Local firms in Angola

Dentons LEAD

With ‘in-depth knowledge of the Angolan market’, Dentons LEAD regularly acts for financial institutions, government bodies and international companies operating in a wide range of sectors, most notably banking, energy, oil and gas, infrastructure and mining. The group’s offering is equally broad, covering employment disputes, M&A, project finance, tax litigation and public law. With vast experience in international transactions, Djamila Pinto de Andrade heads up the corporate, M&A and banking teams, while Emanuela Vunge oversees the tax, public law and competition practices. Itweva Nogueira is recommended for energy and natural resources matters, Raquel Lourenço leads the real estate group and António Caxito heads the litigation and arbitration practice. Employment law is the key area of expertise for João Manuel Lourenço.

Practice head(s):

Djamila Pinto de Andrade; Emanuela Vunge; Itweva Nogueira; Raquel Lourenço; António Caxito; João Manuel Lourenço

Testimonials

‘Dentons LEAD stands out for its senior partners. Although still young, they have significant experience according to international standards. But, most of all, they pass their technical knowledge and commercial approach to younger lawyers and that is why one cannot distinguishes the level of delivery from any member of the team. They are really cohesive and this is well known by clients and colleagues from other jurisdictions. Dentons LEAD senior partners are also concerned with training their team to reach the same level of quality regardless of seniority.’

‘The firm is equipped to meet the standards of responsiveness required by local and international clients. In commercial terms, they always try to find the best fit for the client, notably in regards to fees, invoicing and billing. In a nutshell, a top notch team led by high quality individuals.’

‘Djamila Pinto de Andrade, Emanuela Vunge, António Caxito Marques and João Manuel Lourenço are the partners with whom I work the most. Always available and answering promptly, with creative solutions grounded in outstanding experience and knowledge. They not only speak English fluently, but also have profound understanding of legal issues beyond Angolan law as they deal with clients and colleagues from different jurisdictions. All these qualities and its commercial approach whilst focusing on personalised legal advice are points that are not common in other local law firms.’

‘Dentons LEAD has in-depth knowledge of the Angolan market and this is a great tool when assisting clients.’

‘Djamila Pinto de Andrade and Emanuela Vunge: I value their ability to find quick solutions under pressure and in complex situations.’

Key clients

Ministry of Finance of Angola

Sonangol Group

Standard Chartered Bank

SODIBA – Sociedade de Distribuição de Bebidas de Angola

Fresenius Medical Services

Somoil – Sociedade Petrolífera Angolana SA

KSB Valves and Pumps

LL International Holdings BV

Ramos Ferreira Engenharia

Banco Económico

BAI

Work highlights

  • Advised the Republic of Angola and the Ministry of Finance on its London-listed multibillion-dollar global medium-term note programme (GMTN) for the issue of its international sovereign debt as well as its $1.75bn international bond issue.
  • Assisted Standard Chartered Bank and UK Export Finance with a €459,231,217.25 facility agreement.
  • Acted for lender SODIBA in the restructuring of a syndicated loan agreement with Banco Caixa Geral Angola, Banco Millennium Atlântico and Banco BIC.

ALC Advogados

ALC Advogados is jointly led by managing partner Catarina Levy Osório and Irina Neves Ferreira, and is particularly active in the oil and gas, energy, natural resources, real estate and construction industries. The firm’s core areas of strength span capital markets, litigation, tax, and corporate and M&A. The group is also noted for its wealth of experience in advising on regulatory matters in the banking and insurance sectors, where Neves Ferreira is a popular choice for domestic and international insurance companies and financial institutions. Qualified in both Angola and Portugal, Levy Osório has significant experience handling infrastructure projects, foreign exchange issues, M&A and investment matters. Helena Prata is a key contact for asset financing and corporate restructurings, and senior assoicate Ana Leitão de Matos is recommended for contentious matters.

