DLA Piper's Middle East Emerging Growth Companies & Venture Capital Team Advises Uzbekistan's First Unicorn, Uzum

DLA Piper’s Middle East Emerging Growth Companies & Venture Capital team, led by Leo Batalov, Global Co-Head of Emerging Growth Companies & Venture Capital, has successfully advised Uzum, Uzbekistan’s leading e-commerce startup, on its latest funding round. Uzum has secured an impressive USD114 million, propelling it to unicorn status with a valuation of USD1.16 billion.

DLA Piper is a market leader in emerging growth and venture capital, with 600 lawyers around the world who specifically serve entrepreneurs, technology companies and venture funds by focusing on private equity and venture capital transactions.

Leo Batalov, Partner and Global Co-Head of Emerging Growth and Venture Capital for DLA Piper, expressed his satisfaction with the deal, stating, “We are thrilled to have played a pivotal role in facilitating Uzum’s latest funding round. This significant investment underscores the strength and potential of the Uzbekistan tech ecosystem, and we are excited to continue supporting innovative companies like Uzum in their growth journey.”

Leo Batalov led the DLA Piper team, with support from Legal Director, Georgy Vinogradov, and Vadim Iskhakov and Fırat Gülüm, experienced corporate associates at the Dubai office. Additionally, DLA Piper’s presence in the Central Asian region, including Uzbekistan, has been strengthened through its commitment to providing top-tier legal services and fostering innovation and growth in emerging markets.

DLA Piper’s wider corporate team, comprising nearly 1,000 lawyers worldwide, maintains its position as one of the largest international law firms across the Middle East. With a continued number 1 ranking for Global M&A for the last 13 years and involvement in over 5,000 credited transactions in the last decade, DLA Piper stands as a trusted advisor on local, regional, and cross-border transactions throughout the MENA region.