Mukhit Yeleuov is a co-founder and partner of ADL Disputes.
Mukhit is a disputes lawyer with over 20 years of experience.  He was a partner and the head of Kazakhstan dispute resolution practice at an international law firm. 
Mukhit has provided advice on numerous high-stakes disputes.  He has represented many clients in international arbitration, the AIFC Court, and Kazakhstan courts (including the Supreme Court).

Mukhit acts as a Kazakh law expert for foreign and international tribunals and occasionally sits as an arbitrator.   He is a former member of the Management Board of the Kazakhstan Bar Association.
Mukhit regularly gives presentations and publishes articles.  He authored and coauthored articles published in Zanger (the journal of the Kazakhstan Supreme Court), Global Arbitration Review, and other authoritative publications.

• Harvard University (Harvard Law School), cross-registered
• Harvard University (Harvard Kennedy School), MPA
• Indiana University (Maurer School of Law), LL.M., SJD
• Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, LL.B. (with honors)

ADL Disputes Partner
Sep 2024 – Present
 
Kinstellar Partner
Feb 2016 – May 2023

Chambers and Partners:
Band 1 in Dispute Resolution, Kazakhstan
2018-2019-2020-2021-2022-2023-2024and 2026
"he is very knowledgeable; he knows every detail and he pays attention to everything"
"he is very strong in the logical structuring of a case"
 
Legal 500:
Leading Individual in Dispute Resolution, Kazakhstan
2018-2019-2020-2021-2022-2023-2024 and 2026
"a fantastic advocate in the courts"
 
Arbitration Powerlist CIS and Caucasus:
"unbelievable trilingual litigator"

COMMERCIAL DISPUTES

• Represented Qarmet JSC in the International Arbitration Centre (“IAC”) arbitration arising out of a multi-million-claim dollar under a supply contract with Oriental Rubber Industries Pvt. Ltd., an Indian producer of industrial equipment. 
• Defended a major oil and gas company before in the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Court against a multi-hundred-million-dollar claim arising out of a sale of shares in an oil and gas company. 
• Represented Freschette Limited, a foreign crypto mining company, in Kazakhstan International Arbitrage (KIA) arbitration arising out of a multi-million-dollar dispute under a crypto-mining contract with Enegix LLP, a Kazakh data center.  The dispute was settled on favorable conditions.
• Advised а Kazakh owned private entity on an ICC arbitration arising out of a multi-million-dollar dispute under a JV agreement with a foreign company.
• Defended Kazphosphate Limited in the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Court against a multi-million-dollar claim brought by Michael Wilson & Partners Limited, a law firm.  The claim was dismissed on jurisdictional grounds.
• Advised a large Korean conglomerate in the Kazakhstan Supreme Court proceedings related to a multi-million-dollar sale of a subsidiary company and several land plots in Almaty.
• Advised a global oil and gas company on a potential multimillion-dollar claim by its contractor arising out of a customs dispute involving the contractor.
• Advised an oilfield services company in a dispute related to the recovery of leased equipment from a lessee.
• Defended a large services provider in Kazakhstan courts against a multi-million claim by a building owner arising out of a fire at a building leased from the owner.  The claim was dismissed in full.  

CONSTRUCTION DISPUTES

• Acted as a party-appointed Kazakh law expert in a Dubai-seated arbitration arising out of a multi-million-dollar dispute between a contractor and a subcontractor for the construction of the tallest building in Central Asia.  The dispute centred on the interpretation of numerous provisions of a construction contract as well as Kazakh law provisions on construction contracts and the principle of good faith behaviour.   The arbitration involved complex claims, counterclaims, and contract termination, with issues of contractual performance, notifications, etc.
• Advised a building owner in a Dubai-seated arbitration arising out of a multi-million-dollar dispute between the owner and a contractor for the construction of the tallest building in Central Asia.  The arbitration involved complex claims, and counterclaims, with issues of contractual performance, etc.
• Advised a subsidiary of a large foreign company on dispute resolution provisions of several multi-billion contracts with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
• Represented a large contractor in a 200-million-dollar dispute related to alleged defects in construction work, attempted use of a guarantee for a defect notification period, and other issues.
• Advised a subsidiary of a large oil and gas company on dispute resolution provisions of several multi-billion contracts with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. 

PROFESSIONAL MALPRACTICE DISPUTES

• Advised a "Big four" auditing firm on a multimillion-dollar claim in an English court by a large Kazakh bank asserting a breach of contractual obligations and audit standards.
• Defended a "Big four" auditing firm in a Kazakhstan court against a claim brought by a large state-owned industrial company asserting breach of contractual obligations and audit standards.
• Advised a "Big four" auditing firm on an inspection by the Office of the Public Prosecutor related to an audit of a large bank.
• Represented an individual on a medical malpractice claim against a local clinic tried in Kazakhstan courts.

Customs Disputes

• Represented Inditex (and its seven subsidiaries) in several interrelated multi-million-dollar customs disputes related to royalties for know-how, IT, and company name.
  Represented Procter & Gamble in several interrelated disputes with the customs authorities, pertaining to multimillion-dollar claims against the company in connection with customs classification of multi-component goods.
• Represented a global oil and gas company in several interrelated disputes with the customs authorities, pertaining to multimillion-dollar claims against the company and its contractor in connection with the issue of the proper declarant (importer of record) and other issues.
• Represented a global consumer goods company in a dispute with the customs authorities, pertaining to multimillion-dollar claims against the company in connection with customs duties and penalties related to royalties.
• Represented a large oil products company in a dispute with the customs authorities, pertaining to multimillion-dollar claims against the company in connection with customs duties and penalties related to the classification of goods for customs purposes.
• Represented a Kazakhstan subsidiary of a major foreign company in a dispute with the customs authorities, pertaining to excise duties.

Tax Disputes

• Represented PFDI in a dispute with the tax authorities, pertaining to multimillion-dollar tax claims against the company in connection with disallowance of local branch expenses.
• Represented PFDI in a dispute with the tax authorities, pertaining to multimillion-dollar tax claims against the company in connection with the disallowance of head office general and administrative expenses.
• Represented a small oil and gas engineering and infrastructure company in a dispute with the tax authorities, pertaining to multimillion-dollar tax claims against the company in connection with disallowance of head office general and administrative expenses.