The Legal 500

Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah’s business and industry practice group leader is Rosa Kudoadzi. Highlights included representing Unilever Ghana in the review of its operations, involving the sale of its interests in key assets and brands (including Benso Oil Palm Plantation). The practice also assisted in connection with an offer from SABMiller Africa, on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary Overseas Brewery, to the shareholders of Accra Brewery and the consequent de-listing of Accra Brewery from the Ghana Stock Exchange. The firm represented The Bank of Africa in its acquisition of a majority stake in Amalgamated Bank, and assisted Ecobank Transnational/Ecobank Ghana in its proposed merger with The Trust Bank, which involved the acquisition of a significant interest in The Trust Bank by Ecobank Transnational. Seth Asante heads the financial institutions and capital markets group.

Oxford & Beaumont Solicitors’ ‘strong team’ provides ‘world-class advice’, ‘excellent response times and extremely thorough work’. The firm acts for clients such as Coca-Cola, Google, Airtel and Publicis Groupe, and is one of only two firms retained by Citibank in Ghana. The practice also has a good share of the domestic market, acting for key players such as Black Star Advisors, Chase Petroleum Ghana, GECAD Ghana and Multimedia Group. Highlights included advising American Tower Corporation on the company’s proposed acquisition, construction and operation of telecommunications’ towers in Ghana, involving the due diligence review of more than 2,000 leases. In addition, the team assisted Standard Chartered in relation to the acquisition of Barclays Bank Ghana’s custody assets. Managing partner Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia, corporate and commercial head Amina Abugdanpoka Kaguah, and Sadia Chinery-Hesse are recommended. The firm is the only Ghanaian law firm to have an office in London.

Fugar & Co has on numerous occasions worked with leading global law firms on cross-border transactions involving Ghanaian law issues, and also maintains strong relationships with law firms in Africa that offer their services to international clients. Representative experience includes advising the Ghanaian government on its proposed water sector privatisation programme, advising a Japanese corporation on its bid to purchase a local company, and assisting Quintiles with the setting up of the first chemicals research organisation in Ghana. William Fugar is recommended.

JLD & MB Legal Consultancy’s representative experience includes advising Intercontinental Bank Ghana on a private placement of shares, and acting for Delta Air Lines on establishing its operations relating to Ghana, including obtaining regulatory consents and licences. The practice also advised Dutch company Celtel on the successful purchase of Western Telesystems. Merene Botsio Benyah, Joyce Louisa Darko and Victor Anku-Tsede are the principal practitioners.

Reindorf Chambers’ Fui Tsikata plays an active supervisory role in major transactions. Tsikata has led work in the energy sector and been involved in advising foreign investors on their loan and equity investments in local projects. Highlights included advising Eaton Towers on the $20m equity funding of the operations of Eaton Ghana, including a due diligence investigation, transactional assistance and the application for regulatory approval.

AB & David Law’s David Ofosu-Dorte has extensive Africa experience in transportation, PPPs, infrastructure development, procurement, legislative reform, corporate and finance law, as well as oil and gas matters. The team acted for a mortgage finance company on an international development agency’s share acquisition and loan facility.

Nigerian law firm AELEX has two non-resident partners who are qualified to practise Ghanaian law and are responsible for the work undertaken in Ghana. Furthermore, Theophilus Emuwa, who leads the corporate and commercial practice from Nigeria, spends time at the Accra office each month. Emuwa advised Mitsui Ocean Development & Engineering Company on regulatory compliance issues relating to the construction, installation and leasing of a multimillion-dollar FPSO, offshore Takoradi, marking the first FPSO to be deployed in Ghana. He also acted for the Volta River Authority on its gas sales agreement with a joint venture between an international oil company and the state of Ghana. Nigeria-based Lawrence Fubara Anga is also a well-regarded lawyer. Managing associate Dela Quarshie-Twum is based in Accra.

Awoonor Law Consultancy’s name partner Ekow Awoonor has extensive experience in corporate and investment law, serving a client base of mainly foreign-owned companies. Highlights included acting on Bowater Incorporated’s merger with Abitibi-Consolidated, and advising a client on the purchase and financing of new Boeing 747 aircraft. Other clients include TotalfinaElf Ghana, Beverage Investment Ghana, Société Générale and Ghana Stock Exchange. Charles Tettey is recommended.

Beyuo, Jumu and Co acts for clients such as AngloGold Ashanti, Merchants Company of West Africa, Finali Ghana and ESM Holdings. Vincent Kizito Beyuo is managing partner. Cynthia Quarcoo Jumu has in-house experience in commercial, corporate and financial services law.

G.A Sarpong & Co’s clients include Ghana Commercial Bank, SIC Insurance Company and Guinness Ghana. The practice’s advice includes assistance with business formations, structuring issues, preparing shareholder agreements, M&A, joint ventures and partnership transactions. George Agyemang Sarpong is a key contact.

Kimathi & Kimathi ‘has a strong team’. The practice advised ASCOMA Assureurs Conseils on its acquisition of shares in Ghana-based Newland Risk Management, and advised U-Save Car Rental/Avis Ghana during joint venture negotiations with South African partner Avis Fleet. The practice also represented Dram Oil in acquiring an interest in a Ghanaian bulk oil trading company. Managing partner Kimathi Kuenyehia Sr ‘always provides services of the highest professional and ethical standards’. Clients especially appreciate his ‘knowledge of both US and Ghanaian law, which has been immensely useful in helping bridge existing gaps between the two legal systems’. Kwaku Osei Asare is also a key contact.

Kudjawu & Co’s former partner Stanley Amarteifio left to set up his own practice, but the firm retains its experience in corporate and finance transactions, and has a strong client base of international and national entities. Norbert Kudjawu is the principal contact.

Oak House Law Firm’s lawyers specialise in acquisitions, alliances, joint ventures and partnerships. The practice recently advised acquirers from the telecommunications, retailing, meat processing, package delivery, hospitality and food manufacturing sectors on various deals.

REM Law Consultancy is well versed in advising on the legal structuring of transactions, as well as negotiating, drafting and reviewing investment agreements and related contracts permits and licences. The practice is also experienced in corporate finance, M&A deals and restructurings. Managing consultant Innocent Akwayena is a mining law expert, and legal consultant Michael Xatse is also a key figure.

Sam Okudzeto & Associates is rated by its peers for its experience in mining and mineral law transactions, privatisations, and general corporate law practice. Name partner Sam Okudzeto is well regarded.

Sey & Co ‘provides a good service’. The practice advised Guardian Royal Exchange concerning the sale of its subsidiary in Ghana, and acted for Scancem International and its subsidiary Ghacem on general corporate matters. The practice also advised Total Ghana and Elf Ghana regarding their merger into TotalfinaElf, and assisted the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority with corporate issues and joint ventures.

Tetteh & Co’s clients include Anglogold-Ashanti, Millicom Ghana, State Insurance Company of Ghana and Empire Builders. The practice assists with corporate governance issues, transactional advice, and banking and finance matters. Name partner Soloman Kwami Tetteh is recommended.