Lev Loukhton

Lev has about 20 years of experience advising corporates and financial institutions on all aspects of mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and restructurings, with a particular focus on cross-border and emerging markets M&A. He has specialist expertise in technology, media and telecoms (TMT), internet and new technology, financial institutions, retail, as well as in industrials and chemicals sectors. Lev has also advised numerous international clients in connection with negotiated exits and withdrawals from the Russian Federation.

Work highlights

• Exits from Russia: advising numerous international clients in connection with negotiated exits and withdrawals from Russia in 2022.
• Middle Eastern Investor investment in the US: advising one of the leading Middle Eastern technology investors on its potential acquisition of a US-based technology company.
• Disposal of the cloud and data center business in Eastern Europe: advising Linx Telecom on the disposal of the cloud and data center business of the Linx Group in Eastern Europe to a consortium of funds. 
• Proposed JV in Kazakhstan: advising KazMunayGas, the state-owned oil and gas company of Kazakhstan, on its potential disposal of a minority stake in its holding company and setting up a joint venture with an international oil major.
• Acquisition of Denizbank (Turkey): advising a leading Russian bank on the US$3.5bn acquisition of 99.85% of Denizbank A.S., one of the largest banks in Turkey, from Dexia Group.
• Recapitalisation and new round of financing of Emerging Travel Group: advising LVL1 on a recapitalisation of Emerging Travel Group (ostrovok.ru and other online travel sites), a sale of a stake in Emerging Travel Group to third-party investors, and related shareholders’ arrangements.

“US-qualified Lev Loukhton represents domestic corporates in a broad range of transactions. Sources regularly note his client care, with one interviewee remarking: ’His speed of response is second to none; he will always give good advice. He responds any time of day, any day of the week.’ He is also described as being ‘very commercially minded, very knowledgeable and pragmatic’."

Chambers Global 2019, Corporate/M&A: Russia

Lev has a B.A. in history and economics (summa cum laude) and holds a Juris Doctor (magna cum laude) from New York University.

Lev is admitted to the bar in New York, USA.

He speaks English and Russian.