Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Banking & Finance - Africa-wide
What the Team is Known For
Cleary Gottlieb has a well-developed Africa practice principally run from Paris. Its work has a notable emphasis on francophone Africa, typically representing sovereign states and state-owned entities. This focus is strongly evidenced in its finance work, with the firm active on a variety of high-value credit facilities. Restructuring and Islamic financing are notable specialist areas of experience for the team.
Strengths
The Cleary team stands out for its availability, diligence and client care.
Cleary pay attention to the interests and specificities of their clients. They are very experienced and bring their experience to every deal. They are highly competent and knowledgeable.
Work Highlights
Cleary Gottlieb acted for the Republic of Chad, and its national oil company, on the restructuring of its public debt, which in turn enabled the continuation of an extended credit facility programme.
Notable practitioners
Paris-based Barthélemy Faye heads the Africa group within Cleary. He has a wide-ranging practice, spanning M&A, finance, capital markets and project development. He is particularly noted for his work on behalf of francophone African governments.
Barthélemy Faye is a very senior guy who is very wise, well connected and knowledgeable about the market.
Barthélemy Faye is an exceptional sovereign lawyer who is extremely dedicated to protecting the interests of governments in Africa. He is highly regarded by government officials.
Christophe Wauters is based in the Brussels office of Cleary Gottlieb, where he has amassed considerable experience in advising sovereign governments throughout francophone Africa on various finance-related matters.
He is deeply involved, very experienced and very good at what he does.
Christophe Wauters has an exceptional capacity to negotiate detailed lending provisions without losing sight of the broader picture of a deal. He has great judgement on opportunity versus cost.