CLG

Firm Details:

Chief Executive Officer & Managing Partner: Zion Adeoye

Country Head: Manuel Oliviera

Number of partners: 3

Number of lawyers: 29

Languages: Afrikaans, English, French, German, Hebrew, Igbo, Portuguese, Shona, Spanish, Swahili, Setswana, Zulu

Firm Overview:

CLG formerly Centurion Law Group is a trailblazing legal firm renowned for its innovative and flexible approach to meeting the diverse needs of its clients. With a global presence and a team of dynamic professionals, CLG is committed to providing comprehensive support across a broad spectrum of professional services.

At CLG, we understand that every client is unique, which is why we tailor our solutions to meet individual and organizational needs. Our innovative approach allows us to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, ensuring that our clients always receive the most effective support.

From project financing and infrastructure to taxation and regulatory compliance, our team experts is equipped to support initiatives across the entire energy value chain. With strategic offices throughout Africa, including Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Congo, we are ideally positioned to handle cross-border transactions and complex energy deals that foster growth and innovation across the continent.

Why Choose CLG?

·Multidisciplinary Expertise: Our services encompass energy law, natural resources, corporate and commercial law, dispute resolution, regulatory compliance,and more.

·Strategic Guidance: We offer unparalleled insights into Africa's unique regulatory environments, empowering our clients to thrive in dynamic market.

·Local Knowledge, Global Reach: We merge deep local expertise with global standards to deliver impactful results.

Main Areas of Practice:

Corporate & Commercial:

• Advised a US utility in the structuring of a USD 2 billion stranded cost bond financing (including legislative, lobbying and structured finance transactional matters) in an African country
• Represented an American provider of commercial cleaning, sanitation and hygiene solutions in distribution agreements contracts in Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and Ghana
• Advised one of the world’s largest multinational food suppliers in connection with trademarks and intellectual property issues in Africa

Mining, Energy & Resources, Oil & Gas:

• Acted as Legal Adviser to the Ministry of Mines & Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea in the successful negotiation and execution of Government-to-Government Agreements regulating cooperation in the field of oil & gas, between Equatorial Guinea and the Governments of South Sudan, Uganda and Ghana
• Facilitated the successful entry and subsequent membership of Equatorial Guinea, as a member state of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting countries (OPEC)
• Successfully negotiated and signed a Unitization Agreement and Unit Operating Agreement between several oil majors in Equatorial Guinea
• Advised a multinational exploration and production company on crude oil supply in Equatorial Guinea

Banking & Finance:

• Advised an international bank on the construction financing and related matters of a major development project in Equatorial Guinea.
• Advised a Big Four accounting firm with regard to VAT and other tax issues

Public Law - Government Procurement & Contracts:

• Provided advice on the implementation of new and existing construction/reconstruction projects for government centers, office buildings, hotels, and industrial facilities, as well as the structuring of real estate transactions in a number of international investment projects being implemented in Equatorial Guinea, involving a very active role in negotiations with the local government and authorities.

Legislative Drafting:

• Advising the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea on the drafting of new mining legislation
• Advising the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea on local content regulation reform

Labour & Employment:

• Advised a technological leader in oil and gas products and services headquartered in the US on Equatorial Guinean employment regulations
• Advised a number of oil and gas service companies on employment law with a focus on restructuring overflow staff, adapting work places, modifying remuneration agreements and agreed pay scale classifications, among other issues

Tax & Customs:

• Represented an international oil and gas company in a dispute over the application of a special tax rate under a production sharing contract. The team won the dispute despite unpromising previous case law on the issue
• Advised various major international companies on how to apply the Equatorial Guinean tax regime within the scope of a production sharing contract, with a view to overcoming unhelpful case law trends
• Represented and defended an international oilfield services company in courts against a substantial claim by a state agency
• Advised a Big Four accounting firm with regard to the application of VAT and other tax issues in Equatorial Guinea

Immigration:

• Multinational Visa Applications: We assisted multinational corporations in obtaining visas and work permits across the CEMAC region for large-scale expansion projects. This involved coordinating with various governments to streamline the process and avoid delays that would otherwise impact the business timelines.

Telecommunications:

• Advised on and reviewed the Interactive Digital Centre (IDC) Hub Master Agreement for the establishment of a Virtual Learning Centre between the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality and EON USA.

Competition:

• Advised clients on competition law compliance, conducted competition law audits, compliance review, and drafted legal opinions on various competition law topics.

Construction:

• Negotiated field service agreements, such as the repair and reconstruction of oil wells and advising seismic, drilling, environmental and other specialty service contractors
• Advised an international bank on the construction financing of a major development project in Equatorial Guinea

Arbitration & Commercial Litigation:

• Appearance on behalf of clients before various administrative tribunals
• Represented and defended a major oilfield services company in the first and appellate instance courts in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea against a claim of a former contractor

Anti-Corruption Advisory:

• With a strong and in-depth knowledge of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), UK Anti Bribery Act and other international anti-corruption instruments, Centurion LLP’’s lawyers train, advise and represent companies on anti-corruption-related matters in most African markets. Centurion LLP advises on in-house counsel and foreign law firms on conducting internal investigations and have extensive trial experience involving civil and criminal cases.