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Dentons Africa
dentons.com
^ Why Dentons?Africa presents some of the most dynamic markets in the world. At a time of growth and other positive changes on the continent, we invite you to partner with a firm that has both the experience and resources to provide you with the competitive advantage. Our expertise has been recognized in the market-place, with Dentons recently voted the “leading law firm in Africa” for three consecutive years.
Reflecting our investment in Africa for over 50 years, our dedicated team of Africa specialists is coordinated across Africa, Asia, Europe, the US, Canada, and the Middle East - in the key commercial centers around the world that engage in business and investment in Africa. Our Cairo office and extensive association of highly regarded African law firms is leveraged to service clients across the continent’s Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone regions.
This brochure outlines how Dentons can support you to succeed in the diverse opportunities that Africa presents.
Global presence with local service
Dentons’ distinctive approach is to integrate international expertise with outstanding local lawyers. Our extensive network of associated law firms in Africa – the largest network of any international law firm – provides our clients with first class local legal advice as well as practical advice on doing business in Africa. We operate an Africa Desk in global financial and government centers, including Beijing, Dubai, London, Montreal, New York, Paris and Washington DC, from which our international clients have ready access to our Africa experience.
Our locations of Associated firms include Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Cape Verde, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Libya, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
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We know that in order to offer an excellent service we must not only have a deep legal knowledge but also understand your business.
Our expertise is aligned with the sectors that are driving economic growth on the continent, including infrastructure, oil & gas, power, mining, telecommunications and finance.
Please turn to page 6 to find out how we can support you in these and other areas.
We have a longstanding commitment to executing business opportunities for clients already in Africa, as well as those with potential interests on the continent. We regularly advise African clients on outward investment and access to international financing, as well as international clients regarding inward investment flows into Africa.
Our reputation throughout the regionAfrica presents many opportunities, but navigating your way through the often unfamiliar territories and business cultures can be challenging without the right advice. Our long track record on the continent has enabled us to develop a thorough understanding of the key legal, regulatory, tax, political and economic issues that inform doing business in each country. We have also cultivated an unparalleled range of contacts including government officials, financial institutions, key representatives of the private sector and other local decision-makers.
Our team has acted on some of the largest and most innovative matters, spanning every country in the continent. Let us steer you through the processes of doing business in Africa in an efficient and effective manner.
Helping you meet your challenges
Some recent awards and accolades include:
• TMTLawFirmoftheYear2013–TMT Finance Middle-East & North Africa
• DealoftheYear2012–Global Trade Review
• BestLawFirminTradeFinance2012–Trade & Forfaiting Review
• BestTradeFinanceLawFirmEMEA2012–Trade Finance
• AfricanLargeCapDealoftheYear2013–Private Equity Africa
• AfricanLargeCapExitoftheYear2013–Private Equity Africa
• PortfolioAwardforInnovation2013– Private Equity Africa
• TelecomsDealoftheYearAward2012– CommsMEA
• DevelopmentFinanceAward2012–Mines & Money
• DealoftheYear2012–Global Trade Review
• BestLawFirminAfrica2011–emeafinance magazine
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Committed to capacity building in AfricaCapacity building is an intrinsic part ofDentons’professionalculture.Inparticular, training of government officials is consistently a component of our representation of African governments.Inadditiontothecapacity building that we support through our client engagements, we are proud to collaborate with organizations such as the InternationalLawyersforAfricaandtheInternationalLawInstitute.
International Lawyers for AfricaWe have been supporters of the InternationalLawyersforAfrica(ILFA)probono/CorporateSocialResponsibility initiative since it beganin2006.TheprogramenablesleadingInternationallawfirmstocontribute to the development of legal skills and expertise of African lawyers by providing high quality work experience and training. Dentons has provided placements for many candidates from countries including Botswana, Malawi, Rwanda, Senegal and Zimbabwe.
International Law InstituteWe have been involved with the InternationalLawInstitute(ILI)forseveral years and a number of our
“What drives Dentons is a strategic commitment to Africa.” - The Times
partners from Dubai, London and Washington participate as course advisersanddelivertraining.ILI’smission is to raise the levels of professional competence and capacity in all nations so that professionals may achieve practical solutions to common problems in ways that suit their nations’ own needs.ILIhastrainedexceptionalindividuals from both the public and private sectors in Africa. Participants inILIcourseshavemovedontobecome prime ministers, supreme court judges, law makers, and heads of various ministries.
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Full service offering
EnergyOur 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.Inparticular,wehaveextensive experience advising on the legal aspects of oil and gas (upstreamanddownstream)andpower projects throughout Africa.
Transport and InfrastructureWe 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).Ourexperiencerangesfrom 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.
Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP) We have been extensively involved inPPPsincethemid-1990srepresenting banks, sponsors, contractors, facilities managers and public authorities involved in numerous projects across a broad range of sectors and is one of the largest and most experienced teams of any international law firm.
MiningWe 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.
Banking and 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.
Trade and Export FinanceWidely recognized as the leading law firm for international trade and 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.
Islamic FinanceOur practitioners are actively involved in ourhigh-profileIslamicfinancepractice,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.
Investment FundsOur global funds team advises on all aspects of fund formation, structuring and management. We focus on alternative 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.
We are uniquely positioned to assist you across a wide spectrum of Africa-related matters including:
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Full service offering
Capital MarketsOur 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 initialpublicofferings,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.
Restructuring, Regulation and PrivatizationOur 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 wellasbanking/regulatorylitigators.
TaxOur 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.
TelecommunicationsFormorethanadecade,wehavecommitted considerable resources to our Africa work. Our award winning 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.
Hotels and LeisureWe are proud of our recognized position as a market leader in the hotel industry which we are increasingly leveraging for our clients in Africa. Our core team of lawyers, who are devoted solely to the hotels and resorts industry, is complemented by cross-disciplinary support provided by lawyers from around the world and across a range of practice areas.
Anti-corruption and ComplianceWe regularly handle complex matters arisingundertheUnitedStatesForeignCorruptPracticesAct(FCPA),theUKBribery 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 defense, 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 considering entering these markets.
GovernmentWe have a distinguished capacity 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 and this is a distinctive aspect of the Dentons service.
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©2013Dentons.
This publication is not designed to provide legal or other advice and you should not take, or refrain from taking, action based on its content. Attorney Advertising. Please see dentons.com for Legal Notices. Dentons is an international legal practice providing client services worldwide through its member firms and affiliates.
DentonsUKMEALLPisalimitedliabilitypartnershipregisteredinEnglandandWalesunderno.OC322045.ItisauthorisedandregulatedbytheSolicitorsRegulationAuthority.Alistofitsmembersisopenforinspectionatitsregisteredoffice:OneFleetPlace,LondonEC4M7WS.Anyreferencetoa“partner”meansapersonwhoisapartner, member, consultant or employee with equivalent standing and qualifications in one of Dentons’ affiliates.
CS26227-Africa Brochure — 24/09/2013
Key Africa Contacts
Thomas LaryeaPartnerWashington [email protected]
Chuck R. SpectorPartnerMontré[email protected]
Paul [email protected]
J. Michael [email protected]
Guly SabahiPartnerWashington [email protected]
Jean-Luc [email protected]
Alex [email protected]
