Projects & Energy | Global

This is a renowned team with a strong project finance practice, frequently advising major regional and international development finance institutions (DFIs) and banks on syndicated finance transactions in Africa. The team is notably active on the financing of mining and oil and gas projects, with extensive project development experience, including the negotiation of EPC contracts. A formidable presence in power projects with considerable experience acting for lenders, sponsors and developers, the firm holds additional expertise in infrastructure, wind, hydro and thermal. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

A leader in the African projects and energy market, Clifford Chance demonstrates top-drawer capability in power, oil and gas, infrastructure and mining. The group is highly adept in supporting sponsors and lenders through the design, building, financing and operation of projects across the continent. Its lawyers possess notable expertise in novel IPP and power mandates across the full array of renewable energy areas, from hydropower to wind, solar and geothermal. The department is also frequently mandated on corporate matters, commercial agreements and international disputes, including significant matters handled on behalf of major mining houses. With key strengths in its Paris and London offices, the firm's clientele includes lenders, sponsors, development finance institutions and major global corporations.

Linklaters operates an outstanding practice group that is often mandated on major transactions by all types of project parties, including some of Africa's largest project financing matters. The firm advises sponsors and lenders on high-profile energy and infrastructure projects as well as handling a range of related corporate matters. Linklaters possesses significant strength in oil and gas, acting on a number of large-scale upstream and LNG projects. Additionally, the team advises on notable mining and renewables mandates. Demonstrating a strong presence in the anglophone, francophone and lusophone markets, the practice is bolstered by the firm's extensive network across the continent, most significantly by its alliance with Webber Wentzel in South Africa.

White & Case operates a prominent energy and projects group with impressive capabilities across Africa. The firm applies its extensive energy expertise to the financing and development of significant mining projects, frequently acting as counsel to lenders and sponsors. It is further sought after for its experience advising on high-profile oil and gas matters, covering complex finance and commercial issues particularly in the LNG space. Regularly instructed on infrastructure and power projects, the team frequently assists with various commercial advisory and transactional issues stemming from such work, including private equity investments. Key hubs for the firm's African projects team include London, Paris and Johannesburg.

Gide Loyrette Nouel is a strong French law firm with an enviable presence in francophone Africa. An established name in the representation of state-owned companies, the group is sought after for its representation of private sponsors and developers in energy projects and infrastructure developments concerning ports and municipal services. It is regularly instructed on high-profile renewable energy projects, including wind and hydroelectric power matters. The Paris-based team demonstrates a notable ability in advising Asian clients on Africa-bound investments. Its lawyers also adeptly handle instructions from national governments.

Norton Rose Fulbright operates a distinguished projects team that has deep-rooted Africa expertise and frequently acts on renewable energy and mining projects. In addition to its strength in project finance, advising development finance institutions (DFIs) and commercial lenders, it also handles sponsor-side representation and has experience assisting governments. The firm's experience spans power, telecoms, road, rail and ports, as well as maintaining a robust mining practice. The group is also active on renewable energy projects, including wind and solar, as well as on sustainable bond mandates. The team demonstrates broad coverage across the continent, with key offices in Johannesburg and Casablanca as well as Paris and London.

Trinity International is a stellar boutique with an eminent reputation for early-phase development work across Africa. The firm demonstrates a strong commitment to the continent and is frequently mandated to act for sponsors on innovative IPPs and projects in the renewables sector, including solar, hydro, wind and geothermal. Its further areas of expertise include distribution networks and integrated grid projects. The team is also sought out by governments for advice on energy sector development and is increasingly acting for lenders, including development finance institutions (DFIs) and commercial banks. In addition to its market-leading power practice, the firm is also increasingly active in mining and oil and gas. Its offices are located in London, Paris and Washington, DC.

Hogan Lovells is a well-recognised multinational law firm with a well-respected projects practice in Africa. It represents several clients in the oil and gas sector, offering advice on production-sharing contracts, entry into new African markets and various strategic investments. The team is also active assisting with the financing for the construction of significant solar and hydropower projects. The firm typically staffs African projects matters out of its London, Paris and Johannesburg offices. The transactional team is well supported by the firm's disputes lawyers when it comes to contentious issues arising out of energy sector investments.

Hunton Andrews Kurth is an established name well known for its representation of governments and state utilities in power sector development and strategy, notably involving the rollout of IPP frameworks. The team has keen experience in the renewables space, including off-grid energy matters. The firm demonstrates particular expertise in power purchase agreements, as well as acting for international financial institutions on their involvement in state-run programmes across Africa. With further experience in infrastructure and PPP mandates, as well as project financing and O&M concessions, the team demonstrates strong a geographic reach across the continent, with particular activity in East and West Africa.

Mayer Brown maintains a distinguished mining practice across Africa. The team is also recognised for its representation of banks and financial institutions in various financing and development mandates relating to renewable, hydropower and LNG projects. Additionally, the firm's expertise extends to energy-related disputes. The group is adept at handling corporate matters on behalf of petrochemical companies, as well as advising a long list of sponsors and governments on project development. The team draws on its global network to support clients across anglophone, francophone and lusophone Africa.

ASAFO wins increasing recognition for its energy and infrastructure practice, which offers pan-African expertise through its network of regional offices and is often sought out by governmental bodies, international sponsors and developers. The team is active across a suite of renewable power projects, including significant hydroelectric developments, and supports clients on a broad array of developmental and operational mining mandates across western and central Africa. Its lawyers are further noted for their capacity to assist institutional investors in connection with infrastructure finance.

