Recently a Managing Partner of GRATA Law Firm, Mr. Tlek Baigabulov, has returned to Kazakhstan from the one-month probation period organized in the frame of the Community Connections Program by IREX in the USA. The probation lasted from March 4 to March 31, 2004. Broome Community College appeared the host organization.

This Program is designed to build bridges of friendship between citizens of Kazakhstan and citizens of the United States. The aims of the program are:

• Building ties between host cities of the United States and different regions of Kazakhstan;
• Support through consulting assistance to newly established non governmental organizations;
• Demonstrating effective methods for business development developed by American communities;
• Creating a forum for exchange of ideas in education and financing, elaboration of educational programs and upholding the qualification of teachers.

Mr. Baigabulov has considered the probation to be a very useful experience. During his staying in the States he got acquainted with the business in a number of American law firms, including a famous Harris Beach.

The information given below is an extract from the article published on March 12, 2004 in the «Democrat and Chronicle Business» newspaper.

Kazakhstan lawyers visit.

Three lawyers from Kazakhstan visited the law offices of Harris Beach in Rochester on Thursday to discuss legal issues and trends. The delegation included Tlek Baigabulov, managing partner and founder of the GRATA Law Firm.

«There were some synergies between what type of practice they have in their country and what we have here in Rochester» , said Thomas Gleason, public relations manager for Harris Beach.

The visit, which also included a stop in central New York, was arranged by Alan Cohen, former mayor of Ithaca.