Louis Lehot is a Silicon Valley corporate attorney and partner at Foley & Lardner LLP. With over 25 years of experience in corporate and securities law, he advises founders, investors, boards of directors, and global companies on mergers & acquisitions, venture capital financings, IPOs, SPAC transactions, and corporate governance. He is consistently recognized by Chambers USA in Venture Capital and Startups & Emerging Growth Companies.

What is Louis Lehot's area of specialization?

Louis Lehot specializes in corporate law for technology and innovation-driven companies. His core practice areas include M&A (both buy-side and sell-side), venture capital and private equity transactions, public offerings (IPOs), de-SPAC transactions, corporate governance, and board advisory. He works across sectors including technology, healthcare, clean energy, and financial services.

Where does Louis Lehot practice law?

Louis Lehot is a partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, one of the leading Am Law 100 law firms. He is based in Silicon Valley and serves clients across San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and internationally.

How many years of experience does Louis Lehot have?

Louis Lehot has over 25 years of experience in corporate and securities law. He began his career at leading international law firms, including Simpson Thatcher and DLA Piper, before joining Foley & Lardner. During his career, he has advised on hundreds of transactions including venture financings, IPOs, M&A deals, and cross-border transactions across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

What is Louis Lehot's Chambers USA ranking?

Louis Lehot is recognized by Chambers USA annually in Venture Capital (2021–2025) and Startups & Emerging Growth Companies (2025). He is also recognized by Super Lawyers as a top attorney in California.

Has Louis Lehot worked on IPO transactions?

Yes. Louis Lehot has extensive experience advising companies through the IPO process, including traditional IPOs and SPAC transactions. He advised Matterport (NASDAQ: MTTR) through its de-SPAC transaction and subsequent public company life, including a $2.1 billion acquisition.

What is Louis Lehot's approach to venture capital law?

Louis Lehot represents both emerging growth companies and venture capital investors. He advises startups from seed stage through Series A, B, C, and beyond. His approach balances legal risk management with commercial pragmatism — focused on deal execution.

How can I contact Louis Lehot?

You can contact Louis Lehot at llehot@foley.com or +1.650.796.7280. You can also request a strategy consultation through the contact form on this website. Louis responds within 24 hours.

Is Louis Lehot on LinkedIn?

Yes. Louis Lehot is active on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/louislehot. He regularly shares insights on M&A market trends, venture capital, IPOs, startup law, and corporate governance.

What notable deals has Louis Lehot worked on?

Notable representations include Matterport's $2.1 billion acquisition and its de-SPAC IPO on NASDAQ, Novartis's NYSE listing documentation and annual SEC reports, StackStorm's acquisition, and numerous venture financings for Silicon Valley technology companies.

Testimonials - Louis Lehot Lawyer

Testimonials

Client reviews

Testimonials

What clients say about working with Louis.

Yanira Gonzalez Wong

Louis Lehot is focused on client service and obtaining the most efficient outcomes for his clients. He provides practical and thoughtful advice on complex corporate, securities law and M&A matters. I highly recommend his services.

Experienced legal and business advisor

Thomas Dean

Louis has proven to be a tremendous asset to Seagate with respect to his review and subsequent commentary of our SEC statements in the past couple of years.

Senior SEC Financial Reporting Consultant

Yegor Anchyshkin

Louis is an exceptional professional whom you absolutely want on your team! His responsiveness and timely assistance is unmatched. With Louis on board, you have both 1) the depth of knowledge, and 2) the power of great network penetrating multiple domains!

Co-Founder, CEO at Instock.com

Shai Stern

Louis is a trusted advisor who has an exceptional breadth of knowledge and focus on the details and who works tirelessly to deliver the results I need. I have trusted him to counsel me on various matters for several years and have never once doubted his abilities. Louis is an effective, concise communicator and is a pleasure to work with.

Founder at Gotavi.co

Ted Tekippe

Louis is a fantastic outside counsel, especially for first-time start up founders like I was when we first met. He gives great advice on a wide variety of topics including corporate formation, fundraising, structuring deals, negotiating comp and much, much more. More than just a lawyer, he became a trusted counselor in the true sense of the word. And he’s always given it to me straight, even when it wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but been in my corner no matter what through all the highs and lows. I’d recommend him to any founder or early stage company.

Private Party Lending and Payments

Jenny Sohn

Louis is my first call when I need any legal opinion in the Silicon Valley. I have worked with a number of law firms and attorneys in the Valley, no one come close to his knowledge and practice of a variety of corporate legal matters in VC-backed private companies. Not only he is knowledgeable, details oriented, spot on on his predictions of how each scenario will play out, he is also great with people, from founders to legal teams, and generous in offering his time and help. I am privileged to know and work with him.

