Private Practice Powerlist: Africa Specialists – GC Powerlist
GC Powerlist Logo

Private Practice Powerlist: Africa Specialists

  • Industries

  • Powerlist

Akshai Fofaria

Partner | Pinsent Masons

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Projects Admissions: England and Wales, France Languages spoken: English, French, Spanish and Guajarati A specialist in the oil and gas, natural resources and energy...

Alain Malek

Partner | Norton Rose Fulbright

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 20+ Principal practice areas: Corporate and M&A, banking and finance, capital markets, project Languages spoken: French, English and Arabic   What is the geographical focus of...

Alexander Msimang

Partner | Vinson & Elkins R

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Project development and finance, oil and gas, M&A Admissions: England and Wales A highly regarded energy-related projects and transactions specialist, Alexander Msimang has advised...

Andrew Jones

Partner, head of Africa group | Linklaters

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 26 Principal practice areas: Energy, infrastructure, natural resources, telecoms Languages spoken: English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese   What is the geographical focus of your practice...

Andrew Skipper

Partner | Hogan Lovells

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Corporate Number of years practiced: 34 Previously leading Hogan Lovells’ global corporate practice and now heading the firm’s Africa practice, Andrew Skipper is a...

Anthony Giustini

Partner | Clifford Chance

Private Practice

Based in: Paris Principal practice areas: Project development and finance, banking and finance, PFI PPP Renowned for his world-class guidance on a number of Africa’s landmark power, hydropower, gas, renewables...

Arun Velusami

Partner | Hogan Lovells

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 20 Principal practice areas: Energy and infrastructure Languages spoken: English   What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa?   Pan-African practice, with a...

Audley Sheppard QC

Partner, co-head of international arbitration | Clifford Chance

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 34 Principal practice areas: International arbitration Languages spoken: English   What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa?   Pan-African practice; I have a...

Barthélemy Faye

Partner | Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 20 Principal practice areas: Private equity, international projects and financings, sovereign debt Languages spoken: French, English and Wolof-Senegal   What is the geographical focus of your...

Bayo Odubeko

Partner | Norton Rose Fulbright

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Corporate finance Admissions: England and Wales Bar Admissions: Nigeria An expert in cross-border transactions with a lengthy track record of advising in the emerging...

Ben Donovan

Partner | Covington & Burling

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 23 Languages spoken: English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African practice with a focus on West Africa,East Africa, Central Africa and...

Benoît Le Bars

Managing partner and founder | Lazareff Le Bars

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 23 Principal practice areas: Arbitrations, alternative dispute resolution, international contracts, international corporation and structuring Languages spoken: English and Spanish What is the geographical focus of your...

Bertrand Montembault

Partner | Herbert Smith Freehills

Private Practice

Based in: Paris Principal practice areas: Projects, corporate, energy, natural resources and infrastructure finance, M&A, project finance A true expert in affairs related to Francophone Africa, Bertrand Montembault has over...

Boris Martor

Partner | Eversheds Sutherland

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 23 Principal practice areas: Project finance, energy and infrastructure, private equity Languages spoken: English, French, Spanish What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa?...

Caroline Miller Smith

Partner | White & Case

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Project development and finance Languages spoken: English and Spanish A noted specialist in infrastructure, project development and project finance, Caroline Miller Smith has a...

Charles Jacobs

Senior partner and chairman | Linklaters

Private Practice

Based in: United Kingdom Principal practice areas: M&A, private equity Admissions: England and Wales Charles Jacobs is a leading high-end M&A partner and is renowned for his expertise on such...

Charles Morrison

Partner | DLA Piper

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Projects, corporate, energy, natural resources and infrastructure finance, M&A, project finance Receiving extensive praise for his handling of project work in Africa, Charles Morrison...

Charles Nairac

Partner | White & Case

Private Practice

Based in: Paris Number of years practice: 21 Principal practice areas: International arbitration, with a focus on the construction and energy industries Languages spoken: English and French What is the...

Chiraag Shah

Partner | Kirkland & Ellis

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: International arbitration, litigation An international arbitration and litigation expert, dual qualified Chiraag Shah leads the Kirkland & Ellis contentious African practice. He has represented...

Christophe Asselineau

Partner | Norton Rose Fulbright

Private Practice

Based in: Paris Principal practice areas: M&A, projects Bar admissions: Paris, Australia Other admissions: England & Wales, Australia With over 25 years of experience advising on several global matters, Christophe...

