Leading full-service law firm GENI & KEBE has a strong reputation for handling significant cross-border transactions throughout the OHADA region. Mouhamed Kebe has experience advising governments in relation to infrastructure and energy projects, and notably has helped facilitate the merger of several major mining houses. Mohamed Dieng regularly acts as a commercial adviser and litigator on energy and mining law matters and heads the firm’s litigation and regulatory team. Senior associate Mame Ngoné Sow leads the banking and finance team and specialises in aviation finance, while senior associate Boubacar Diakité heads the corporate and M&A and tax team. Yankhoba Ndiaye was promoted and now leads on employment and labour matters, and associate Ismaël Itoua stands out for his work advising operators throughout Africa on a range of matters, including exploration licences, regulatory compliance and risk mitigation.
Leading firms in Senegal
GENI & KEBE
Practice head(s):
Mouhamed Kebe; Mouhamed Abdallah Dieng; Boubacar Diakite; Mame Ngone Sow; Yankhoba Ndiaye
Other key lawyers:
Ismaël Itoua
Key clients
Malicounda
Mitreeli
Affert
Lekela
AfDB (African Bank of Development)
IFC (International Finance Corporation)
Senergy 2
Saracen
KFC / Foncis
BPIAE
SAIPEM SA
Samsung Electronics
Orabank / Citigroup
Dangote Group
JICA
Santander
Helexia
AIRBUS
Work highlights
- Advised FEI-ONGRID in relation to a pledge contract involving Senegalese company INNOVENT SENEGAL.
- Advising Lekela in relation to a major electricity generation project.
- Advising on several infrastructure projects, including in relation to the renegotiation of the highway concession between the state of Senegal and Eiffage, and the construction of the Express Train Project (TER).
Houda Law Firm
Houda Law Firm
is a multilingual practice that advises clients on a wide range of matters, including corporate and M&A, banking and finance, insurance, tax, employment, dispute resolution, and intellectual property. Managing partner Khaled Abou El Houda regularly advises on legal issues in the banking and finance, oil and gas, mining, infrastructure and energy sectors. Malick Lo has experience in M&A and project finance, while El Hadji Daouda Seck is a litigator with experience acting in relation to economic and financial fraud, the repair of economic and financial damage, manager responsibility, and in the enforcement of court decisions. Franck Allessie and Khadijietou Kane also play important roles at the firm.
Practice head(s):
Khaled Abou El Houda; Malick Lo; Daouda Seck
Other key lawyers:
Franck Allessie; Khadijietou Kane; Elodie Dagneaux; Cheikh Omar Ndao; Chadi Safieddine; Rym Saleh; Haby Dada Mballo; Laurence Bockel
Testimonials
‘It has been a great honour and pleasure to work with Khaled Houda and his team. They have proven competence in financing projects in various economic sectors. I have been impressed by their availability and promptness as well as the great and diversified competences of the members of the team in various legal fields such as project finance, complex financing contracts, securities and banking law, company law, contractual technique, collective proceedings, litigation and arbitration, etc.’
‘The firm’s lawyers are experts in common law, civil law and OHADA law. On several occasions, I have been able to appreciate the high professional and personal qualities of Mr. Houda, Mr. Malick Lo and their colleagues, due to the relevance of their opinions, the quality of their services, their sense of anticipation and the dexterity in defending lender and creditor interests.’
‘This firm is the one I recommend to several contacts when they ask me for legal assistance. They are very professional and they respond to you within 24 to 48 hours when you send them a message. Their billing is reasonable, and you get quality feedback on various legal issues. I collaborated in the past with some other firms, but I will always prefer Houda Law Firm for their professionalism.’
‘All their lawyers are very dedicated and attentive to the clients’ needs, in particular Malick Lo, Abou Khaled Houda, Elodie Dagneaux, Cheikh Omar Ndao, Chadi Safieddine, Rym Saleh, and Haby Dada Mballo to name just a few.’
