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.