"Forget everything you learned" – that's what graduates usually hear on their first day in the legal profession. While being more a tribute of tradition, this philosophical expression encompasses the evolution that every explorer encounters in life.
Centil is accepting applications for the Summer Hell Week 2023 cohort – a training course for law school students and young lawyers in Uzbekistan. Trainees will be immersed in the environment of a professional consulting firm and tested in a competitive environment for a week-long intensive course aimed at honing the skills required for being a lawyer.
Up to 25 talented students and young lawyers will be selected to take part in the programme, after which up to five trainees will be invited to Centil - the coolest law firm in Central Asia, winner of The UK Law Society's "Excellence in International Legal Services" award in 2016 and 2018, and five-time nominee for The Lawyer's "Law firm of the year: Russia & CIS" Award.
Course contents
THEORY: Extensive lectures from partners and senior lawyers on the theory of consulting, law and tax.
RESEARCH: Identifying and compiling the ten most relevant laws relating to a specific topic, elaborating on making those choices.
DECOMPRESSION / HYPER-COMPRESSION: Expanding one paragraph of text to a three-page text and compressing five pages of material to half a page.
CONTRACTS: Understanding how to verify the structure of a complex agreement and its versions in different languages.
MEMO: Producing a summary report of no more than 5 pages based on a pile of documents.
NEGOTIATIONS: Teaming up into groups to conduct negotiations, acting out various scenarios.
GAME: Taking part in a game specially designed to develop trainees' attention span and attention to detail.
EXAM: Attendees will need to run through a final exam to implement the skills, while working as a team.
Meet the lecturers
The best professionals work at Centil. Be it a multi-billion US dollar cross-border deal or a complex industry reform, these engineers of transactions and exemplary practitioners are a true source of unparalleled experience and knowledge.
Umid Aripdjanov
Partner, Infrastructure & Utilities
Years in profession: 26 Education: LLM Cum Laude, Case Western Reserve School of Law
Madina Hamidova
Senior associate, Utilities & PPP
Years in profession: 9 Education: Nagoya University (Japan) (LLM)
Kamilla Khamraeva
Senior associate, Project Finance
Years in profession: 14 Education: LL.M, Economics and Finance from International University College of Turin (Italy)
Fayoz Kamalov
Associate, Energy and Investments
Years in profession: 7 Education: Westminster International University in Tashkent (LLB)
Husniddin Ochildiyev
Senior associate, Banking & Finance
Years in profession: 13 Education: The University of Cambridge (LLM)
Islam Gulyamov
Senior associate, Projects & Infrastructure
Years in profession: 13 Education: The University of Westminster (BA), UWED (LLM)
Dilshad Khabibullaev
Partner, PPP & Investments
Years in profession: 21 Education: The University of Arizona (LLM)
Maksud Karaketov
Senior associate, Corporate & M&A
Years in profession: 11 Education: Nagoya University (Japan) (LLM, LD)
Khayrullo Abdullaev
Senior associate, Banking & Finance
Years in profession: 11 Education: Anglia Ruskin University (BSc), the University of Law (GDL, LPC, London, UK)
Maksim Sayfutdinov
Senior associate, Compliance & Risk
Years in profession: 11 Education: Tashkent Institute of Law (BA)
David Tagiev
Associate, Corporate and M&A
Years in profession: 5 Education: Westminster International University in Tashkent (LLB)
Otabek Suleimanov
Partner, Projects & Investments
Years in profession: 22 Education: The University of Sheffield (LLB)
Training program
Along with practical sessions, attendants will get concise and valuable theoretical introductions into key sectors. Dates of each lecture slot will be announced accordingly. Expect in total 14 hour of daily engagement.
TBD
Corporate structures
What is due diligence? Why some clients choose JSCs? How to ensure a smooth exit strategy in an LLC? How to avoid an unwanted dilution? What is the hierarchy of powers?
TBD
English law in Uzbek deals
Are representations and warranties recognized by Uzbek law? What about guarantees? Will the covenants and deeds work under Uzbek law? In which cases must Uzbek law be applied?