Christophe Fichet

Partner | Simmons & Simmons

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 17 Principal practice areas: TMT and life sciences Languages spoken: French, English and German What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African. Please...

Christophe von Krause

Partner | White & Case

Private Practice

Based in: Paris Admissions: Paris bar Languages spoken: English and French Before joining White & Case in 2001, Christophe von Krause was able to spend significant time in West Africa...

Conrad Marais

Partner | Trinity

Private Practice

Based in: Paris and Casablanca Principal practice areas: Dispute resolution, commercial litigation, international arbitration Admissions: Paris Noted by peers, legal directories and the industry press for his projects work in...

Constantine Partasides QC

Partner | Three Crowns

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Commercial arbitration Languages spoken: English, French, Greek A leading commercial arbitration specialist that has received praised for his efforts in some of the largest...

Craig Tevendale

Partner | Herbert Smith Freehills

Private Practice

Based in: London Years of practice: 20 Languages spoken: English, French and Arabic Leading Herbert Smith Freehills’ international arbitration group in London, Craig Tevendale is known amongst peers as a...

Daniel G. Walsh

Partner | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld

Private Practice

Based in: London and New York Principal practice areas: Capital markets, corporate, corporate governance, cross-border transactions, M&A For Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Daniel G. Walsh plays a key...

Daniel Tyrer

Partner | Linklaters

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Project finance, chemicals, energy and utilities Years of practice: 23 Nominated by peers for his outstanding work in Africa over the years, Daniel Tyrer...

Darren Acres

Partner | Dentons

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Corporate, M&A, mining, energy Admissions: High Court of South Africa (North Gauteng, Pretoria) Darren Acres joined Dentons in London in 2011 and currently practises...

David Church

Partner | DLA Piper

Private Practice

Based in: London Having joined DLA Piper in 1998, David Church has been integral to the firm’s international growth including its development in Africa, where he has been working on...

Delphine Siino Courtin

Partner | Clifford Chance Europe

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 18 Principal practice areas: Projects and finance Languages spoken: French, English and Italian What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? My predominant focus...

Duncan Bagshaw

Counsel | Stephenson Harwood

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Dispute resolution, commercial litigation, international arbitration An international arbitration specialist, Duncan Bagshaw has developed a renowned expertise in matters connected with projects and contracts...

Fiona Gulliford

Partner | Trinity

Private Practice

Based in: Number of years practice: 13 Principal practice areas: Project finance and commercial projects Languages spoken: English and French What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa?...

Gavin Davies

Head of global M&A practice | Herbert Smith Freehills

Private Practice

Based in: London Number of years practice: 23 Principal practice areas: M&A, private equity, corporate Receiving plaudits in the industry press including recommendation as a “Leading Individual” in The Legal...

Gerard Saviola

Partner | Clifford Chance

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Funds and investment management, M&A, corporate An expert in private funds and investment management, Gerard Saviola has advised a number of different fund sponsors...

Godefroy Le Mintier

Of counsel | Norton Rose Fulbright

Private Practice

Based in: Paris and Casablanca Principal practice areas: M&A, corporate Admissions: Paris Assisting in the creation of the Norton Rose Fulbright French Middle East and North Africa practice, having been...

Grant Henderson

Director | DLA Piper

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Projects, finance, infrastructure Admissions: Zambia, Scotland With career achievements that have seen him widely recognised as a leading expert in Africa related issues, Grant...

Hamish Lal

Partner | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld

Private Practice

Based in: London With a practice that has seen him act under many different legal systems including common law and civil codes in a variety of international jurisdictions, Hamish Lal...

Howard Barrie

Partner | Dentons

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 35 Principal practice areas: Project finance, projects, trade and commodity finance Languages spoken: English and French What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa?...

Ian Coles

Partner, head of Africa and mining | Mayer Brown International

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 37 Principal practice areas: Mining and project finance Languages spoken: English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African practice. Please describe the...

Isabelle Michou

Partner | Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

Private Practice

Based in: Paris Number of years practice: 19 Principal practice areas: International arbitration, international disputes Languages spoken: English and French What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa?...

Jason Kerr

Partner | White & Case

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Project development and finance, banking, oil and gas Admissions: England and Wales, Scotland, Hong Kong Jason Kerr is a noted specialist in projects and...

