Africa

Akin lawyers have a generation of experience working and living in Africa. We have undertaken sophisticated projects in all corners of the continent and understand the challenges associated with doing business in complex economic and political environments.

Lawyers in our Africa practice have negotiated deals in many individual countries in North Africa, Francophone Africa and the Sub-Sahara states. We have long-term relationships with key financial institutions in the African market. Our role is to help our clients achieve their business goals, while offering the most competent and thorough representation possible.

Among the advantages that Akin can offer clients working in Africa are: counsel with experience of living and working throughout the continent; English and U.S. law knowledge; broad-gauged investment, financial, policy and transactional experience in Africa; an understanding of the region’s political climates and the ability to navigate legal obstacles in conjunction with strong networks of proven local counsel; and in-depth familiarity with multilateral lending institutions as well as central banks. Our clients include major national and private enterprises in the energy, infrastructure, retail, health and technology sectors, among others.

The services we offer both Africa-based and international clients include fund formation, structuring and investments, capital markets, mergers & acquisitions (M&A), financial restructurings, debt finance, specials situations & private credit, securities and derivative transactions, banking & finance, energy & natural resource development, international trade matters, international regulatory advice (including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)) and arbitration & litigation matters.

Our pro bono practice also leverages the experience, knowledge and passion of our lawyers, advisors and business services personnel to maximize access to justice, community development and the rule of law for clients throughout Africa.

Representative Matters

Advised VIP II Blue BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vitol Investment Partnership II Ltd (VIP II), in its $2.3-billion takeover of Vivo Energy Plc by way of scheme of arrangement.
Advised Helios Investment Partners, the largest Africa-focused private investment firm, on the completion of the sale of Solevo, a leading African distributor of specialty chemicals, to Development Partners International (DPI).
Advised the European development finance institutions British International Investment, Norfund and Finnfund on the subscription agreements for their $200-million investment in the African Forestry Impact Platform (AFIP).

Advised Admaius Capital Partners as the lead investor in the $100-million investment in MFS Africa, the largest digital payments network in Africa.
Advised Africa Capitalworks in its significant equity investment in Dorman Long Engineering (DLE), an international engineering company operating across the oil & gas, telecoms and energy industries, offering high-value engineering services, fabrication, asset management and galvanizing services.
Advised the parent company of an Egyptian telecoms company in relation to a $15-billion treaty arbitration against Algeria concerning certain telecoms assets.
Advised a Gulf state-owned company in relation to $22-million English litigation concerning non-completion of the purchase of assets in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Advised VEON Ltd. in relation to the $2.6-billion disposal by its Egyptian-listed subsidiary Global Telecom Holding (GTH) of a 51% stake in Orascom Telecom Algérie, the leading Algerian mobile telecommunication operator to the Algerian National Investment Fund.
Advised Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) outside of the oil & gas sector, in connection with the Republic of Guinea’s largest-ever project financing for a greenfield mining project. The $1.6-billion deal represents a step forward for EGA’s bauxite mining project and for Guinea’s economy.
Advised the ad hoc committee of bondholders on the financial difficulties of African Minerals Limited, a minerals exploration, development and mining company with significant interests in Sierra Leone.
Advised Emerging Capital Partners (ECP), the first private equity group to raise more than $1.8 billion for investment in companies across the African continent, in its majority-stake investment in Java House Nairobi, Kenya’s leading café and casual dining restaurant operator.