Board Member/50 Women to Watch for Boards/ CFO, CFA/CPA, NACD.DC

Hicham Jorio

Louis is a result-oriented attorney and an excellent communicator. He brings experience to the table as well as willingness to always jump in on transactions even on very short notice. I have been working with Louis for almost four years on several matters and I am very pleased to have had such opportunity

Funding early stage start ups

Evan Powel

Louis was a great advocate and advisor for StackStorm as we started fielding acquisition offers and then entered into definitive negotiations. He quickly established a high trust connection with me and my co-founder Dmitri Zimine and was incisive during negotiations. He helped us to navigate to a great outcome and I’d like to work with him again in the future.

Many time founder & 5 exits

Victor Garcia

Louis Lehot is a very experienced lawyer in various areas of law including international law, M&A, corporate governance and corporate finance. I have found his work to be high quality and that he has strong business judgment that exhibits his years of experience across various types of transactions and industries. I have found him to be available 24/7 and extremely responsive. He diligently follows up on discussions and reaches out for necessary expertise when appropriate. He listens as well as he advises to make sure that he is serving the client’s needs.

President and Chief Executive Officer at Novodia Partners

Suzana Gadzo

I have known Louis personally and professionally for close to 30 years. He is highly-skilled, hard-working, business savvy and trustworthy. Louis and I worked together in Paris. He is bilingual, multi-cultural and passionate about his work. Louis leads with his heart and is a kind and generous person.

Counsel at Perkins Coie LLP

Sale Kwon

While working with Louis, I was always impressed by his client-first approach based on high quality work, responsiveness and passion. Clients appreciate his resourcefulness and practical approach. He never stopped investing his time in his network and utilized his reach to help his clients and colleagues alike.

Partner at Cooley LLP, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital

Brian McAllister

Louis provides sound, seasoned and practical legal advice. He brings a great level of intensity to his work, but doesn’t lose sight of the practical business needs of the client, and is always responsive, and looks after the relationship with the goal of providing real value. In addition to his exceptional work and service, he is a true pleasure to work with.

Strategic business-legal counselor to companies, executives and investors

Chris Groves

I have worked with Louis over the years in my capacity of a CEO of a high growth venture backed technology company. Louis brings a lot to the table with a high level of expertise , very high quality of work, and is highly responsive . He always demonstrates great teamwork, and delivers high value both commercially and practically. As a globally dispersed company it has been reassuring to tap into Louis’ extensive knowledge and network. And I have found him to be a great advisor with a strong sense of humor and moral compass . Feel free to reach out to me via LinkedIn if you’d like further insight.

Senior Advisor | Consumer Products & CPG

Vitaly Golomb

Louis is one of the hardest working and most genuine people I’ve ever had the pleasure to rely on in business and call a friend. He is a very experienced and deeply connected Silicon Valley corporate attorney who goes out of his way to make things happen for his clients.

Investment Banking & Venture Capital | Managing Partner

George Miller

Excellent support on various securities law matters. Louis was primary support to Novartis on its initial NYSE listing documentation and annual reports for several years thereafter. First rate service, always on time, great focus on that which was truly important and kept the hours worked to only that which was required to do the job. I was especially impressed with his cultural awareness – he was instrumental in helping this very Swiss company understand the reasons why certain disclosures where necessary

Former Senior Vice President

Gregory King

Louis is an incredibly talented, detail-oriented and talented lawyer who will always go the extra mile to meet a client’s needs. Louis never loses perspective about what’s important and does not waste anyone’s time arguing about minutiae. He’s also a pleasure to work with and is a true professional in every sense of the word.

Investor | Advisor | Former General Counsel

Yena Kim

Louis is, by far, the best partner I’ve ever worked for in my paralegal career. He is detail-oriented, sharp, willing to teach, and shows respect to everyone he works with. I enjoyed working with him tremendously and learned an incredible amount while I was a part of his team. He also has a diverse group of clients, so I was able to partake in a wide range of work, including incorporating startups, assisting with equity financings and M&A transactions, preparing SEC filings for public companies, and so on.

Corporate paralegal

Steve Doll

Louis has been my first call since we first worked together in 2005. That was 4 companies ago for me, but no matter where I go, one of the first things I do is get Louis involved as counsel. I do this for three reasons 1) it makes me look good to the company I just joined, because invariably they’ve been impressed with Louis and 2) I trust him to give me a broader perspective on the challenges that come up.

Testimonials

Client reviews