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Herbert Smith Freehills
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Projects & Energy: Mining & Minerals

About

Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills

Our premium Africa practice has been built over 30 years and is serviced by partners from across our global network of offices, including Johannesburg.

Our Africa group comprises a multidisciplinary team of industry experts with one of the largest teams of common and civil law lawyers dedicated almost exclusively to Africa work, many of who are singled out by industry benchmarks for their projects and energy expertise.

With experience advising in all of Africa's 54 jurisdictions and across all key industry sectors, we have a thorough understanding of the continent's local and regional legal systems, business practices, local cultures and socio-political considerations, and of the issues and realities of doing business in Africa. We have also built strong relationships with local counsel and other local players and authorities.

Recent work highlights include advising Poly-GCL on the development of the Ethiopia-Djibouti gas to LNG mega project; EDF, IFC and the Government of Cameroon on the development of the Nachtigal hydropower project in Cameroon; Meridiam on its solar power projects in Senegal; B2Gold on various matters arising from the development of its Fekola gold projet in Mali; Southern Africa Power Pool Coordination Centre in relation to the BOSA transmission line; and Tullow Oil and its joint venture partners on the development of a pipeline connecting crude oil discoveries in the South Lokichar Basin in Kenya to export from Lamu port.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Projects & Energy: Mining & Minerals - Africa-wide

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Herbert Smith Freehills operates a formidable projects and energy group with eminent expertise in mining and infrastructure mandates. The group applies its profound knowledge to such matters as joint venture projects, acting for sponsors as well as investors. Further esteemed for its work in the power sector, and notably advising on high-profile renewable energy projects, the team has expertise that extends to knowledge of upstream and midstream oil and gas developments. The firm harnesses the Africa expertise in its Paris office to provide a distinguished francophone offering which is enhanced through its presence on the ground via its office in Johannesburg, as well as through the depth of its projects group in London.

Work Highlights

Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills

  • Herbert Smith Freehills advised Emirates Global Aluminium and Guinea Alumina on a wide range of issues arising from their bauxite mining operations in Guinea, including corporate, finance and commercial contract matters.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

They have real depth of experience in that part of the world and in this type of work.

Projects & Energy: Mining & Minerals respondent
Global

They offer very prompt and helpful advice, with a very professional level of service.

Projects & Energy: Mining & Minerals respondent
Global

We regularly make use of their advice; we like working with them because they understand the business.

Projects & Energy: Mining & Minerals respondent
Global

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

2
Bertrand Montembault
2
Band 2
Paris-based Bertrand Montembault has significant experience advising on projects throughout francophone Africa. He is particularly highlighted for the depth of his knowledge in the mining sector, with further experience in oil and gas.

He is very professional and very good.

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2
Martin Kavanagh
2
Band 2

Martin Kavanagh operates out of London, advising on the development and financing of projects in the energy sector. He is often called upon to act on lender-side mandates, with expertise concerning renewable energy as well as oil and gas projects.

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2
Rebecca Major
2
Band 2
Rebecca Major is respected for her handling of transactional and development work in the energy sector in Africa. Predominantly recognised for her upstream oil and gas expertise, she also assists clients with acquisitions, dispositions and corporate restructuring in the mining and power spaces. She is based in Paris.

She has a broad practice and has a good overview of all the parts of the project.

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Brigette Baillie
3
Brigette Baillie
3
Band 3
Brigette Baillie is widely respected for her command of project finance mandates. She assists with mining, energy and infrastructure project development and financing, with further expertise in transactional matters. She works on matters across Africa from the firm's Johannesburg office.

She's a seasoned project legal counsellor. She understands infrastructure and not just from a legal perspective, but also in terms of our business and what's required under the PPP format.

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3
Nina Bowyer
3
Band 3

EMEA managing partner and Africa practice co-head Nina Bowyer ably handles upstream oil and gas mandates on behalf of significant international organisations active across northern and western Africa. She is based in Paris.

She's very highly thought of.

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Ranked Lawyers at
Herbert Smith Freehills

Provided by Chambers
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Africa-wide

Project Finance
Brigette Baillie
3
Brigette Baillie
3
Band 3
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3
Martin Kavanagh
3
Band 3
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Projects & Energy
2
Bertrand Montembault
2
Band 2
View Profile
2
Martin Kavanagh
2
Band 2
View Profile
2
Rebecca Major
2
Band 2
View Profile
3
Nina Bowyer
3
Band 3
View Profile
Brigette Baillie
4
Brigette Baillie
4
Band 4
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Members

Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills

Christophe Lefort

Leila Hubeaut

Miguel Riano

Peter Leon

Clients

Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills

B2Gold

BP

CNOOC Uganda

EDF

ENGIE

IFC

KOGAS

Meridiam

Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

Perenco

Sumitomo Corporation

Tullow Oil

Vitol SA

Industries

Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills

Infrastructure

Mining

Oil & Gas

Power (Including Renewables)

Transport