Olga Ponomarenko
Partner, London
Olga Ponomarenko
Partner, London
Olga Ponomarenko is a partner in Cohen & Gresser’s London office, advising clients on complex cross-border mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets transactions, and corporate matters. She brings deep experience representing private equity sponsors, sovereign wealth funds, multinational corporates, and financial institutions across a broad range of industries including technology, energy, financial services, retail, and infrastructure.
Olga has played a leading role in some of the most significant international M&A transactions and capital markets offerings in recent years, with particular expertise in multi-jurisdictional deals, sanctions compliance, and complex corporate reorganizations.
Prior to joining Cohen & Gresser, Olga was a partner at Latham & Watkins in London
Olga is fluent in Russian, English, and German.
Olga Ponomarenko is a partner in Cohen & Gresser’s London office, advising clients on complex cross-border mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets transactions, and…
Education
Moscow State University (Diploma in Law, magna cum laude, 2006)
Bar Admissions
England and Wales; Russia
Mergers & Acquisitions
Olga counsels clients from various industries on complex M&A transactions and general corporate matters, with particular strength in cross-border private equity transactions, carve-outs, and joint ventures.
Representative Transactions:
EQT, CPP Investments, and Nord Anglia Education on the sale of Nord Anglia Education to a consortium formed by Neuberger Berman Private Markets, EQT, and CPP Investments, together with other global institutional investors.
One Rock Capital Partners on the acquisition of Constantia Flexibles, a leading global packaging manufacturer, from Wendel.
Ameriabank on its acquisition by Bank of Georgia.
Siemens AG on the winding down of all business activities in Russia, including transactions, sanctions compliance, and reorganization measures.
Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia on multiple M&A transactions as co-investor alongside Russian Direct Investment Fund, including related sanctions compliance matters.
Advising AFK Sistema on the consolidation of pharmaceutical assets and establishment of Binnopharm Group.
A consortium of three Indian oil and gas companies – Oil India Limited, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, and Bharat PetroResources Limited – on the acquisition from Rosneft of a 23.9% stake in JSC Vankorneft and a 29.9% stake in Taas-Yuriakh Neftegazodobycha.
Uniper Exploration & Production on the sale of a 25% stake in the Yuzhno-Russkoye gasfield to OMV.
Sovcombank PJSC on its acquisition of FinEx London, an investment management company.
Equity Capital Markets
Olga has significant experience representing issuers and underwriters in offerings of shares and depositary receipts under Regulation S and within the US in exempt and registered offerings. She has been involved in many of the largest equity offerings of CEE and CIS companies, including landmark IPOs and secondary offerings on major global exchanges.
Representative Transactions:
Underwriters on the US$1.1 billion initial public offering of Ozon, a leading e-commerce group, on Nasdaq.
The sole underwriter and sole placement agent in a public offering and concurrent private placement by Yandex, Russia’s leading search and ride-hailing provider.
Cian PLC, a leading online real estate classifieds platform, on its IPO and listing of 18,213,400 American Depositary Shares on the NYSE and MOEX.
Renaissance Insurance Group PJSC on its IPO and listing on MOEX.
The lead arranger and lender on the take-private offer for KAZ Minerals PLC.
HMS Hydraulic Machines and Systems Group plc on its initial public offering and listing of GDRs on the London Stock Exchange.
TMK on a RUB10.5 billion secondary public offering of shares.
Gazprombank on a US$600 million offering of OJSC Nomos Bank ordinary shares on MOEX.
Rosneft on its initial public offering and listing of GDRs on the London Stock Exchange.
Privatizations & Infrastructure
Olga has advised on major privatizations and infrastructure transactions, representing airport and port operators, LNG project sponsors and government-linked energy infrastructure operators.
Representative Transactions:
Sheremetyevo International Airport on the consolidation of assets and privatization.
Sheremetyevo International Airport on the sale of Vladivostok Airport to a consortium of investors.
Yamal LNG and the sponsors – Novatek, Total and CNPC – in connection with the project financing.
Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port on its initial public offering and listing of GDRs on the London Stock Exchange.
Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port on the acquisition of Primorsk Trade Port.
Inter RAO UES and DBTCA on the privatization of RAO UES and the simultaneous spin-off of over 20 power generation companies via the establishment of depositary receipt programs.
Samruk-Energo on the debut Eurobond offering and establishment of EMTN program.
Venture Capital & Growth Investments
Olga advises emerging companies and investors on venture capital financings and growth equity transactions.
Representative Transactions:
Zubr Capital on the Series A funding round of Zing Coach.
IVI, an online video streaming platform, on a US$250 million funding round from external investors and current shareholders.
Olga represents private equity sponsors, sovereign wealth funds, multinational corporations, and financial institutions across a wide range of industries, including technology, energy, financial services, consumer, and infrastructure. She is particularly known for her work on multi-jurisdictional transactions, co-investments, sophisticated carve-outs and joint ventures, sanctions compliance matters, and large-scale corporate reorganizations. Her practice spans Europe, the CIS region, the Middle East, and beyond, reflecting a truly international client base.
Irina is a private equity and M&A lawyer with experience advising private equity sponsors, sovereign wealth funds, international corporations, and private investors on complex cross-border transactions. Her practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, exits, and strategic investments across a range of sectors, including advising on transaction execution, regulatory considerations, and related compliance matters.
“The arrival of Olga and Irina strengthens our corporate capabilities both in Europe and around the world,” said Daniel Mathias, managing partner of the firm’s London office. “They bring a highly complementary combination of cross-border transactional experience, elite client service, commercial judgment, and deep familiarity with complex, multi-jurisdictional matters. Their addition reflects our continued growth trajectory and enhances our ability to support clients navigating multi-jurisdictional deals and evolving regulatory environments.”
“I am delighted to join Cohen & Gresser and to be part of such a dynamic and internationally focused platform,” said Olga. “The firm’s strength in cross-border matters and its collaborative culture provide an excellent environment to continue growing our practice and serving clients on their most complex and strategic transactions. Irina and I look forward to collaborating with colleagues across all our offices to deliver seamless, commercially focused advice.”
Olga and Irina join Cohen & Gresser’s London office at a time of continued growth for the firm’s international corporate practice, further reinforcing its capabilities in cross-border M&A, co-investments, capital markets, and strategic investments.
About Cohen & Gresser’s Corporate Group
Operating across its offices in New York, Paris, Washington, D.C., London, and Dubai, Cohen & Gresser advises clients on a broad range of domestic and cross-border corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, fund formation, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance.
The firm represents public and private companies, private equity, growth equity, venture capital, and hedge funds and their managers, sovereign entities, family offices, and investment banks. Cohen & Gresser has experience in emerging markets and regularly counsels clients across a wide spectrum of industries, including technology, financial services, media, professional services, infrastructure, renewables, energy, healthcare, consumer products, manufacturing, real estate, and hospitality.
In addition, the firm serves as outside general counsel to a number of privately held companies, providing strategic, practical guidance across the full lifecycle of their businesses.
Contact Olga
oponomarenko@cohengresser.com
+44 (0) 20 8037 2327
Contact Irina
ibratishkina@cohengresser.com
+44 (0) 20 8036 9404
Media Contact
Laura Kucera
lkucera@cohengresser.com
+1 212 707 1338