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Africa

The global law firm for Africa

With more than 30 years of experience in the African market, we leverage our Firm's global footprint to provide first-class legal and commercial advice to foreign multinational investors in Africa, as well as some of Africa’s largest domestic companies.

With regional hubs in Cairo, Casablanca and Johannesburg, we offer a presence in Africa that few international law firms can match. Our lawyers advise clients in key growth industry sectors including finance, energy, mining & infrastructure, telecommunications, FMCG and healthcare. We act as transactional and international counsel for clients engaged in major projects, collaborating with colleagues across our global network to provide guidance on inbound and outbound investments.

We have over 200 lawyers that work on Africa matters and we offer a combination of local knowledge and international perspective to help clients minimise risk and focus on business opportunities. Working with our African Relationship Firms to deliver a comprehensive service, we provide clients with the insight they need to overcome their legal, regulatory and market challenges.
We were named “the leading international firm for high value work across Africa” by Acritas. In 2018, we won “International Law Firm of the Year” at the African Legal Awards, becoming the only firm to have won this award three times. We have also been named “Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources Team of the Year", "Employment Team of the Year" and "Banking, Finance & Restructuring Team of the Year". Our commitment to CSR in Africa has been recognised through the “CSR, Diversity, Transformation and Economic Empowerment Award”.

We are market leaders in energy and infrastructure projects and finance matters in Africa, working on some of the most significant projects across the continent. Our achievements include advising Morocco's state-owned power utility on procuring and developing the country's 850 MW wind farm public-private partnership programme, acting for Angola state-owned oil company Sonangol on its USD 7 billion development of a major oil refinery, advising numerous lenders on Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme projects in South Africa, and advising on numerous projects under the Egyptian Government's Feed-in Tariff (FiT) programme. We have also advised on numerous energy and infrastructure projects across Southern, Eastern, Western and Francophone West Africa.

Our Corporate/M&A group advise clients on major cross-border deals while our litigation, compliance, investigations and tax teams leverage their strong working relationships with regulators and other government officials to protect clients' interests. In 2019, our team advised Impala Platinum Holdings Limited on its proposed acquisition of North American Palladium, a landmark deal.

Our clients doing transactions in Africa are further supported through our range of Africa-focused advisory teams such as Dispute Resolution, Antitrust & Competition, Compliance & Investigations, Employment, IP and International Commercial & Trade. Our Africa Tax Group provide continent-wide advice on tax issues.

No matter the business or legal issue, we provide clients with the guidance and support they need to overcome the challenges of doing business in Africa and achieve their Africa-focused strategies, using our expertise across industry sectors and legal systems to help them pursue opportunities, achieve growth and manage risk in their business.
Insight | Thought Leadership
New Dynamics: Shifting Patterns in Africa’s Infrastructure Funding
Infrastructure remains key to unlocking the potential of Africa. Market fundamentals show untapped opportunity and significant demand.
Insight | Legal Update
South Africa: Hydrogen Roadmap - A Crucial Step in the Energy Transition Journey
As the country navigates its energy transition, the Roadmap is considered to be an important marker on its path towards implementing hydrogen development.
Insight | Legal Update
Africa: The Power of Renewal - Current Status of the Energy Transition
New solutions are being implemented to address Africa's power challenges. These solutions center around the global drive towards a decarbonized, affordable and secure energy supply.
Insight | Handbook
Africa Data Security and Privacy Guide
An overview of legal developments in data security and privacy law in 11 countries.
Insight | Legal Update
Tax Implications of Digital Transformation in the Consumer Goods and Retail Sector
The digital expansion in the CG&R sector has numerous tax implications, both locally and regionally.
Insight | Legal Update
Massive Increase in M&A Deal Value in Sub-Saharan Africa in the First Half of 2021
There was a massive increase in the value of mergers and acquisitions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in the first half of 2021 due, in part, to the post-pandemic boost.
Insight | Legal Update
An Overview and Update of Trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement
While AfCFTA has many benefits, there are still many challenges to overcome.
Insight | Legal Update
Africa: Implementation of Cybersecurity and Data Protection Law Urgent Across Continent
Two new laws are bringing Africa's data protection and cybersecurity legislation in line with global standards.
Insight | Legal Update
Africa: Overview of Competition & Antitrust Regulations and Developments in 2021
Competition law a key driver for market participation, consumer protection and fair business practices in post-pandemic environment.
Insight | Legal Update
Dealmaking Slows Across Africa, but Post-pandemic Opportunities Look Interesting
The opportunities presented by free trade across the continent will be key factors in attracting valuable mergers and acquisition activity.
Insight | Legal Update
Africa: AfCFTA is now Operational - What to Expect in the First Few Months
African Continental Free Trade Area is one of the largest trading blocs in the world with the majority of African countries now operating under the framework.
View All Insight
  • Best Law Firm in Africa - EMEA Finance's African Banking Awards 2021
  • Banking & Finance Legal Adviser of the Year - GFC's Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Africa Awards 2021
  • GTR Best Deals of 2022 - Aspen Pharmacare
  • Best Law Firm for Export Finance - GTR Awards 2022
  • Banking Team of the Year (Egypt Ministry of Finance Green Financing) - The Middle East Legal Awards 2022
  • Islamic Syndication Deal of the Year (Egypt Ministry of Finance Green Financing) - Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East Awards 2022
  • Best Structured Finance Deal in North Africa (Canal Sugar) - EMEA Finance Achievement Awards 2021

Egypt

With more than 30 years’ experience in the local market, we are also the go-to firm for Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property and IT & Communications. Our Egypt lawyers have deep knowledge of the local legal, business, social and cultural environment, and work closely with colleagues across all of our offices to help clients navigate the intricacies of Egypt’s regulatory environment and achieve their global objectives.

 

Morocco

As one of the country’s leading international law firms, we support multinationals, financial institutions and investors that use Morocco as the hub for their African operations and financing deals. That support includes advising KIA on creating the Moroccan Touristic Fund, a joint venture among the Moroccan, Qatari and Abu Dhabi governments to redevelop sites such as the Bouregreg Valley in Rabat and the Casablanca Marina.

 

South Africa

With more than 60 lawyers on the ground, our Johannesburg office works closely with colleagues from our other African offices, while leveraging know-how from Africa subject matter experts based in our global offices, to provide domestic and cross-border African and international legal advice on a range of top-ranked legal areas. Our Banking & Finance, Dispute Resolution, Construction, Corporate/M&A, Mining, and Projects & Infrastructure are ranked Tier 1 by Legal 500. No matter the legal or business issue, we leverage our global network and knowledge of Africa’s local markets to help clients achieve their strategic objectives.

Get up-to-date information on the current legal and regulatory matters impacting your business. Search by country, industry and area of legal practice.
Insight | Legal Update
Africa: The Power of Renewal - Current Status of the Energy Transition
New solutions are being implemented to address Africa's power challenges. These solutions center around the global drive towards a decarbonized, affordable and secure energy supply.
Insight | Handbook
Africa Data Security and Privacy Guide
An overview of legal developments in data security and privacy law in 11 countries.

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