Malika Murodova is a Senior Associate in the Tashkent office, specializing in banking & finance, corporate and M&A, as well as IP&T law.

Malika has extensive experience in advising both international and local clients on a diverse range of projects, including large-scale project development and financing, corporate matters, infrastructure projects, renewable energy projects, public-private partnerships (PPPs), licensing transactions, IP and data protection matters in Uzbekistan.

Her practice encompasses drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex project and finance documents, conducting comprehensive due diligence, and providing strategic regulatory advice to clients across various sectors.

While working at Kinstellar, Malika was seconded to the Office of the General Counsel at the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for 8 months. In this role, she contributed to a range of global financing projects, including sovereign loans, alongside senior counsels at the bank.

RECENT ENGAGEMENTS INCLUDE ADVISING

Projects & Infrastructure

• ACWA POWER COMPANY AS THE SPONSOR in connection with the Public-Private Partnership project “Construction and operation of the 100 MW wind power plant in Qorao’zak District, Republic of Karakalpakstan based on the public-private partnership mechanism”, including reviewing and commenting on the project documents, drafting and negotiating the security agreements governed by Uzbek law, issuing legal opinions, advising on various legal matters (This is the first PPP project implemented in the power sector in Uzbekistan.)
• PROPARCO, EBRD and EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK on the provision of financing to Tutly Solar, a subsidiary of Total Eren, to develop, construct and operate the 100 MW capacity photovoltaic (PV) plant in Samarkand province, including assistance with all legal and documentary arrangements required for the purposes of achieving financial closing, reviewing the regulatory framework for the project, preparing and negotiating the security agreements governed by Uzbek law, as well as reviewing financing and other documents from the Uzbek law
• AN ITALIAN DEVELOPER on drafting and negotiation of an investment agreement, presidential decree and other project documents with a state railway company, Uzbekistan Railways, for the implementation of a project for launching a luxury train cruising between Tashkent, Samarkand, and Khiva, including structuring of the transaction, ensuring compliance with local regulations, drafting and negotiating the documents to be executed with local partners and facilitating a partnership with Uzbekistan Railways

IP&T 

• A GERMAN AUDIO EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER on reclaiming a domain name from a local infringer, including preparing and sending a Cease & Desist letter and conducting negotiations with the infringer on the transfer of the domain name to the client
• AN ITALIAN LUXURY BRAND on a franchise agreement with a local company for opening and operation of a famous luxury brand store in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, including transactional, regulatory, and IP advice as well as assistance with registration and other formalities, to ensure the validity of the transaction documents
• A MAJOR GLOBAL MOVIE DISTRIBUTOR on entering into copyright agreements with local voiceover actors, dubbing director and translators, including review and revision of the agreements and providing advice on copyright protection requirements in Uzbekistan
• A MAJOR ONLINE MARKETPLACE on data protection and cybersecurity regulations in Uzbekistan

M&A and Corporate

• A CONFIDENTIAL UZBEK AGRICULTURAL COMPANY AND AN INVESTMENT BANK on issuing corporate bonds, including negotiating and drafting a term sheet, a bond purchase agreement as well as other related documents
• A CONFIDENTIAL INVESTMENT BANK AND A STATE-OWNED ENTITY on the privatization of 100% state shares in the charter capital of a local entity (owner of a branded hotel complex) through tender procedure, drafting a binding offer for the purchase of shares, reviewing and revising a share sale and purchase agreement, reviewing and advising on the existing license and franchise agreements of the company as well as other related documents
• A CONFIDENTIAL CANADIAN HOLDING COMPANY on establishing a limited liability company in Uzbekistan and providing legal advice on transactional, corporate and regulatory matters with a focus on the supply of oil & gas goods and equipment
• A CONFIDENTIAL UZBEK INVESTMENT FUND on legal due diligence in respect to a local fintech company within the framework of an equity investment project

Real Estate, Construction & Planning

• AN INTERNATIONAL HOSPITALITY COMPANY on transactional matters, regulatory advice, and legal due diligence in relation to the development of a luxury hotel and condominiums in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, including regulatory overview of Uzbek legislation, reviewing and advising on the hotel management agreement, and assisting in the negotiations with the owner and the municipality of Tashkent city

EDUCATION

• 2020: Westminster International University, Tashkent, Faculty of Law, Bachelor's Degree in Commercial Law (First-Class Honours)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION

Association of Patent Attorneys of the Republic of Uzbekistan

LANGUAGES

Uzbek, Russian, English