Practice head(s):

Catarina Levy Osório; Irina Neves Ferreira

Other key lawyers:

Helena Prata; Ana Leitão de Matos

AVM

AVM is especially focused on assisting multinational companies with inbound investment matters, advising on tax structures, regulatory compliance, cross-border financing transactions and forex licensing. The firm is prominent in the oil and gas, energy and natural resources sectors, where it is often sought after to advise on concessions, privatisations, large infrastructure projects and supply agreements. Banking and finance is another key pillar of the group, which is geared to handle syndicated lending and project financing for domestic and international financial institutions, as well as government entities. Founding and managing partner António Vicente Marques is a key contact for energy projects, general corporate matters and tax issues. Splitting her time between Lisbon and Luanda, Sandra Teixeira da Silva excels in litigation and arbitration, employment and immigration matters and capital markets. Another key practitioner in the group is senior associate Hélder Fernandes Carrazedo.

Practice head(s):

António Vicente Marques

Other key lawyers:

Sandra Teixeira Silva; Hélder Fernandes Carrazedo

Key clients

Afreximbank (African Export – Import Bank)

Algoa Cabinda Fabrication Services – Serviços Petrolíferos Lda

Services ALGOA International Angola, Anstalt

CEGELEC GROUP entities (Group Vinci Energies)

Cegelec Oil & Gas Services, Limitada

Cegelec Angola SA

Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch

Citigroup Global Markets Limited

Distell Angola, Limitada

Mundo Startel, Telecomunicações, SA

Olympia Rig Angola, Lda

SNC-Lavalin Angola

Ponticelli Angola

Vida Fresh – Comércio Geral e Prestaçao de Serviços

Blue Line Investment Holdings Limited

Work highlights

  • Assisted Afreximbank, a trade finance bank, with a senior financing arrangement for the acquisition of Angola Block 14 shares by Somoil Block 14 BV from Total Energies and Inpex.
  • Acted for Deutsche Bank and Citigroup Global on various matters, including a global medium-term note programme (GMTN) for the issuance of public debt under the form of Eurobonds.
  • Advised Olympia Rig Angola on employment and social security issues and its institutional relations with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Employment and the Angola Maritime Port Institute.

FTL Advogados

Luanda-based law firm FTL Advogados is equipped to assist domestic and international companies as well as investors across key practice areas, including corporate and M&A, real estate and public procurement. Recently, the firm has seen an uptick in employment matters, with Fortune 500 companies and small and medium-sized enterprises frequently turning to its employment practice for advice on their business operations in Angola. Led by managing partner Filipa Tavares De Lima, who is dual qualified in Portugal and Angola, the group is active in the oil and gas, retail, real estate and logistics segments. Another key lawyer is of counsel Miguel Carvalho Brito, who handles corporate restructurings, M&A and joint ventures.

Practice head(s):

Filipa Tavares de Lima

Other key lawyers:

Miguel Carvalho Brito

Testimonials

‘Its lawyers always have a solution to our problems. An extremely effective office in solving problems.’

‘We have a longstanding relationship with Miguel Brito. A very professional person, available and effective in his recommendations.’

Key clients

ZTE Corporation

Jembas Assistência Técnica

Air France

Multiparques

JICA – Japan International Cooperation Agency

YBE

Crown Energy

QGMI

G4S

Greentech – Angola Environment Technology

Sumitomo Corporation

Keyresearch

Appy People

Work highlights

  • Assisted Greentech with the negotiation of the shareholder agreement with Total-Eren and Sonangol, which acquired a participation interest in the NewCo.
  • Advised one of the largest IT retailers in Angola on its corporate restructuring.
  • Acted for the Angolan subsidiary of G4S, one of the largest private sector employers and security companies in Africa, on operations in more than 26 African countries.

ASP Advogados

Led by António Penelas, ASP Advogados is often engaged in transactions across key areas of the Angolan economy, including mining, oil and gas, banking, energy and construction. Notable for his experience advising on corporate, commercial and labour law matters, Penelas is a key practitioner in the litigation and arbitration team. José Miguel Oliveira is recommended for regulatory law, foreign investment and shipping matters, with a focus on the Angolan, Mozambique and Portuguese markets. Other key names are senior associate Marcelo Mendes and consultants Ângela Viana and Joana Pacheco. On the international front, the firm is the exclusive member of VdA Legal Partners in Angola.

