for the Armenian real estate industry’s leading players, we apply our best practice to advise on the full range of real estate-related transactions and construction industry matters. Our clients are international and local companies and construction consortiums, and their partners. Using forward thinking in our approach, with a recognised ability to deliver complex deals, we handle the entire property ‘life-cycle’ from the initial acquisition, development, leasing, joint venturing and financing through to the final exit. We provide our advices based on deep knowledge of the local legislation, commercial forces and legal aspects shaping the real estate market and the construction projects.

Litigation

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 12:16:50 +0000

The team of experienced litigators at Karakhanyan & Partners will help to resolve your business disputes through litigation, arbitration or mediation. We expertise in domestic litigation, international and local arbitration, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. We have experience across every segment of the corporate sphere. We specialise in managing complex cases involving multiple claims and parties. Our litigation practice involves areas such as administrative and public law, employment, banking and finance, insolvency, competition, insurance and securitisation, intellectual property, real estate litigation, as well as arbitration.