Banking & Finance
Global Guide 2024 : Africa-wide
Spotlight
About
Provided by Baker McKenzie
In addition to over 100 lawyers based in our local African offices (Cairo, Casablanca and Johannesburg), our clients are supported by Africa specialists from across our global network of 77 offices, and our network of African Relationship Firms.
Our global platform is unmatched, giving our team unrivalled access to industry experts across the globe. Given the ever-increasing cross border nature of Banking & Finance deals, we believe our firm is better equipped than many of our competitors to effectively provide legal solutions for clients.
The team is well renowned for its strong presence in bank-to-bank syndicated lending in Africa. We are also legal counsel of choice in multiple Export Finance and Structured Trade Finance transactions for key financial institutions in Africa. We have led the way on many key financings in both the private sector and to state owned entities in key jurisdictions.
We have extensive experience in the financial sector advising national development financial institutions, multi-lateral development banks and export credit agencies on a wide range of transactions including acquisition finance, restructuring and insolvency, derivatives, project finance, financial services regulation, securitisation and capital markets.
The focus of our practice group is trade finance, export finance, project finance, bank-to-bank lending, acquisition finance and specialist work for impact investors such as development finance institutions and export credit agencies.
Chambers Review
Baker McKenzie's London and Paris offices both have a strong track record in trade and development finance. The firm often acts for blue-chip commercial lenders based in North America, Europe and Asia, and is also a frequent counsel to multilaterals and African sovereign states. Its comprehensive international network includes offices in Casablanca, Cairo and Johannesburg, all of which are well placed to provide support on major cross-border matters. The firm is active across the continent, with recent experience relating to jurisdictions such as Nigeria, Angola and Tunisia.
Work Highlights
- Baker McKenzie advised the agents (Sumitomo Mitsui Banking and MUFG Bank) on the provision of USD400 million in loan facilities to Africa Export-Import Bank, for the intended purposes of strengthening the medical and healthcare infrastructure across Africa, as well as providing support for the continent's ongoing economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Baker McKenzie's knowledge of both the borrower requirements, and those of the export credit agencies and development finance institutions, has been instrumental in untangling complex negotiations."
"Their ability to think outside the box is exceptional, and the partners are always available to help."
"Baker McKenzie's knowledge of both the borrower requirements, and those of the export credit agencies and development finance institutions, has been instrumental in untangling complex negotiations."
"Their ability to think outside the box is exceptional, and the partners are always available to help."
Notable Practitioners
Luka Lightfoot is a London-based partner who is often mandated on Africa-related export and trade finance transactions. His regular clients include a number of leading global investment banks.
"Luka is great in the advice he provides. He's always practical, and his knowledge of the client and the jurisdiction is critical in closing a transaction."
"He's good to work with and has a lot of sector knowledge."
Michael Foundethakis is global head of the project, trade and export finance group within Baker McKenzie and is based in Paris. He has extensive experience advising on Africa-related mandates and maintains a number of long-term client relationships in the finance sector.
"Michael is extremely well regarded by our institution and well known for his commercial and solution-driven approach to legal issues. Within our organisation he is considered the go-to guy from a legal advisory perspective."
"Michael is extremely commercial and his focus is on ensuring execution and getting the deal done. Michael's structuring expertise is excellent and his knowledge of the law is superb."
"Michael is exceptional in his level of support and advice on how to deliver a transaction, sometimes against some fairly challenging time lines. He's always available and his knowledge is extremely helpful."