Baker McKenzie houses a respected projects and infrastructure team that is well versed in the gamut of contractual matters including PPAs and EPCs. With lawyers active out of the firm's Cairo, Paris and Johannesburg offices, the department often acts for regional banks, development funds and mining companies. The group has excellent experience in IPP programmes, particularly in South Africa.

Bowmans is a renowned South African law firm with a network of offices and affiliates across southern African jurisdictions and extending to Kenya and Tanzania. Its lawyers handle all aspects of project development, ranging from infrastructure PPP tenders to IPP financing and power plant maintenance. The department acts on transport and social infrastructure mandates, with a particularly sophisticated renewable energy practice assisting with various hydroelectric, solar and wind energy projects.

Covington & Burling possesses strength in both sponsor and developer-side work in the renewable energy sector, advising on the development, financing and construction of wind farms, thermal power projects, hydropower stations and solar projects. The firm also offers expertise in infrastructure projects in the water, mining and transport sectors, and is active on a number of gas and coal power plant developments, with notable involvement in South Africa's IPP procurement programmes. With notable strength in both northern and southern Africa, the Africa projects team principally operates out of its Johannesburg and London offices.

DLA Piper has a widespread network across Africa. Its growing Africa-focused projects group is led by partners based in the UK and South Africa, with the team frequently acting as lenders' counsel on the financing of major renewable energy, oil and gas, infrastructure and mining projects. In addition to transactional work, the firm is also well placed to offer advice on regulatory matters within the energy and mining sectors. Its work as international counsel is complemented by local counsel roles in jurisdictions across anglophone, francophone and lusophone Africa.

ENS is a well-regarded regional law firm with impressive reach across Africa, possessing offices in Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Mauritius, among other countries. The firm is a popular choice of counsel for energy and infrastructure projects in southern and eastern Africa in particular, with experience advising on renewable energy projects. The group frequently advises lenders and sponsors on cross-border transactions, servicing its clients seamlessly through the cooperation of its network of offices. The firm is instructed as both local counsel and lead counsel on various mandates.

King & Spalding demonstrates significant oil and gas expertise, handling large-scale LNG projects and oilfield developments for major private and publicly owned oil companies. The practice further assists with M&A in the sector, as well as joint ventures and other commercial agreements. The department runs matters from its Houston, London and Paris offices and is especially prominent in North Africa, with an increasing presence on energy projects in sub-Saharan Africa. Its lawyers are also equipped to handle disputes and power plant developments, with notable experience in gas IPP programmes.

Addleshaw Goddard has substantial experience advising developers on bids for the construction of solar projects across Africa. This is complemented by its frequent assistance to government ministries on regulatory and legislative issues underpinning project development. The firm is also highly experienced in matters relating to the acquisition and sale of carbon credits, and in M&A transactions within the oil and gas industry.

Bird & Bird fields a compact projects team in Paris which is noted for its longstanding involvement in finance and development mandates across francophone Africa. Its counsel is often sought in relation to solar energy projects, as well as in relation to the construction of crucial infrastructure such as dams and ports. The London office is noteworthy for its provision of transactional advice to various Africa-focused mining and energy companies, including with regard to mergers and potential takeovers, as well as providing assistance with day-to-day corporate governance.

CMS has an expansive international footprint, with an on-the-ground presence in several African countries. These offices are supported on projects matters by numerous others across the firm's network. The firm's work covers finance and development mandates, with a notably strong track record in southern and lusophone Africa. The firm is also well versed in assisting oil and gas companies with the acquisition of hydrocarbon assets.

Dentons is a prominent international law firm with a broad footprint of affiliate offices across Africa. It has particularly notable strengths in its Johannesburg office, with further expertise spread across its global network. Well versed in energy and infrastructure mandates, and advising on an array of development and financing issues, such as procurement and transmission, resource licensing and PPAs, as well as EPC contracts, the team possesses additional expertise in oil and gas, including in relation to energy regulations.

Miranda & Associados is highly respected for its lusophone expertise and multi-jurisdictional capabilities, with a network of offices and affiliates across southern Africa. The firm also possesses expertise in francophone Africa with associated offices in Cameroon, Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire and the Republic of Congo. Its lawyers are frequently instructed as both international and local counsel on oil and gas transactions and developments, as well as regulatory and concession issues. The team has additional experience in renewable power plant projects, as well as infrastructure matters.

VdA is a well-established Portuguese law firm that possesses considerable expertise in lusophone Africa, most significantly in Angola and Mozambique, including with regard to large cross-continental projects. It also has further strength advising on matters arising in francophone jurisdictions. The group possesses a significant presence in the oil and gas sector, where it represents major international companies and development banks. In addition to providing counsel on development and financing mandates, the group also handles an array of regulatory and M&A work.

Watson Farley & Williams has a growing African projects team drawing principally on the expertise of lawyers based in Dubai, London, Paris and Frankfurt. It has broad capabilities, advising on the acquisition of hydrocarbon assets and project finance as well as a variety of corporate and commercial mandates pertinent to this field, including the formation of joint ventures. Its activity spans the continent, with recent work originating in countries as diverse as Namibia, Somalia, Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire.

Webber Wentzel is a well-reputed South African law firm noted for its deft handling of energy and natural resources matters in southern Africa. The team is well versed in all aspects of projects, from structuring and financing to development and operation, as well as handling acquisitions and dispositions. The firm is particularly regarded for its work on mining projects, including power supply and transmission connection agreements. The department demonstrates further expertise in renewable energy projects and subsequent front-end construction matters.