Press release
1 August 2012
Goltsblat BLP, the Russian practice of international law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), is pleased to announce the appointment of Kyle Davis as a partner in its Corporate/M&A Practice.
This appointment has been prompted by significant growth in Goltsblat BLP’s Corporate/M&A Practice in recent years, especially in supporting major cross-border transactions – by both foreign companies investing in Russia and the CIS, and Russian companies investing abroad.
Before joining Goltsblat BLP, Kyle Davis was counsel at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and, prior to that, worked with Allen & Overy and other international firms in Moscow and New York. Kyle is qualified in US law and advises on joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, capital market transactions, as well as restructuring and general corporate matters.
Kyle has extensive experience in the energy, natural resources and infrastructure spheres, and projects in recent years include advising AF Telecom in relation to a shareholder restructuring of Russian mobile phone operator OJSC MegaFon with an aggregate deal value of approx. $8.5 billion, Rosneft on its USD 1.6 billion acquisition of PDVSA's share in a German oil refining joint venture with BP plc; the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic on new terms for the Kumtor gold mining project; a joint venture between Sasol, PETRONAS and Uzbekneftegaz connected to a gas-to-liquids project in Uzbekistan; Gazprom Neft on production sharing and joint operation arrangements relating to offshore blocks in Equatorial Guinea; Mechel regarding mining sector acquisitions and general corporate/ securities matters, and many more.
Kyle graduated from the Davis Law School of the University of California in 2004, speaks fluent Russian and is a member of the New York Bar.
He will work in the Corporate/M&A Practice of Goltsblat BLP in Moscow, headed by Partner Anton Sitnikov. In addition, he will collaborate closely, in Moscow and London, on a number of major infrastructure, oil and gas, and energy projects, with Andrei Baev, who recently joined the firm from Allen & Overy, as part of the firm’s energy and natural resources practice in Russia and the CIS.
Goltsblat BLP Managing Partner Andrey Goltsblat highlighted the benefits of Kyle’s appointment for Goltsblat BLP clients in key areas: “I am delighted that Kyle has joined our team and am convinced that his project support experience, including under US law, will be an excellent addition to our corporate practice, providing our clients with new opportunities in implementing major projects. He also has impressive experience in energy, natural resource and infrastructure projects.”
Partner Anton Sitnikov, head of Corporate/M&A said the extensive Russian experience which Kyle brings with him would add to Goltsblat BLP’s strengths: “Engagement of such a highly qualified lawyer as Kyle, who is well known on the Russian market, will undoubtedly allow us to continue effectively implementing our Practice strategy. It should particularly benefit us in our transactional work, specifically where there is any US element or US jurisdiction involved.”
Kyle Davis, Partner, Corporate/M&A, remarked: “I am honoured to be the newest member of the Goltsblat BLP team. The market has taken note of the firm's impressive offering in Russia and the CIS and I'm excited to continue building the practice from strength to strength.”
The firm’s international corporate team currently comprises over 230 lawyers, including 39 partners, with many working in London and Moscow.
The practice has worked in Russia over the last year with major clients including Nalco, Mars, Sheremetievo International Airport, Sberbank, EBRD, Hals Development, Raven Russia, Alfa Insurance, North Caucasus Development Corporation, Alt Telecom, BASF and Equifax.
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For additional information, please contact:
Ksenia Soboleva tel: +7 495 287 44 44
Marketing and Communications Manager mob.: +7 965 125 03 73
ksenia.soboleva@gblplaw.com
Notes to editors
Goltsblat BLP is the Russian practice of Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), an award-winning international law firm with offices in London, Moscow, Abu Dhabi, Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Paris and Singapore, including more than 800 lawyers worldwide.
In Moscow, Goltsblat BLP has 100 lawyers, qualified under Russian and English law. The highly respected Moscow team has over 20 years of experience, providing legal support for major Russian businesses, as well as multinationals implementing large-scale investment projects in Russia. The Moscow-based international team at Goltsblat BLP provides transaction support for Russian and global investments by both Russian and international clients.
Globally, the Goltsblat BLP’s expertise reaches across more than 50 legal specialisations and 20 industry sectors.
Goltsblat BLP currently has over 700 clients among the major international investors operating in Russia, including 23 Fortune 500 companies, leading Russian and international financial institutions, and Russian corporate leaders in the national market.
Goltsblat BLP is the winner of the Legal Business Award 2010 (Legal 500) for International Office of the Year, Chambers Europe Award for Excellence 2010 in the Client Service category for best client service among law firms in Russia, Best Law Firm in Russia - 2010 ILO Client Choice Award, Effective HR Management category at the Annual Law Firm Awards by the Legal Success magazine - “Best Motivation of Employees” among law firms in Russia. www.gblplaw.com
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