TBD
Contracts
What are LOLs, EODs, LDs, FM, MAE? How indemnities and limitations work in Uzbek contracts? Why is a preamble so important in contracts? Contract critical structure elements.
TBD
Finance structures
Equity vs debt finance. Means of securitization. What is a sovereign guarantee? What are the borrowers' risks and what are the lenders'? What are the CPs? What is IPO, Eurobonds and derivatives?
TBD
PPP and Investments
What is a PPP agreement? What are the other forms of concessions? What are the major risks for the investor and the government? How free-zones help to promote investments? What is unbundling and why Uzbek government wants to boost privatization?
TBD
Ethics & Compliance
Domestic and foreign regulatory. SDN, E.O./Directive/License, Asset freeze, Trade Embargo. Sanctions screening (selecting and vetting suppliers) procedure. Risk management.
TBD
Energy projects
Solar, wind and hydro projects. Nuclear. Hydrogen. PPAs, DAs, LLAs, EPCs, DPVs, energy charges, etc.
TBD
Legal profession
What law firms do? Lawyer vs consultant. Client relationships. Intra-firm ethics.
The world of corporate legal consulting often requires concentration at extreme levels of intensity. The Hell Week training course is an excellent tool to sharpen legal and analytical skills, to illuminate hidden talents as well as to sharpen the focus in choosing a lifetime profession.
Feedback from participants
Participating in Hell Week proved to be one of the best decisions I made to start my professional path. The excellent organisation, the high level of professionalism of the organisers and the intensity of the programme gives you a number of opportunities to challenge yourself, your knowledge and even your emotions. The Hell Week programme is truly a demo version of the lives of successful lawyers with whom you interact and learn from their experience and knowledge during the programme
Farangiz Karimova, Hell Week 2021
Paralegal at Centil Law Firm, Banking & Finance practice
Hell Week was brilliantly organised to provide the greatest exposure to what it is like to be a lawyer and work for a top-tier law firm. The training equipped me with the skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience I needed to kick-start my career in law. If you are hungry to learn, open to new challenges, and eager to build new networks, I highly recommend you to apply for the programme.
Ruhsora Usmonova, Hell Week 2018
Associate at Centil Law Firm
It was the most memorable and personally for me a great opportunity to examine all the knowledge I had gained during 4 years at university. Frankly, I didn't even know what to expect, couldn't imagine that it would be so extremely amazing and beneficial. Be ready. It will be the purest hell, but everyone will be willing to stay there once and for all.
Shakhzoda Tuychieva, Hell Week 2020
As exciting as it was tough, Hell Week delivered on every promise it made, and then some. It taught me the skills, knowledge and work ethic I've been using to this day, and allowed me to make friends with some of the most brilliant, inspiring, and intelligent people I've ever met. Sign up and gear up for one hell of a week.
Saidrasul Ashrafkhanov, Hell Week 2018
Research Analyst at Frontier Research and Advisory
I thought I would not make it till the end. An army like experience. Ruthless. No compromises. Pure hardcore. Would do that again...
Sanjar Ismatov, Hell Week 2019
The Hell Week is one hell of great opportunity for rookie law grads to sink into the mechanics of legal advisory. Brace yourself and make this happen.
Bekhzod Kudratov, Hell Week 2020
Junior associate at Centil Law Firm
Our partners
ELEGIBILITY AND SELECTION PROCESS
Eligibility: (1) Good command of English and (2) Completion of penultimate or final year of a law degree in Uzbekistan.
There is a two-stage selection process. At the first stage we evaluate writing skills. Those who proceed to the second stage will be invited for an interview.
To participate in Hell Week program, please download the file, produce a brief summary report and send it, along with your CV, to the email indicated below by 11:59PM on 14 August 2023. The summary report should not exceed 200 words.
There is also admission fee of 1,000,000 UZS.
Good luck!
Contact us weshallmeetagain@centil.law
Photograph on a starting page is from "Whiplash" motion picture directed by Damien Chazelle. Centil Law Firm was authorized by Bold Films, copyrights holder, to use the image.