Jean-Claude Petilon

Senior counsel | McDermott Will & Emery

Private Practice

What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? My practice extends to all areas in Africa – but I have had less experience in the Horn countries such...

Jean-Georges Betto

Partner | Betto Seraglini

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 24 Principal practice areas: International arbitration Languages spoken: French and English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African practice, with a focus...

Jean-Pierre Vignaud

Senior counsel | Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

Private Practice

Based in: Paris Principal practice areas: M&A, energy, project finance and infrastructure, sovereign governments and international institutions Languages spoken: English and French Bar Admissions: Paris Jean-Pierre Vignaud is an experienced...

Jean-Yves Garaud

Partner | Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

Private Practice

Based in: Paris Principal practice areas: Litigation, international arbitration, white-collar crime, bankruptcy and restructuring, global crisis management, public international law First joining the firm in 1990, Jean-Yves Garaud became a...

Jennifer Gladstone

Partner | Trinity

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Projects, finance Languages spoken: English and French Memberships: Law Society of England and Wales In focusing her practice on matters related to the power...

Jeremy Brittenden

Partner | Hogan Lovells

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Finance, projects Languages spoken: English Noted for his work on rapidly developing markets – with a particular focus on the North African region –...

Jeremy Connick

Partner | Clifford Chance

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Project development and finance, banking and finance, public private partnerships Jeremy Connick’s focus on infrastructure transactions in African jurisdictions has led him to become...

Number of years practice: 40 Principal practice areas: Energy, infrastructure and public-private partnerships, project finance and development Languages spoken: English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa?...

John J Beardsworth

Partner | Hunton Andrews Kurth

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 40 Principal practice areas: Energy, infrastructure and public-private partnerships, project finance and development Languages spoken: English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa?...

John Kemkers

Partner | Eversheds Sutherland

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: International arbitration, real estate dispute resolution, real estate planning Languages spoken: English, French, German Co-head of the firm’s Africa group, John Kemkers of Eversheds...

Joshua Siaw

Partner | White & Case

Private Practice

Based in: London Admissions: England and Wales Languages spoken: English, Twi (Ghanaian) The widely-acclaimed Joshua Siaw advises corporate entities, governments, banks and other financial institutions on cross-border project development and...

Julian Cunningham-Day

Partner | Linklaters

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: TMT Admissions: England and Wales Languages spoken: English, French, German An expert in the highly regulated areas of telecoms, financial services, professional services, utilities...

Kamal R Shah

Partner, head of the Africa and India groups | Stephenson Harwood

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 20 Principal practice areas: Dispute resolution – arbitration, litigation, fraud and asset tracing Languages spoken: Gujarati, Kiswahili, Hindi, French What is the geographical focus of your...

Karel Daele

Partner, head of international arbitration | Mishcon de Reya

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 21 Principal practice areas: Investor-state and commercial arbitration Languages spoken: English, French and Dutch What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African practice....

Kaushik Ray

Partner | Trinity

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 17 Principal practice areas: Finance, project finance Languages spoken: English, French, Italian, Bengali What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African practice. Please...

Kem Ihenacho

Partner; co-chair of the global private equity practice and the Africa practice group | Latham & Watkins

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 20 Principal practice areas: M&A and private equity Languages spoken: English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African practice with a focus...

Liz Tout

Partner | Dentons

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: International Bar Association; UK Oil Lawyers’ Group; London Solicitors Litigation Association Years of practice: 36 Head of Dentons’ litigation and dispute resolution practice in...

Mark Barges 

Counsel | Linklaters

Private Practice

Based in: Paris Principal practice areas: Projects, public and administrative law An expert on energy, renewables and infrastructure projects, Mark Barges has a track record of advising on several major...

Mark Russell

Partner | Linklaters

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: M&A, projects Admissions: England and Wales Having worked on some of the largest M&A transactions ever seen in the African energy sector, Mark Russell...

Martin Kavanagh

Partner, co-head of Africa globally, head of energy, natural resources and infrastructure finance | Herbert Smith Freehills

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 23 Principal practice areas: Energy, natural resources and infrastructure finance and project development Languages spoken: English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa?...

Martin McCann

Global head of business | Norton Rose Fulbright

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Banking and finance, projects, commodity finance Known for having solutions to even the most challenging and significant projects, Martin McCann is a highly experienced...

