Louis Lehot

Practice areas

Mergers & Acquisitions, Business/Corporate

Focus areas

Business Formation and Planning, Business Organizations

Louis Lehot, a seasoned legal professional in corporate and securities law, specializes in providing guidance to both publicly traded and emerging private enterprises, along with their investors in the realms of venture capital and private equity. With extensive expertise spanning over two decades, he has an impressive track record in activities such as mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, strategic investments, and collaborative partnerships. His proficiency in shaping, funding, overseeing, as well as buying and selling companies has led him to become a sought-after advisor for corporations, financial backers, venture capitalists, investors, and investment banks.

Possessing more than 20 years of experience, Louis has adeptly represented companies across diverse industries at various stages of growth, ranging from startup inception to departure through sales, mergers, initial public offerings (IPOs), or de-SPAC transactions. His comprehensive domain knowledge encompasses public offerings and private placements involving equity, equity-linked instruments, and debt securities. Additionally, he is well-versed in matters of corporate governance, securities law compliance, and transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, strategic investments, and collaborative partnerships. Louis is a regular representative for both US and international registrants before regulatory bodies like the SEC, FINRA, NYSE, and NASDAQ.

Louis collaborates closely with a diverse team of Foley attorneys and business advisors to structure deals involving sales to both strategic and financial purchasers. He particularly excels in orchestrating cross-border transactions, having represented both public and private clients within the United States and across the globe. His previous experience advising non-US multinational companies seeking access to US capital markets uniquely positions him to assist enterprises with cross-border ventures.

Before joining Foley, Louis established L2 Counsel, a boutique law firm in Silicon Valley. He also previously held positions as co-managing partner and co-chair of the emerging growth and venture capital practice at a prominent global law firm in the same region.

His educational background includes studies at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Strasbourg and the attainment of a degree in international relations. He further pursued his academic journey at Georgetown University, achieving a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Studies with a major in international law in 1994.

Louis’ contributions extend beyond legal practice. He was appointed to the Business Advisory Council of Boston College Law School in 2017. He has served as faculty at the prestigious Stanford Directors’ College on two occasions. His involvement extends to various professional organizations, including the Silicon Valley Association of General Counsel, the French-American Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco, the Churchill Club Silicon Valley Chapter, and committees within the Association of Corporate Counsel and the American Bar Association. In 2023, he was named to the M&A Editorial Advisory Board of Law360.

In the years 2021-2023, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business recognized Louis as a top practitioner in Venture Capital – California, with sources commending his legal acumen, robust understanding of investment legalities, strong business insight, and commitment to quality and efficiency. In the years 2011-2015, Chambers USA also acknowledged his prowess in Debt and Equity Capital Markets – California.