We are delighted to introduce the AIFC Court, which is a hugely significant initiative for the AIFC, the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the entire Central Asia region.
The AIFC Court provides a common law court system based on the norms and principles of English law for the first time in Central Asia. It operates to the highest international standards to resolve civil and commercial disputes in the AIFC. It has exclusive jurisdiction over disputes arising out of the activities and operations of the AIFC and jurisdiction in the case of other disputes in which all parties agree to give the AIFC Court jurisdiction.
The AIFC Court is separate and independent from the judicial system of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In addition, there is a Court of Appeal, whose decisions are final. The AIFC Court has its own procedural rules modelled on the principles and procedures of English common law and standards applied by the world's leading financial centres. A special fast track procedure is offered for adjudicating small claims up to the value of US $150,000 at the Small Claims Court.
The AIFC Court has an e-filing system that enables parties to file cases electronically from anywhere around the world without their having to be physically present in Astana.
A cost and time efficient case management system ensures that cases are administered and adjudicated as quickly and appropriately as possible. The Court’s decisions are supported by a robust enforcement system.
In addition to a Chief Justice, the AIFC Court has eight Justices. Six Justices are judges who are eligible to hear cases in the AIFC Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal, and there are Justices who specialize in deciding small claims cases. All of the Justices are among the most experienced and distinguished judges from the common law world with global reputations for absolute independence, impartiality, integrity, unconditional application of the rule of law, and incorruptibility.
The AIFC Court also has a highly professional team that deals with administration, management and preparation of cases under the guidance of the Registrar.
There are extremely wide rights of audience. All lawyers with a professional lawyer or advocate practicing certificate from anywhere around the world are eligible to register with the AIFC Court to represent parties in cases adjudicated therein.
The AIFC Court and IAC Chambers are located at the EXPO-2017 Astana premises, which include conference, meeting and hearing rooms equipped with state-of-the-art IT systems.
The AIFC Court is working with leading international education institutions to provide world-class professional legal and judicial education that contributes to the professional development of future lawyers and judges in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The judges, procedures, practices and standards of the AIFC Court will be familiar to businesses currently operating in major financial centres around the world.
We welcome you to the AIFC Court.
