Vladimir Kouznetsov concentrates his practice on cross-border transactions, with a focus on the former Soviet Union. Mr. Kouznetsov’s practice involves structuring, negotiating and documenting cross-border mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and corporate finance transactions.
Based in the firm’s Moscow office since 2006, Mr. Kouznetsov has worked on a variety of transactions throughout the world, particularly in the United States, Russia and the former Soviet Union, East Asia, and Latin America and Brazil. He has been involved in deals in a variety of industries including real estate, telecommunications, power and natural gas sectors, as well as in the high-tech sector, particularly computer and telephony hardware and software, and biotechnology.
Since 2003, Mr. Kouznetsov’s practice has involved almost exclusively transactions related to Russia.
Mr. Kouznetsov’s recent transactions include—
- several rounds of investment by New Media and Technology Investment, L.P. and Art Finance & Media into Digital Sky Technologies, an investor into a portfolio of Internet businesses in Russia, Eastern Europe and the United States
- investment by New Media and Technology Investment, L.P. into DST Global, an investor into a portfolio of stocks of global social networking businesses, including Facebook and Zynga
- sale by Troika Capital Partners of a 25% plus one share in OAO Avtovaz to Renault and the related negotiation of a shareholders’ agreement of Avtovaz
- sale by Effective Energy of its interests in two uranium mining projects to OAO Atomredmetzoloto
- purchase by a private equity group of a large interest in Megafon, the third largest mobile telephone operator in Russia
- issuance by the owner of cellular transmission towers of preferred shares to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and a UFG fund
- joint venture to finance, design and construct White Square, a Class A office complex in central Moscow that was named Class A Office Project of the Year at the 2010 Commercial Real Estate Awards
- joint venture to finance, design and construct Khan Shatyry, a landmark shopping center in Astana, Kazakhstan designed by Foster + Partners
- issuance by Enforta B.V., a provider of wi-max services throughout Russia, of Series B preferred shares to Sumitomo Corporation and a Baring Vostok fund
- issuance by Acronis Inc., a major software developer, of Series B preferred shares to a number of Insight funds and Intel Capital
- issuance by SWsoft Holdings Limited., a major software developer, of Series B preferred shares to a number of Insight and Bessemer funds, Intel Capital and several individual investors and redemption of certain existing shareholders; this representation included a major restructuring of SWsoft’s holding structure
- sale of a luxury office building in central Moscow
- redemption by Elbrus International Limited, a computer hardware developer, of secured convertible debentures and eventual sale of substantially all of its business to Intel Capital
- purchase by a private equity group of Altis Semiconductor from Infineon and IBM.
Prior to joining Akin Gump, Mr. Kouznetsov worked in the Washington, D.C. and Moscow offices of an international law firm.
Mr. Kouznetsov received his B.A. in 1993 from Wittenberg University and his J.D. in 1997 from Case Western Reserve University, where he was associate editor of the Journal of International Law. He is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia and Ohio (inactive). He has near-native fluency in Russian and limited proficiency in French.