IFLR1000 Women Leaders 2021 has recognized seven Dentons partners among the leading female transactional lawyers in the world. Women Leaders, featuring elite lawyers working in financial and corporate law, acknowledges the most prominent women lawyers with an outstanding market reputation, impressive track record, inspiring leadership skills, and high quality advice, as recommended by clients and peers.

Dentons partners recognized in the 2021 edition of the guide include:

• Aigoul Kenjebayeva (Kazakhstan)
• Aldona Kowalczyk (Poland)
• Eavan Saunders (Ireland)
• Natalia Selyakova (Ukraine)
• Victoria Simonova (Kazakhstan)
• Ulvia Zeynalova-Bockin (Azerbaijan)
• Ximena Zuleta (Colombia)

Aigoul Kenjebayeva is the Managing Partner for Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Since establishing the Almaty office in 1994, she has built it into the largest, highest ranked and most influential international law firm in Kazakhstan. Aigoul has also acted on many of the most important transactions and litigations in the market, trained and developed new generations of lawyers, and set quality standards for client service.

Warsaw-based partner Aldona Kowalczyk is the Co-head of the Europe Public Procurement and Government Contracts practice and Head of the Public Procurement and Government Contracts practice in Poland. Named among Women Leaders for the second time, Aldona is one of the most renowned public procurement lawyers in Poland, advising the clients also on legal aspects of the execution of the public contracts. She is a co-founder and Chair of the Executive Board of the Public Procurement Law Association.

Managing Partner of Dentons’ Dublin office, Eavan Saunders was instrumental to founding the Firm’s presence in Ireland. Eavan is an outstanding international lawyer and market leader and one of Ireland’s most respected corporate lawyers.

Natalia Selyakova, heads the Banking and Finance, and Restructuring and Insolvency practices in Kyiv. She advises on syndicated finance, project finance, trade finance, FinTech, and M&A transactions, Eurobond issues, and debt restructuring and insolvency matters. Natalia is currently leading a cross-border Dentons’ team advising EBRD on the legal and regulatory reform on consolidation capital market infrastructure in Ukraine.

Based in Almaty, partner Victoria Simonova advises clients on a wide variety of Kazakh and international law issues, including energy, corporate, construction, subsurface use, property, anti-monopoly legislation and finance matters. Victoria has advised on a number of pipeline projects, including the transfer of the Kazakhstan national gas pipeline system and the construction of oil and gas pipelines.

Ulvia Zeynalova-Bockin focuses on banking and finance transactions, including Islamic finance, and advises on securities and financial regulations. Passionate about advocating for gender equality in the legal industry and beyond in Azerbaijan, Ulvia mentors junior female lawyers and paralegals at the Firm. 

Partner Ximena Zuleta heads the Projects and Infrastructure practice at Dentons Cardenas & Cardenas in Colombia. Ximena has been recognized by main international legal publications and directories as a leading lawyer. She advises on major government tender processes as well as contentious matters, including litigation and domestic and international arbitration in connection with infrastructure projects and public law.

“With more people in more places than in the history of the legal profession, Dentons connects clients to diverse and experienced teams of lawyers and consultants that are uniquely capable of providing the legal insights and business solutions they need,” said Dentons Global CEO Elliott Portnoy. "We congratulate these outstanding Partners, who have been recognized for their excellent work and reputation amongst clients and peers".

"With more women lawyers than any other law firm in the world, we continually seek to identify and advance opportunities for our women colleagues" said Joe Andrew, Dentons Global Chairman. "This recognition is a testament to the rich diversity and exceptional talent which Dentons has, in more than 200 locations around the world."

Dentons’ global statement on inclusion and diversity is available here.

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