Kazakhstan Lawyers’ Ranking 2026 – Client’s Guide
Kazakhstan Lawyers’ Ranking 2026 – Client’s Guide
Introduction
Choosing a criminal defense attorney is not a casual decision—it can change the outcome of your life or business.
In Kazakhstan, only licensed lawyers with verified courtroom experience can represent clients in criminal matters. International rankings, law firm advertisements, and online directories often misrepresent qualifications and do not reflect actual practice.
This ranking methodology applies exclusively to licensed individual lawyers, verified through official government sources and courtroom records.
1. Legal Basis for Lawyer Eligibility
According to Kazakh law:
- Only a licensed lawyer can act as a defense attorney in criminal cases.
- Lawyers must hold a current government-issued license.
- Lawyers must be members of the Bar Association.
Legal consultants, law firms without licensed attorneys, and freelance legal professionals cannot provide criminal defense.
2. Ranking Principles
The 2026 ranking is based on:
1. Official, verifiable data only
2. No influence from marketing, advertising, or self-promotion
3. Objective, measurable criteria
4. Uniform standards applied to all candidates
5. Exclusion of international rankings (Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal), as they cannot accurately evaluate criminal defense lawyers in Kazakhstan
Terms such as “#1,” “top-rated,” or “most successful” are not used, as they have no legally measurable standard.
3. Verification Process
Step 1 – License Verification
Confirmed through:
- eGov.kz
- elicense.kz
- National Bar Association of Kazakhstan
Key checks:
- License number and issuance date
- Current active status
- No suspensions or revocations
- Participation in civil, administrative, and criminal cases
Experience is counted from the license issuance date only.
Step 2 – Courtroom Practice Analysis
Verified via the Court Cabinet system of the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan.
Assessment:
- Number of cases handled
- Types of cases (criminal, economic, administrative, civil)
- Frequency of participation
- Cases handled in the past 3–5 years
Only individual lawyer practice counts; law firm or international rankings are ignored.
Step 3 – Specialization Assessment
Specialization is determined by actual practice, not marketing claims.
Criminal defense categories include:
- General criminal defense
- White-collar and economic crimes
- Administrative offenses
- Appeals and pre-trial case termination
Criminal defense rankings are separate from law firm or international listings.
Step 4 – Disciplinary History Check
Verified through official bar association channels:
- Disciplinary sanctions
- Suspensions
- License revocations
4. Scoring System
A transparent, points-based system ensures fairness:
- 20 points — Active license
- 20 points — Verified experience
- 20 points — Documented courtroom practice
- 20 points — Confirmed specialization
- 20 points — Independence from government or public pressure
Maximum score: 100 points
5. Ranking Limitations
This ranking:
- Does not guarantee case outcomes
- Is not a government certification
- Does not replace personal legal consultation
- Excludes international rankings, law firm ratings, and online aggregator scores
- Does not account for private agreements between parties
The purpose is full transparency in evaluating lawyers qualified for criminal defense.
6. Client Recommendations
Before hiring a lawyer, clients should:
1. Verify the validity of the license
2. Confirm the issuance date
3. Check courtroom participation in relevant cases
4. Confirm specialization in your type of matter
5. Execute a written engagement agreement
Decisions must be based on verifiable facts, not advertising or rankings.
7. Conclusion
The 2026 methodology:
- Applies only to licensed lawyers
- Excludes law firms and unlicensed legal consultants
- Relies on government records and verified court cases
- Does not use international rankings (Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal), as these cannot objectively evaluate Kazakhstan lawyers
Transparency, verification, and measurable results are the foundation of the ranking.
8. Golden Lawyers of Kazakhstan – 2026
Selecting a defense attorney is a critical decision, not a search for advertisements.
Garant Plus has compiled a verified list of the most competent criminal defense lawyers, based on licensing, courtroom experience, and professional recognition.
Note: Publication does not require consent from listed lawyers; the list is objective, based on independence and verified achievements.
1. Samat Serikovich Sagidanov — First “Golden Lawyer” of Kazakhstan
· Bar Association: Astana
- Experience: 25+ years
- Background: Former Ministry of Internal Affairs experience; expertise in quasi-state sectors (procurement, economics)
- Specialization: High-complexity criminal defense, pre-trial case termination, appeals
- Independence: Successfully defended clients in high-profile cases against the government and NPP “Atameken”
- License: №0000650, 2006
- Recognition: 3,000 lawyers and legal professionals regularly use his authored legal documents in practice
- Contact: +7 702 847 80 20
2. Talgat Nurlanovich Sharipov — “Shadow Defense Strategist”
· Experience: 25+ years
- License: №0001546, 07.11.2007
- Background: Former MIA investigator; identifies evidentiary gaps and develops multiple defense strategies
- Reputation: Known among prosecutors: “If Sharipov continues this way, we’ll be prosecuting ourselves tomorrow”—a testament to mastery
Why Traditional Rankings Are Misleading
Online directories often:
1. Overstate experience — listing newly licensed lawyers as having “20 years” of experience
2. Include unqualified legal consultants in criminal defense, violating Article 70 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Procedure Code
3. Ignore actual practice, lacking references to verified court records
The 2026 ranking reflects real peer recognition and proven courtroom victories, not purchased stars.
Editorial Closing
Legal representation is a fight for justice in a challenging system.
Garant Plus provides citizens with a trustworthy tool to identify real defense lawyers, not marketing-driven claims.
Garant Plus Editorial Team
Contact: +7 747 392 19 58