‘We have been working with this law firm for years as their lawyers have demonstrated great knowledge of international transactions within the mining, oil, infrastructure and renewables sectors and with the related fields of all i.e., corporate, financing, regulatory and transaction. A responsive and reliable firm.’
‘Their individuals have demonstrated a huge capacity to understand foreign investors’ needs and to provide reliable advice in a short timeframe.’
‘The proactiveness, insight, and intelligence of this team is appreciated.’
‘Chadi Safieddine, Laurence Bockel, and Khaled Abou El Houda are helping us organise our daily dealings as well as prepare for bigger issues.’
Key clients
International bank
Development bank
Telecommunication company
Industrials and manufacturing company
International real estate company
International private bank
Mining Company
Subsidiaries of an International private bank
English private bank
Financial Institution
Habibatou Touré
Habibatou Touré advises on mining, oil and gas, and infrastructure projects, and is especially well regarded for its work in relation to public-private partnership agreements and project finance in the energy sector. The firm’s new focus area is arbitration and mediation in the energy and natural resources sector. Managing partner Habibatou Touré specialises in international business and investment law and has considerable experience in project finance.
Practice head(s):
Habibatou Toure
Testimonials
‘Habibatou Toure is always available for urgent matters and has a very good knowledge of the oil & gas sector and projects at all stages of development. She can deal with corporate and regulatory queries as well as tax queries seamlessly.’
‘Habibatou is a very good lawyer from a technical and commercial perspective. She worked for many years in Paris before returning to Senegal and therefore is able to deliver client service of the standard provided by law firms in Europe. She speaks English well and is able to draft in English well. She also has a lot of contacts with the authorities and key players in Senegal which often helps to make the deal happen.’
‘Habibatou Toure’s availability and technical skill are impressive.’
‘Habibatou Toure has provided us with excellent support in relation to all aspects of our business, and understands perfectly the power sector in Senegal, as well as the administration of private companies.’
‘Habibatou Toure is a very cordial and friendly person. She is also loyal, frank and direct, and possesses a fine touch of diplomacy. She is an excellent negotiator, combining a sense of firmness with an openness to dialogue. Her excellent knowledge of the energy sector gives her a remarkable ability to convince her interlocutors.’
‘The firm has strong expertise in financings/energy & natural resources, and an ability to provide advice tailored to the client’s needs.’
‘An excellent and reliable law firm/lawyer with a practice at international standard. She is available, very knowledgeable about the political and legal local context, very well connected, and excellent at drafting in French as in English.’
‘Her responsiveness is impeccable. Habibatou Touré has a great knowledge of export finance and of the specifics of how the ministry of finance operates. This expertise was key to completing our transaction.’
Key clients
DFC
AFC
Senegal Project Unit of the Luxembourg development
Urban transportation executive council (CETUD)
Wilmar group
Senegal Numerique
GRIPS
FIELDSTONE
Wutiko
SONES (National Water company)
MERIDIAM/FONSIS
ELECTRA INFRACO
West African Power Pool (WAPP)
Pfizer
BDO UK
Diamond drilling
AMSA Assurance Senegal
COMASEL
GIZ
National Road Agency (AGEROUTE)
Work highlights
- Advised BP on various legal matters related to its oil and gas activities in Senegal.
- Advising Santander Bank on a loan operation in Senegal.
John W Ffooks & Co
John W Ffooks & Co is a commercial law firm operating across Francophone Africa; it advises domestic and international corporations, banks and other financial institutions, light and heavy industrial firms, state-owned enterprises and government departments, primarily in relation to a variety of financing arrangements. The firm also specialises in assisting inbound investment into the region from common law jurisdictions. Founder and senior partner John Ffooks leads the practice. Adrien Rangira and Pape Dieng stand out for their contributions to the team.
Practice head(s):
John Ffooks
Other key lawyers:
Adrien Rangira; Pape Dieng
Testimonials
‘They have good legal skills and can work in multiple languages.’