Department profile
Bowmans

Banking & Finance

Global Guide 2026 : Africa-wide

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Bowmans

About

Provided by Bowmans

Our active presence in key African jurisdictions and deep relationships across the continent allow us to offer seamless cross-border solutions. These advantages also afford us an unrivaled understanding of the requirements for local and cross-border funding transactions.

The members of our integrated team specialise in complex domestic and cross-border finance transactions and have extensive knowledge of leveraged and acquisition finance, structured finance, capital markets, projects and infrastructure, real estate finance, trade and export finance, commodities finance, derivatives, securitisation, preference share finance, subordinated debt and insolvency and restructuring.

We have become the trusted advisers to many of the leading African and international  sponsors, alternative capital providers, corporate and investment banks, financial institutions, funds, venture capital providers, corporate borrowers, state-owned entities, regulatory bodies, governments and insolvency and business rescue practitioners.

Our specialist expertise include:

  • Acquisition finance
  • Asset finance
  • Commodities finance
  • Corporate finance
  • ECIC export credit finance
  • Leveraged finance
  • Mining and resource finance
  • Preference share funding
  • Real estate finance
  • Secured lending
  • Structured finance
  • Subordinated and mezzanine funding
  • Syndicated finance
  • Trade/ commodity finance
  • Venture capital

Clients (10)

  • Cell C Ltd
  • The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited
  • Stanbic Africa Holdings Limited
  • Peermont Global
  • The African Development Bank
  • Citigroup
  • Government of Kenya (Office of the Attorney General)
  • Standard Chartered Bank Plc
  • Real People Investment Holdings
  • Gold One Group Limited

Industries (20)

  • Automobiles & Parts
  • Banks
  • Charities / Not for Profit
  • Commercial & Professional Services
  • Construction & Materials
  • Consumer Product Manufacturing
  • Energy
  • Financial Services
  • Food & Drink Producers
  • Government
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Mining & Metals
  • Real Estate Finance
  • Real Estate
  • Software & Computer Services
  • Technology, Hardware & Electronics
  • Telecommunications
  • Transportation
  • Utilities

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Banking & Finance - Africa-wide

Band 3

What the Team is Known For

Bowmans is a leading African law firm that is especially noted for the banking and finance prowess of its offices in South Africa, Kenya and Mauritius. These teams regularly collaborate together on multi-jurisdictional matters. It has extensive experience spanning the full gamut of the practice area, and is regularly sought out by international law firms to act as local counsel in key African jurisdictions. In addition to advising on term loans and revolving credit facilities, the firm is noted for its complementary expertise in restructuring.

Notable practitioners

Key contacts include Ulrike Naumann in South Africa, Gilles Athaw in Mauritius and Cornelius Kigera in Kenya.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • A Bowmans team in South Africa assisted Standard Bank with a USD200 million loan facility provided to Vodacom Condo in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Bowmans provides deep advice relating to new ways of looking at financing frameworks, such as FinTech.

    Banking & Finance respondentGlobal

  • Bowmans provides very high quality, consistent and reliable advice.

    Banking & Finance respondentGlobal

  • The quality of work, professionalism and ability to understand client needs are the highlights of Bowmans' involvement on any deal.

    Banking & Finance respondentGlobal

Members

Provided by Bowmans

  • Phetole Modika

  • Paras Shah

  • Jason Wilkinson

  • Ulrike Naumann

  • Kamami Christine Michira

  • Jan Kruger

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