Expertise
Our Key Areas of Practice
In addition to the general areas of legal practice shown on our home page, we have a very strong track record in the areas outlined here.
Anti Corruption and Compliance
We regularly handle complex matters arising under the UK Bribery Act, and similar anti-corruption laws implemented worldwide. We represent corporate and individual clients across a wide range of industries in connection with internal investigations, enforcement defence, pre-acquisition due diligence, and compliance enhancements. With our depth of expertise in emerging and developing markets, we are ideally placed to provide practical and commercially-orientated advice when our clients are considenng entering these markets.
Banking & Finance
Our broad portfolio of experience acting for both banks and borrowers includes all types of domestic and international finance, ranging from general syndicated loan facilities to highly structured transactions.
Capital Markets
Our capital markets practice covers a broad range of international debt and equity capital markets transactions, both for corporate and government entities. We advise on a variety of products, including initial public offerings, Eurobonds, medium-term note programs, sukuk, credit- and equity-linked bonds, loan participation notes, project finance bonds, high-yield bonds, securitizations and structured products. We advise numerous market participants, lead managers, trustees, delegates and issuers across multiple industry sectors, combining our firm-wide capital markets experience and industry knowledge.
Energy
Our team has been involved in an array of energy transactions and has a record of success in developing, structuring and bringing to fruition wide-ranging projects on the African continent. In particular, we have extensive experience advising on the legal aspects of oil and gas (upstream and downstream) and power projects throughout Africa.
Government
We have a distinguished capactiy to integrate government relations experience into a legal practice geared to serve the complex needs of governments and other public sector clients, as well as private clients engaged with government. Our government relations expertise is brought to bear in many of our Africa related matters.
Investment Funds & Hedge Funds
Our funds team advises on all aspects of fund formation, structuring and management. We focus on altemative investment funds, including hedge funds, private equity funds, sovereign investment vehicles, real estate, infrastructure and other investment funds. We also have a track record in establishing exchange-traded funds.
Islamic Finance
Our practitioners are actively involved in our high-profile Islamic finance practice, particularly in relation to regulatory issues and commodity-based transactions, and can advise on the full range of Shari’ah-compliant activities, which is increasingly in demand in Africa.
Litigation
Our primary concern is to resolve disputes as quickly and advantageously as possible, always weighing the possible outcomes against the costs and risks of litigation. The litigation and dispute resolution team works closely with our corporate lawyers on commercial matters and this brings an added dimension that, since the foundation of the firm, has attracted high-profile and complex commercial disputes.
Mining
We continue to focus on corporate and debt finance transactions in Africa in the junior and mid-cap resources sector, with particular focus on mergers and acquisitions, project and trade finance, hedging, commodity trading and equity financings.
Property
We act for and advise both landlords and tenants in connection with all aspects relating to the sale, purchase and lease of commercial property, as well as in more complex matters such as those arising out of a dispute. This includes assignment and renewal of leases, underletting, licences for alterations and to occupy, and change of use.
We are able to work with banks and specialist lenders and can advise on regulated loans, alternative finance, bridging, peer-to-peer lending, secured lending, development finance, mezzanine finance, loans and creditor agreements. We can also act for clients in matters relating to securing finance against commercial property.
Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP)
We have been extensively involved in PPP since our inception representing banks, sponsors, contractors, facilities managers and public authorities involved in numerous projects across a broad range of sectors .
Restructuring, Regulation & Privatization
Our practice covers a wide range of privatizations. including public offerings and private sales in Africa and elsewhere, and also includes the creation of legislative frameworks for privatizations, including the establishment of commercial stock exchanges and joint ventures. Our dedicated financial regulatory advisory team is supported by additional authorities in derivatives, investment funds, insurance, consumer credit and e-commerce, as well as banking/regulatory litigators.
Securitisation
Our Securitisation Practice covers all aspects of true sale securitisation in all asset types. This includes RMBS, CMBS, ABS and Covered Bonds. It also covers all aspects of Partial Risk Transfer and Total Risk Transfers. The markets and jurisdictions covered include both the developed capital markets and the emerging capital markets.
Swaps & Derivatives
Our Swaps and Derivatives practice area covers FX Swaps, Cross Currency Swaps, Basis Swaps. Structured Derivatives (including Total Return Swaps and Hybrid Swaps), Equity Derivatives, Credit Default Swaps and Credit Transfer Swaps (Synthetic Securitisations).
Tax
Our highly regarded tax lawyers advise a variety of clients on deals and disputes across the African continent, including governments, international investors, financiers, funds and corporations. We have advised on many tax issues in Africa, including in relation to M&A, fund formation and investments, cross-border debt financing, projects, structured and asset finance, VAT, tax incentive agreements and intellectual property taxation.
Telecommuncations
Our telecommunications practice encompasses both regulatory and M&A work. We provide corporate, commercial, regulatory, financing and dispute resolution advice to businesses involved in telecommunications and online services across Africa.
Trade & Export Finance
We act for banks, development banks, export credit agencies, traders, exporters, borrowers and other market players. We have vast experience in Africa in structured trade and commodity finance transactions.
Transport & Infrastructure
We have been at the forefront of the infrastructure and transport industry with worldwide experience of advising governments and public authorities, as well as private sector sponsors and lenders (including multilateral, mezzanine and senior lenders). Our experience ranges from concession-based financing to privately sponsored projects operating in deregulated markets. We have worked on major international projects and transactions involving rail, roads and highways, bridges and tunnels, airports, ports and water.
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