Umid Aripdjanov

Uzbekistan
- 2024-2025: Advised a foreign national oil company on the drafting, negotiating and finalizing the PSA III for exploration and development at Usyurt investment block with estimated capex of US$ 2 bln.
- 2022-2024: Advising a world’s top uranium producer on the geological exploration and development of uranium deposits, and drafting and negotiating the PSA III with investment plant of US$ 200 mln.
- 2022-2023: Advised a winning bidder in the UNG tender for the RSA to increase hydrocarbon production with estimated development plan of US$ 400 mln., on GSA and project approvals by the Cabinet of Ministers
- 2019-Ongoing: Advising Navoi Mining and Metallurgy Complex, world’s top ten largest mining company on structural reforms, corporate reorganization and regulatory restructuring to prepare for corporatization and foreign IPO
- 2020 - 2022: Advised a private Canadian petroleum corporation on the PSA III with US$ 1.9 bln. investment plan
- 2017-2022: Advised one of the largest Russian banks on the US$ 2 bln. facility for a Governmental Program to increase hydrocarbon production
- 2019: Advised a transnational private petroleum holding (U.S. and HK) and negotiating with the Government the PSA III with US$ 2.5 bln investment plan
- 2017-2018: Advised a consortium of European companies on PSA II structure and bankability aspects with estimated investment plan of US$ 4 bln.
- 2017: Advised a large Russian bank on a US$ 200 mln. bridge-financing for a consortium of foreign investors operating under the PSA II
- 2015-2016: Advised ADB on project finance facility in the amount of US$ 400 mln. for a major Russian investor operating under the PSA II to design, construct, and operate the downstream gas facilities from own feedstock gas
- 2014-2015: Advised a major Russian investor operating under the PSA II on loan facilities for further development of gas fields and on regulatory aspects to raise foreign debt capital directly for its operating company
- 2012-2014: Advised Rio Tinto on a massive copper-porphyry PSA I [amount confidential] with the State Committee for Geology of Uzbekistan
- 2006-2014: Advised Petronas on several upstream projects (under JSA, EA, and four PSAs I) with total investment of US$2.5 bln.
- 2009-2011: Acted for KNOC in the drafting and implementation of two EAs (with PSA I option) in Ferghana Region with US$ 120 mln. work program
- 2008-2011: Acted and negotiated for Daewoo Energy in drafting and implementing the Exploration Agreement (with PSA I option) for two prospective blocks in the Ustyurt Region with the US$ 60 mln. work program
- 2006-2008: Advised, negotiated, drafted and executed the PSA I for SoyuzNefteGaz envisioning US$ 450 mln. of investments
- 2006-2007: Advised the consortium (Lukoil, CNPC, KNOC, Petronas, UNG) on the Aral Sea PSA I envisaging offshore drilling on the Aral Sea
- 2005-2006: Advised CNODC on corporate, tax, licensing and currency aspects of operating under EA (with PSA I option) worth approximately US$ 650 mln. for the development and production of six investment blocks;
- 2004-2006: Advised a foreign investor, UzPEC on a PSA I with the US$ 500 mln. work program for South-West Gissar and Central Ustyurt

Kazakhstan
- 2013-2015: Advised a private investor from Canada on the sale of the gold mining assets in Kazakhstan estimated US$ 150 mln.; procuring relevant regulatory approvals and waivers from the Government of Kazakhstan;
- 2014-2015: Advised a regulated Malaysian investment vehicle on asset acquisition of oil-producing assets worth US$ 250 mln. in Kazakhstan
- 2014: Advised a large Chinese state fund, Silk Road Fund, on acquisition of the strategic oil exploration and pipeline assets in Kazakhstan
- 2013: Advised a private Chinese corporation on internal restructuring of their oil assets in Kazakhstan with the view to minimize regulatory approvals and maximize a potential for farm-out or sale
- 2012-2013: Assisted a large state-owned bank of China on lending a US$ 70 mln. loan under the pledge of subsoil assets in Kazakhstan
- 2012-2013: Advised a large Russian oil service company on acquisition of the US$ 500 mln. oil service business and on regulatory rules in Kazakhstan
- 2011: Advised one of the world’s largest mining corporation on a subsoil contract for copper-porphyry exploration projects in Kazakhstan
- 2011: Advised a Russian holding company on the change of subsoil contract made with its subsidiary in terms of work program, content requirements and new taxes in Kazakhstan
- 2008-2011: Advised a major Chinese governmental bank on project financing and security matters for the US$ 6.0 bln. multi-jurisdictional Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China Gas Pipeline

Turkmenistan
- 2025 – ongoing: Advising a foreign developer in the offshore PSA on a potential investment arbitration with Turkmenistan in relation to the termination of the PSA due to Government event of default
- 2020-2025: Advised a Belarus state-owned potash fertilizer enterprise on a commercial arbitration in relation to the massive EPC dispute for US$1 bln.
- 2008-2011: Advised a major Malaysian national petroleum corporation on upstream petroleum contract (JSA, Exploration Agreements, PSAs) with total investment of US$3.5 bln. in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
- 2010: Advised Gazprom International, a Russian gas giant, on legal and tax aspects for the construction of onshore Transcaspian Gas Pipeline
- 2010: Advised KazMunaiGaz, a Kazakhstan national oil corporation, on establishment of operations, opening office, complying with regulatory regime, licensing and PSC contract for offshore production
- 2008-2009: Advised a Gulf Region sovereign petroleum corporation on Farm-out Agreement in Turkmenistan, conducting due diligence for the existing PSA, advising on tax consequences and investment regulations
- 2009: Advised, negotiated, and drafted the PSC for a Russian private petroleum company for the offshore drilling, exploration and development operations

2002

LL.M., Case Western University (USA)

2000

2000, PhD, Tashkent State Institute of Law (Uzbekistan)

1997

LL.B., Tashkent State Institute of Law (Uzbekistan)

Chambers and Partners

Band 1 | General Business Law

Legal 500

Hall of Fame | Leading firms

IFLR1000

Highly regarded | Project development