Practice head(s):

António Penelas

Other key lawyers:

José Miguel Oliveira; Marcelo Mendes; Ângela Viana; Joana Pacheco

Key clients

BIOCOM

KT – Kinetics Technology, SPA

Odebrecht Angola

Standard Bank Angola

Trafigura Group Pte Ltd.

Puma Energy (Angola)

Work highlights

  • Advised Standard Bank Angola on the privatisation process of Banco de Comércio e Indústria and the sale of 100% of its share capital on the first stock exchange auction held in Angola.
  • Assisted KT – Kinetics Technology with the implementation of the engineering, procurement, construction and implementation (EPCI) contract for the modernisation and expansion of the Luanda Refinery.
  • Acted for Trafigura and Puma Energy on the sale of Sonangol shareholding in Puma Energy and the acquisition by Sonangol of Puma Energy shareholding in Pumangol.

LBR Advogados

LBR Advogados works in close conjunction with CMS to assist domestic and international companies with cross-border matters. Offering a full service, the group is prominent in a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, energy, infrastructure, banking, insurance, TMT and retail. The group is jointly led by managing partner Luis Borba Rodrigues and Silvino Domingos. Rodrigues has a wealth of experience advising international clients on investment projects, joint ventures and company incorporation matters, and Domingos manages a broad practice, covering IP, corporate law, tax, labour and anti-money laundering matters.

Practice head(s):

Luís Borba Rodrigues; Silvino Domingos

Key clients

Angoalissar

GeoAngol

Endiama EP

Secil

Massa Falida Banc

Sun Africa LLC

Multichoice Angola, Lda

Angoil Bumi JV

EGUS Group

Maersk Drilling

The HALO Trust

Bumi Armada

ALPLA Werke Alwin Lehner GmbH & Co KG

Ferpinta

Sanlam

Clariant

ZTE Corporation

Saipem SA

Work highlights

  • Assisted Sun Africa in an energy project.
  • Advised Secil Angola on the sale of its Angolan subsidiary Secil Lobito.
  • Acted for Ferpinta in a privatisation process and investment project regarding an industrial unit privatised by the Angolan State.

PLMJ Colab Angola - RVA Advogados

PLMJ Colab Angola - RVA Advogados is rated for its ‘experienced team, local expertise and urgency in dealing with matters’. Regarded as ‘a real business partner’, the group is specialised in commercial law and works alongside other members of the PLMJ Colab network to provide domestic and international clients a cross-sector full-service offering. The group is led by founding partner Renata Valenti, who is especially sought after to assist companies in entering the Angolan market. Valenti is supported by senior associate Emmanuel da Silva, whose practice covers employment law, foreign investment and regulatory compliance, and associate Januário Macamba, who focuses on corporate and mining matters.

Practice head(s):

Renata Valenti

Other key lawyers:

Emmanuel da Silva; Januário Macamba

Testimonials

‘I have been working with several top law firms over the last years and RVA – Angola is probably one of the best we have worked with.’

‘The team is very competent with great technical skills and knowledge. They are very helpful and always available.’

‘Both partners and associates have vast knowledge of finance documents and the laws in both Portugal and Angola. Strongly recommend the firm.’

‘Transparency and efficiency.’

‘RVA has a strong understanding of the local laws and the sector we operate. Its key strengths are its experienced team, local expertise and urgency in dealing with matters. These attributes place RVA above other firms. The firm is a real business partner.’ 

‘Renata Valenti is our key contact. She is readily available to answer questions and support us with complex matters. Renata and her team are proactive and provide a high level of confidence. Very professional too.’

Key clients

Huawei

Banco Comercial do Huambo

Unitransfer

Olea Insurance

BayQi

Suez Group

Jean Boulle Group

Galp

Qatar Airways

Angola Cables

Afentra PLC

Work highlights

  • Assisted Rarest Diamonds (Jean Boulle Group) in establishing a joint venture with an Angolan mining group (Rio Branco) and mining concession matters.
  • Acted for BayQi on an investment round with Integrated Solutions – Angola, which acquired a 15% stake in BayQi, and the application to the National Bank of Angola to become a payment services provider.
  • Advised Unitransfer, a non-banking financial institution, on the establishment of a new forex payment system.