Dear colleagues and subscribers,

As part of our GRATA International Global View series, this edition highlights our firm’s growing presence in the United States and Western Europe — key regions shaping today’s global business and investment landscape.

Our offices and Partner firms in the UK, Germany, and Switzerland, together with our representative presence in the USA, play a pivotal role in connecting clients from Europe and North America with opportunities across Central Asia and the CIS. These markets are home to some of the world’s largest investors, financial institutions, and multinational corporations — all of whom rely on trusted, cross-border legal support.

Below you will find an overview of our core legal services and the dedicated professionals driving GRATA International’s success across these jurisdictions.

📍Germany

GRATA International has opened a representative desk in Frankfurt am Main, Europe’s leading financial hub and home to the European Central Bank and German Stock Exchange.

The new presence, led by Senior Partner Igor Popa, strengthens GRATA’s ties with the German business community, fostering closer cooperation and supporting clients’ cross-border projects.

“Frankfurt’s strong investment climate and global financial role make it a natural bridge between Germany and the markets where GRATA operates,” — Igor Popa, Senior Partner.

Igor Popa

Senior Partner | Representative in Europe

Igor Popa — Senior Partner with over 18 years of experience advising foreign investors in Moldova and leading major transactions and disputes. He specialises in Banking & Finance, Project Finance, PPP, M&A, and Capital Markets.

Igor has represented multinational corporations and government officials before Moldovan courts, including the Supreme Court of Justice, and led numerous high-profile projects in banking, energy, and healthcare sectors.

He holds an LL.M. in Finance from the Institute for Law and Finance, Goethe University Frankfurt, and speaks Romanian, English, German, and Russian.

Alexey Mashinets

Counsel | Representative in Europe

Alexey Mashinets — legal expert with over 15 years of experience in subsoil use, energy, and corporate governance.

He has advised on asset restructurings and strategic subsoil projects in cooperation with ministries and state-owned enterprises of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Alexey also leads on compliance matters and major legal projects in the energy and natural resources sectors. He holds a Master’s in International Business Law from Leiden University (Netherlands) and a Law degree from Kazakh National University.

Fluent in English, German, and Russian.

📍 Switzerland

Dimitri Papadopoulos, Representative and Executive Director of the Global Board, oversees GRATA International’s activities in Switzerland, where the Association is registered as a Swiss Verein — the governance model followed by many leading global law networks.

This structure unites all associated and integrated offices under one brand and ensures seamless collaboration across jurisdictions.

“Our partnership is built on trust, shared values, and genuine friendship — a foundation that makes us stronger and more efficient in today’s fast-changing world,” - Dimitri Papadopoulos, Executive Director, GRATA International Global Board.

GRATA International provides customers with access to an entire network of offices with a professional team, extensive legal experience and fundamental knowledge of the business environment in each country of its presence, providing a reliable basis for clients to receive quality services.

Dimitri Papadopoulos

Executive Director of the Global Board, GRATA International

Dimitri Papadopoulos — Executive Director of the Global Board, GRATA International.

He advises Swiss and international companies on corporate and contract law, M&A, arbitration, and real estate transactions.

Dimitri has extensive experience in the incorporation and administration of Swiss and foreign entities, enforcement of foreign judgments, and residency matters for foreign nationals in Switzerland.

📍The The United Kingdom Kingdom

London is one of the world’s leading financial and legal centres, home to major international institutions and law firms. The city plays a key role in directing investment into Central and Eastern Europe, the CIS, and beyond, with many companies from these regions raising capital and listing shares on the London Stock Exchange and AIM.

As English law remains the global standard for international transactions and dispute resolution, London continues to be a hub for structuring deals and arbitration through the LCIA.

Recognizing London’s strategic importance, GRATA International has maintained a representative presence in the city since its inception, ensuring close coordination with international partners and clients and staying at the forefront of global legal developments.

Andrew Gamble

Chairman of the Global Board GRATA International | Representative in the United Kingdom

Andrew Gamble is the Chairman of the Global Board and Representative of GRATA International in the United Kingdom.

He brings over 30 years of experience in international banking and finance, having previously served as a Partner at Hogan Lovells, where he led the International Banking Practice, the Africa Practice, and was part of the firm’s Executive and International Management Committees.

Andrew has advised governments, financial institutions, and corporations across Africa, the CIS, the Middle East, and Latin America on sovereign debt restructuring, project finance, and World Bank–sponsored programs. His clients have included the World Bank, IFC, and EBRD, as well as several national governments on complex financing and debt management projects. Andrew continues to contribute thought leadership on sovereign debt and international finance, reinforcing GRATA International’s strategic presence in the UK and beyond.

Aliya Aralbayeva

Partner, Kazakhstan | Representative in the UK

Aliya Aralbayeva is a Partner and Representative in UK, advising on banking & finance, corporate/M&A, construction &infrastructure, and regulatory matters across Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

Kazakhstan-qualified lawyer (since 1999) with an LLM from City University, London and a Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP Law School. 

Extensive experience supporting European banks, development institutions, and multinational companies, including projects with EBRD, UniCredit Group, and Bombardier. Fluent in English and Russian.

📍The United States of America

Our New York representative office serves as a key link between GRATA International and clients across the US and Central Asia. The office provides legal assistance across a wide range of practices, including corporate, finance, commercial, investment, labor, tax, and intellectual property law, supporting multinational corporations, non-profit institutions, and individual clients.

Headed by Zulfiya Akchurina, a seasoned legal professional with international education and experience, the New York office offers:

• full availability in US time zones;

• deep understanding of both US and Central Asian business environments;

• direct access to GRATA International’s full-service capabilities in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

Zulfiya Akchurina

Representative in the USA

Zulfiya represents GRATA International in the United States (New York) and has extensive experience in corporate, finance, commercial, investment, and banking law.

Previously, she advised international lenders on transactions involving Kazakh banks, securities market participation, guarantees, and collateral. Before joining GRATA, she worked as a consultant for the European and CIS markets at Trilini International Ltd.

She holds Master’s Degrees in International Business and Trade Law (Fordham University, New York) and EU Law (Warsaw University). Zulfiya is Director of the American Foreign Law Association, a regular contributor to the World Bank’s Doing Business reports, and speaks English, Polish, Kazakh, and Russian.

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