MICHAEL BOTT PARTNER
Michael is an English-qualified lawyer who is widely acknowledged as a market-leading practitioner in the emerging markets, particularly the CIS. He has acted for international bank syndicates and corporations on some of the largest and most complex financings in the emerging and frontier markets, including numerous restructurings (both consensual and contentious). Before setting up BVK Partners, Michael was a senior partner in the Banking & Finance practice of a Magic Circle firm.
RECOGNITIONS:
Michael is recognised as a Tier 1 professional by Chambers:
“He thinks together with, and ahead of, clients and can pre-empt our questions.”
“Michael Bott is praised for his excellent negotiations skills, including his ability to calm down the situation in a way that people can understand’.”
“… one of the best lawyers working in our segment of the market.”
"He is a go-to guy for anything serious the banks are looking to do. He is very good at finding solutions that are creative and adapts to on-the-ground circumstances."
MIRTHE VAN KESTEREN PARTNER
Mirthe has advised on commodities-backed, receivables-backed and other structured transactions across Europe and the emerging markets, acting for borrowers, including sovereigns, and financial institutions. Before setting up BVK Partners, Mirthe was a senior partner in a Magic Circle firm where she led its London based Emerging Markets Banking and Trade & Commodity Finance practices and co-led its CIS and Ukraine Desks.
RECOGNITIONS:
Mirthe has been selected by Legal 500 for the Hall of Fame which:
“highlights individuals who have received constant praise from their clients for continued excellence. The Hall of Fame highlights, to clients, the law firm partners who are at the pinnacle of the profession”.
She is described by clients in Legal 500 as:
“… the lawyer I would want on my side, in particular in negotiations. She will not allow the other side to engage you in unnecessary discussions over finer points of law but will focus instead on practical outcomes. She can be very firm but is unfailingly polite.”
“… always available, responsive and provides detailed advice covering various scenarios.”
Mirthe is described by clients in Chambers as:
“…a first-rate adviser in all respects. She is highly astute with a strong commercial acumen.”
“very bright and robust in negotiating on our behalf”
FRANCIS KUCERA CONSULTANT
Francis is a capital markets lawyer with over 30 years of experience in the international capital markets. Having spent time in Asia in the 1990’s and Central Europe in the 2000’s, Francis has a wealth of experience in capital markets fundraising in the Emerging Markets with a special reputation for transactions within the Central and Eastern Europe region. Francis has worked on debt, equity and equity-linked transactions as well as liability management and structured financings. His clients have included international investment banks (such as BNP Paribas, Barclays, Citibank, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, ICBC Standard Bank, JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley) and issuers (corporates, financial institutions and sovereigns (Serbia and Ukraine)).
RECOGNITIONS:
Francis was Managing Partner of Linklaters Prague (2001-2005), co-Managing Partner of Linklaters, Warsaw (2010-2014) and co-Head of the Linklaters Ukraine desk.