Mathieu Dahan

Of counsel | Norton Rose Fulbright

Private Practice

Based in: Paris and Casablanca Principal practice areas: Corporate, real estate Presiding over Norton Rose Fulbright’s real estate and infrastructure practice in the Middle East and North Africa region, Mathieu...

Matthew Weiniger QC

Partner and global co-head of international arbitration | Linklaters

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Dispute resolution Having worked in the field for 25 years, Matthew Weiniger QC is a specialist in international arbitrations, public international law, and trade...

Maude Lebois

Partner | Shearman & Sterling

Private Practice

Based in: Paris Principal practice areas: International arbitration, litigation Admissions: Paris, New York, Brussels A partner in Shearman & Sterling’s international arbitration practice, Maude Lebois is highlighted for a more...

Maurice Kenton 

Partner | Clyde & Co

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: International arbitration, commercial litigation, public international law A world-class litigator with extensive experience leading successful teams under ICC, LCIA, and UNCITRAL rules as well...

Mehdi Haroun

Partner | King & Spalding

Private Practice

Based in: Number of years practice: 24 Principal practice areas: Energy, corporate Languages spoken: French, Arabic and English Bar admissions: Paris, Algeria What is the geographical focus of your practice...

Michael Ostrove

Partner, global head of international arbitration | DLA Piper France

Private Practice

Based in: Paris Number of years practice: 25 Principal practice areas: International arbitration Languages spoken: English and French What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? DLA Piper...

Michael Polkinghorne

Partner | White & Case

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 33 Principal practice areas: Arbitration and litigation, energy, telecommunications, project finance and infrastructure Languages spoken: English and French What is the geographical focus of your practice...

Michael Young QC

Partner | Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 24 Principal practice areas: International arbitration, energy disputes Languages spoken: English and French What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African practice; my...

Mukund Dhar

Partner | White & Case

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Project development and finance, infrastructure Mukund Dhar is an energy, infrastructure and natural resources lawyer with experience across the power, oil and gas and...

Nicholas Hughes

Partner and co-head of East Africa practice | Clifford Chance

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: M&A, corporate At the firm since 2002 and a partner since 2013, Nicholas Hughes of Clifford Chance uses his considerable experience in cross-border and...

Nick Elverston

Partner | Ashurst

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 25+ Principal practice areas: TMT Languages spoken: English, French and Japanese What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African practice. Please describe the...

Nigel Wellings

Partner and joint head of corporate | Clifford Chance

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: M&A corporate Admissions: The Law Society of England and Wales Nigel Wellings has extensive experience of covering private company M&A, joint ventures and equity...

Nikolaï Eatwell

Partner | Clifford Chance Europe

Private Practice

Based in: Paris Principal practice areas: Banking and finance, construction Languages spoken: English, French, Russian An expert on matters related to all types of projects in the mining, metals, oil...

Nina Bowyer

Partner, co-head Africa practice group | Herbert Smith Freehills

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 22 Principal practice areas: Project finance Languages spoken: French and English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African practice with a particular...

Olamide Oladosu

Director | Clifford Chance

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Banking and finance Professional memberships: International Bar Association, Nigerian Bar Association With a career that has seen him undertake a position as a partner...

Pascal Agboyibor

Partner, head of Africa and lead member of board | Orrick Rambaud Martel

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 20+ Principal practice areas: Banking and finance, projects Languages spoken: English and French What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African practice. Please...

Paul Biggs

Senior partner | Trinity International

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 28 Principal practice areas: Project finance and infrastructure project development Languages spoken: English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African practice. Please...

Paula Hodges QC

Partner, head of global arbitration practice | Herbert Smith Freehills

Private Practice

Based in: Number of years practice: 30 Principal practice areas: International arbitration Languages spoken: English and French What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African practice. Please...

Paule Biensan

Partner, head of the Paris energy, infrastructure, project and asset finance group | White & Case

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 22 Principal practice areas: Project finance Languages spoken: French and English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African practice with a focus...

Philip Stopford

Partner | White & Case

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 30+ Principal practice areas: Project development and finance Languages spoken: English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African practice. Please describe the...

Philippe Pinsolle

Partner and head of international arbitration for continental Europe | Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 25 Principal practice areas: International arbitration Languages spoken: English, French, Spanish What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African. Please describe the most...

