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Almaty, Kazakhstan
Unicase advises airlines, airports, lessors, lenders, insurers, and government bodies on the full spectrum of aviation law from airport development and concession structuring through aircraft financing, regulatory compliance, and cross-border dispute resolution. Unicase has advised on some of the region’s key aviation mandates, including Kazakhstan’s first PPP airport project, complex aircraft repossession disputes across several jurisdictions, the establishment of national carriers, and airline debt restructurings involving international lenders. Our work in the sector combines transactional, regulatory and disputes expertise, covering project finance, PPPs, corporate and M&A, licensing, insurance, and litigation.
Unicase combines the focus of a regional specialist with the standards of an international practice. Our aviation team advises across the full project and corporate lifecycle including, greenfield airport PPPs and airline start-ups to complex lessor-lender disputes and regulatory reform mandates. We have handled matters involving conflicting lessor priorities across multiple jurisdictions, structured the first airport concession of its kind in Kazakhstan, and advised governments on aligning national legislation with ICAO and EASA standards under real implementation constraints.
Unicase maintains an established network of international aviation specialists including consultants and practitioners with hands-on operational and legal experience at leading carriers such as Air Astana, Emirates Airline, and other major international operators. This network allows us to bring sector-specific commercial insight to legal mandates where understanding how airlines and airports actually operate makes a material difference to the advice we give. We operate across three jurisdictions simultaneously and maintain direct working relationships with civil aviation authorities, ministries of transport, and international financing institutions.
Unicase combines the focus of a regional specialist with the standards of an international practice. Our aviation team advises across the full project and corporate lifecycle including, greenfield airport PPPs and airline start-ups to complex lessor-lender disputes and regulatory reform mandates. We have handled matters involving conflicting lessor priorities across multiple jurisdictions, structured the first airport concession of its kind in Kazakhstan, and advised governments on aligning national legislation with ICAO and EASA standards under real implementation constraints.
Unicase maintains an established network of international aviation specialists including consultants and practitioners with hands-on operational and legal experience at leading carriers such as Air Astana, Emirates Airline, and other major international operators. This network allows us to bring sector-specific commercial insight to legal mandates where understanding how airlines and airports actually operate makes a material difference to the advice we give. We operate across three jurisdictions simultaneously and maintain direct working relationships with civil aviation authorities, ministries of transport, and international financing institutions.
Central Asia's aviation sector is undergoing significant expansion. Kazakhstan's National Infrastructure Plan to 2029 includes major investments in airport capacity and regional connectivity, while Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are progressively liberalising their airspace and attracting international operators. Unicase is positioned at the centre of this growth advising on landmark transactions, shaping aviation-related legislation, and acting for the region's most significant public and private sector clients.
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Our Services in Energy
Advise on PPP structuring and concession projects
Advise on airline M&A and corporate restructuring
Advise on CAC Aviation Regulatory Issue;
Advise on regulatory licensing and aviation permits
Advise on aircraft finance and leasing transactions
Advise on Antimonopoly Department Regulatory Issue
Advise on lessor enforcement and aircraft repossession
Advise on aviation debt restructuring
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Unicase team is able to move seamlessly between contract work, compliance, and day-to-day support which is an asset in complex infrastructure projects
Top Projects:
Advised the public partner, the Akimat of Turkestan Region and the Ministry of Finance on the first airport construction project in Kazakhstan structured under a PPP model. Built on a 905-hectare site with a 10,500 m² terminal, the project attracted approximately US$160 million in investment and welcomed its first scheduled flight in December 2020. Services encompassed detailed legal assessment of the PPP agreement, development of recommendations on critical contractual provisions, participation in inter-ministerial commission discussions, and negotiation support with the private partner.
Advised GTLK (State Transport Leasing Company) on the evaluation of the acquisition of VEB Leasing's entire aviation leasing business, comprising over 150 aircraft and 20 helicopters.
International Insurance Group Aviation Liability Representation. Represented an international insurance group (rated ruAA+) in proceedings involving compensation for passenger harm arising from an air accident involving SCAT airline.
Advised S7 Airlines on the settlement of lease relationships with a group of major international lessors including AerCap Ireland Limited, SMBC Aviation Capital Limited, and Air Lease Corporation covering 45 medium-haul aircraft and 4 aircraft engines.
Advised Qazaq Air on the legal aspects of establishing Kazakhstan's national airline. The scope included a comprehensive review of the regulatory framework governing civil aviation, executive and board-level decision documentation, and preparation of detailed advisory reports with recommendations.
EASA Standards Transition Civil Aviation Reform. Prepared a structured implementation schedule for Kazakhstan's civil aviation sector transition to EASA standards, including legislative measures to embed EASA requirements into the country's civil aviation legal framework.
Sheremetyevo and Voronezh Airport Reconstructions Lender Advisory. Advised lenders, including a syndicate of banks, on financing the reconstruction and modernisation of Sheremetyevo and Voronezh airports respectively.
Advised on the B-loan financing for the reconstruction of Pulkovo Airport with a total project cost of €200 million. Services covered project and financing agreements, corporate, budgetary and regulatory.
10+
airport projects advised across Central Asia
in airport financing transactions advised
US$360M+
45+
aircraft covered in a single lessor settlement matter
3
jurisdictions with active aviation mandates
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