Overview

Mayer Brown offers practical experience, technical skills and commercial knowledge of the African market and we understand the challenges and rewards that exist in African jurisdictions. The African continent provides a wealth of opportunities both to clients seeking to expand their operations and to new entrants to these countries.

Our Africa group supports clients with an interest in African jurisdictions and has proven experience in addressing and resolving issues as they arise. We have a comprehensive track record in African common and civil law jurisdictions, complemented by unrivalled strength in capital markets and international trade, project finance, with particular strength in the following industries: mining, energy - oil and gas, infrastructure, agribusiness and heavy industry.

Our association with Tauil & Chequer Advogados (T&C), a Brazilian law firm with offices in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Vitória, substantially increases the resources available to clients in relation to investments in Africa, notably Angola and Mozambique, where many of T&C’s clients are active.

We are able to support clients in all aspects of their projects and operations in Africa, offering:

A dedicated, internationally qualified team with experience of working on a range of matters in Francophone, Anglophone, Lusophone and other jurisdictions;
The firm’s fully integrated skills in key areas such as project finance, international arbitration, international banking, mining, oil and gas, telecoms, infrastructure, among others;
Comprehensive experience in pre-privatization sector reviews and feasibility studies, together with Official Lender transactional and advisory experience;
Tried and tested project management skills to ensure that both on-site and remote support on African projects is delivered effectively; and
Close relations with local counsel throughout the continent.

Africa Mining Knowhow

The Mayer Brown mining team have worked extensively throughout Africa. From this experience, we have created the following knowhow material, which provide a useful insight into the mining laws of various African countries.

Experience

Finance and Projects

Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on the project development of five green hydrogen projects with aggregate total of 85 GW. The projects are designed to unlock a number of local opportunities deriving from the sustainable generation of large-scale renewable energy and help drive access to clean energy, clean water resources and the development of new green industries locally and for export.
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and Equity Bank Uganda Limited on the financing of the construction of two additional self-propelled barges being developed by Mahathi Infra Uganda Ltd, an oil logistics firm, for use on Lake Victoria, Uganda. Mayer Brown also advised AFC on their equity investment in Mahathi, which sees AFC become a 27 per cent shareholder in the company.
Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) on its role as mandated lead arranger, and various other lenders, on a syndicated US$600 million copper and cobalt development financing facility for Trafigura in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
MCA-Benin II (an entity of the US-based Millennium Challenge Corporation), the Government of Benin and the SBEE (Beninese electricity distribution company) on the development of an Independent Power Project (IPP) legal and institutional framework, standard form typical contracts (including concession and PPA) and a competitive bidding process in Benin which resulted in the current development and financing of a 50 MW solar PV IPP project to be deployed on four sites.

Government of Gabon in relation to a PPP toll road project "The Transgabonaise" developed by Société Autoroutière du Gabon (SAG), an affiliate of French infra fund Meridiam.
Karadeniz, a leading Turkish company in the energy sector, on the negotiation, development and financing of floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facilities in Africa including floating storage and regasification (FSRU) project s in Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire.

Corporate

Gemcorp Capital Management Limited on the due diligence, structuring, government negotiations and ultimate acquisition and financing of a significant stake in Africa's largest onshore wind farm, Kenya's Lake Turkana Wind Power Project.
VAALCO Energy, Inc. (VAALCO) on the acquisition of all of the outstanding common shares of TransGlobe in a stock-for-stock strategic business combination valued at US$307 million. The combination of VAALCO and TransGlobe creates a world-class African-focused exploration & production company listed on exchanges in New York and London, with assets located in Egypt, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Canada.
CNPC, China's largest oil and gas producer on its projects for exploration and production (upstream) of natural gas in Mozambique Rovuma Basin Area 4, including (i) the floating liquefaction (midstream) of LNG for exportation to international markets (Coral South FLNG Project) of US$8 billion; and, (ii) the Rovuma LNG Project, of total value of US$35 billion.
Alfort Petroleum with the negotiations of a Risk Service Agreement and Joint Operating Agreement in Angola regarding the acquisition by the latter of an interest in an Angola O&G Block.
MISC Berhad with the structuring of a proposal to Total for the supply and operation of an FPSO offshore Angola.

Investment Funds

BluePeak Private Capital on the US$15 million secured structured term loan investment in the Africure group. Africure is a pan-African manufacturer and distributor of pharmaceutical goods with manufacturing hubs across the continent serving patients across East and West Africa.
BluePeak Private Capital on the US$20 million secured structured term loan facility to the ieng group, a pan-African provider of engineering and construction, operations and maintenance, and hybrid power solutions to Africa’s telecom sector.
Africinvest in connection with its Shari’a-compliant investment into ArabyAds, an Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) headquartered consumer engagement platform. The investment was made available to support ArabyAds’ growth in the Middle East and Africa as part of its Series B capital-raising. ArabyAds was founded in Cairo, Egypt in 2013.

Compliance and Investigations

One of the world’s largest professional services companies on its defence in an ongoing government investigation related to alleged embezzlement, fraud, and corruption in Tanzania.
African Development Bank acting as Independent Integrity Consultant for a large Asian company following sanction for prohibited practices in a number of African countries. Following our mandate, the company successfully applied for early release from debarment.
One of the world’s largest hotel group's during and after a terrorist assault on a hotel in Mali. Mayer Brown was retained while the terrorists were still in the hotel in order to assist in crisis management issues, and later to conduct an internal investigation and security assessment, as well as coordinate with law enforcement and intelligence agencies from several different countries.

Dispute Resolution

DS Construction FZCO, a UAE company, in a major ongoing UNCITRAL/PCA Investor State arbitration brought pursuant to the Agreement for Promotion, Protection and Guarantee of Investments among Member States of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC Investment Treaty) concerning numerous large construction projects throughout Libya.
The Republic of Gambia in an ICSID Arbitration initiated by the subsidiary of a mining company in a dispute related to the termination of a mining license in that country including before an ad hoc Committee (ICSID Case No. ARB/09/19).
An educational institution in Ghana in relation to claims made against it arising out of a concession agreement governing an abortive project to finance, design, construct and operate (as a 25-year concession) new teaching and accommodation facilities at the campus.
A leading UAE construction company, owner of a hotel in Togo, in a dispute before a DAB related to a series of claims by the contractor with respect to the works for the refurbishing of the hotel.
A major global engine manufacturer in relation to a dispute with a joint venture partner arising out of a project in Nigeria.

Pro bono

A not-for-profit organisation focused on transparency and corruption-free governance, on a project to review and benchmark Kenya’s draft Conflict s of Interest's Bill against international best practice.
Formation of The New Africa Fund in Uganda committed to supporting civil society organisations and social enterprises in Africa as a US tax-exempt non-profit organisation. The funds raised by The New Africa will support sustainable solutions to youth unemployment in Africa by providing funds to various Uganda-based nongovernmental organisations.

Diplomatic Representations

Brazilian-Mozambican Association, an organisation that promotes economic relationships between the two countries, on businesses and projects with aggregate value over US$850 million.