Pierre Marly

Partner | CMS

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 20+ Principal practice areas: Pan-African business law, tax in Africa, M&A, corporate and commercial, private equity Languages spoken: French, English and Spanish What is the geographical...

Professor Emmanuel Gaillard

Partner; global head of disputes | Shearman & Sterling

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 30+ Principal practice areas: International arbitration Languages spoken: French and English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African. Please describe the most...

Rachel Speight

Partner | Mayer Brown International

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 21 Principal practice areas: Mining and project finance Languages spoken: English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African practice. Please describe the...

Rebecca Major

Partner, energy and natural resources | Herbert Smith Freehills

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 21 Principal practice areas: M&A and disposals, joint venture structuring, project development and related financing arrangements Languages spoken: English and French What is the geographical focus...

Rémy Fekete

Partner and co-head of the Africa practice | Jones Day

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 20+ Principal practice areas: Government regulation, TMT, global disputes and M&A Languages spoken: French and English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa?...

Robin Mizrahi

Partner | Covington & Burling

Private Practice

Based in: London Number of years practice: 25 Principal practice areas: Project development and finance and M&A in emerging markets in the energy, water and infrastructure sectors. Languages spoken: English...

Roland Ziadé

Partner | Linklaters

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 20 Principal practice areas: International commercial arbitration, investment treaty arbitration, dispute resolution Languages spoken: English, French, Arabic What is the geographical focus of your practice in...

Ryan Ketchum

Partner | Hunton Andrews Kurth

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 20 Principal practice areas: Energy and infrastructure, project finance and development, public-private partnerships and infrastructure, renewables Languages spoken: English What is the geographical focus of your...

Sarah Shaw

Partner | Hogan Lovells

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Commercial, corporate, infrastructure, projects, M&A, private equity Languages spoken: English, French, German With a truly international practice and a specific focus on Africa, Sarah...

Shalini Bhuchar

Partner | Hogan Lovells

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Finance, asset finance, aviation law, transport Languages spoken: English, Swahili Highly commended for her performance as lead counsel on several complex matters in the...

Shawn der Kinderen

Partner | Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Private Practice

Based in: Amsterdam Languages spoken: Dutch, English, Afrikaans Co-head of the firm’s Africa group, Shawn der Kinderen has worked at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer since 2000, mainly focusing on cross-border M&A...

Simon Norris

Partner | Trinity International

Private Practice

Based in: London Number of years practice: 20 Principal practice areas: Project finance, project development and corporate Languages spoken: English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa?...

Spencer Baylin

Partner and head of emerging markets private equity practice | Clifford Chance

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 25 Principal practice areas: Private equity and corporate M&A Languages spoken: English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African. Please describe the...

Stéphane Brabant

Co-chair of Africa practice, chair of global mining, co-head of BHR, head of crisis management – Africa | Herbert Smith Freehills

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 30 Principal practice areas: Project development and structuring, crisis prevention and management, compliance, business and human rights, dispute resolution (including arbitration) Languages spoken: French and English...

Susan Bright

Regional managing partner – UK and Africa | Hogan Lovells

Private Practice

Based in: London and Brussels Principal practice areas: Antitrust and competition, investigations Having been the recipient of a number of awards and high-profile industry recognition, Susan Bright is acknowledged as...

Sylvia Noury

Partner | Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Dispute resolution, litigation and arbitration Leading Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s international arbitration practice from the firm’s London office, Sylvia Noury is a specialist in treaty...

Tim Daniel

Independent consultant | Cooley

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Commercial litigation, international commercial arbitration, asset recovery Recognised for his outstanding track record in dispute resolution and public international law, Tim Daniel is one...

Tim Scales

Partner | Allen & Overy

Private Practice

Based in: London Number of years practice: 25 Principal practice areas: Project development and finance – energy, infrastructure, natural resources Languages spoken: English, French, German What is the geographical focus...

Titus Edjua

Director, Africa Group | Clifford Chance

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: Banking and finance Admissions: New York, Cameroon and England and Wales Thanks in part to a spectacular track record in advising on African related...

Tsegaye Laurendeau

Senior associate | Shearman & Sterling

Private Practice

Based in: London Principal practice areas: International arbitration Admissions: England and Wales, Paris A senior associate in Shearman & Sterling’s international arbitration practice, Tsegaye Laurendeau’s career experience in Africa has...

Yas Banifatemi

Partner; co-head of international arbitration practice; head of public international law practice; co-leader of energy practice | Shearman & Sterling

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 20+ Principal practice areas: International arbitration, public international law Languages spoken: French, English, Farsi What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? Pan-African. Please...

Yves Baratte

Partner | Simmons & Simmons

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 18 Principal practice areas: Energy, natural resources and infrastructure projects Languages spoken: French and English What is the geographical focus of your practice in Africa? North...

Yves Lepage

Partner, head of global energy and infrastructure group | Orrick Rambaud Martel

Private Practice

Based in: Number of years practice: 39 Principal practice areas: Infrastructure, M&A and private equity, energy, funds Languages spoken: French, English What is the geographical focus of your practice in...

For over 30 years, The Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms around the world. Over the last five years, we have expanded our analysis to include corporate counsel, again, on a global scale. This has been reflected in our GC Powerlist series, recognising the leading corporate counsel in a number of markets….read more

Most recently, we have begun the development of the Private Practice Powerlist, in which The Legal 500focuses on key individual practitioners with outstanding expertise in, and knowledge of, particular jurisdictions. This edition of the Private Practice Powerlist focuses on lawyers whose practice specialises in Africa facing matters, with a particular spotlight on those based in the major legal centres.

The Private Practice Powerlist: Africa Specialists highlights those professionals who are recognised as dedicated and capable in providing specialised, expert and transformative advice helping the continent of Africa realise its mighty potential. We have assessed a range of candidates, analysing both current practice and historical data to confirm the inclusion of individual practitioners.

To state the obvious, there is no single “African” market legal service providers operate in. In spite of the significant differences across the continent however, lawyers often face the same challenges including vast linguistic and cultural dissimilarities, lack of integration with global financial institutions and corruption, all of which risk undermining the efforts of lawyers within the continent.

That said, Africa is rich in natural resources and human talent, and investment is increasing in a variety of sectors, not just the “traditional” fields of mining, materials and energy. Banks, private equity investors and development finance institutions are becoming more comfortable with lending for Africa-based projects, and the rate of infrastructure and renewable energy transactions is increasing. Such deals are very often first-in-market, and lawyers working on them are innovating and trendsetting in terms of the practice of related law. Lawyers working in Africa in this sense are true pioneers, displaying creativity and expertise to find solutions. Whilst foreign direct investment – particularly from China – remains large, a number of intra-African investments are increasingly being made.

Many of those profiled in the Private Practice Powerlist: Africa Specialists are optimistic about the future of the continent. Crucial to this optimism was the strengthening of the legal profession. A more specialised judiciary, more “home-grown” African arbitrators, stronger legal education and local firms integrated into the wider legal community worldwide remain priorities for those seeking to improve legal practice on the continent. Africa’s growing legal maturity is exemplified through the Organisation for the Harmonisation of Corporate Law in Africa (OHADA) system, which has facilitated and simplified cross-border transactions.

Political issues also remain prevalent and there have been several leadership changes in African states in the last two years, often accompanied by pledges related to anti-corruption, economic growth and good governance. Whether this cocktail of a youthful population and the goals of increased investment and stronger institutions will have the desired effects is unclear, however what is certain is that domestic and international legal practitioners will have a huge part to play.

Jamie Rayat
Research editor, GC Powerlist series

 

Banwo & Ighodalo

Banwo & Ighodalo logo

Bennani & Associes LLP

Bennani & Associes LLP logo

Tadesse Kiros Law Office

Tadesse Kiros Law Office logo

Abreu Advogados

Abreu Advogados logo

Jones Day Hong Kong Roundtable 2024

The Legal 500 was thrilled to join a selection of top Jones Day partners and a hand-picked group of 15 the most prominent GCs in Hong Kong for a freewheeling and no-holds-barred discussion on geopolitical risk management at a time of global transition. Steve Brogan, managing partner of Jones Day from 2002-2022 flew over to lend his considerable expertise to the discussion, as did Partner-in-Charge Hong Kong Joelle Lau. Joining them to give expert briefings on the topics of the day were partners Peter Wang, Dr Qiang Xue, James Fidler, Samuel Ngo and Charles Chau. The conversation moved from sanctions and counter sanctions, to the increasing pre-eminence of the Asian economy, to the philosophy of the rule of law in times of crisis.