Bertrand Montembault

Bertrand is a partner based in our Paris office. Bertrand is an experienced projects and corporate lawyer with knowledge in Francophone Africa. Bertrand has over 30 years of experience helping clients on various aspects of their operations and projects in Francophone Africa, mainly in the energy and natural resources sectors. He lived and worked in Gabon for two years prior to joining the firm and has an excellent knowledge of Francophone Africa's local and regional legal and regulatory systems, including OHADA and CEMAC, and a strong network of local contacts. Bertrand was ranked in 12th position of Jeune Afrique's Top 100 Legal Powerlist of the most influential lawyers in French-speaking Africa in 2022. Chambers Global has recognised Bertrand as a leading lawyer for Africa-wide Projects & Energy since 2014 and he is also ranked by Chambers Global for Africa-wide Corporate & Commercial: OHADA professionals. Bertrand is based in Paris but has also worked in South Africa – spending two years in our Johannesburg office in 2016-2018 – and Gabon, where he was based for over two years in the early part of his career when he worked in the Libreville office of a leading global tax and audit company. Bertrand is a member of the Association of International Energy Negotiators and AFDEN (French Association for Energy Law), and a former honorary associate of the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy at Dundee University. He also lectures regularly at various universities and schools. He is a native French speaker and speaks English fluently.

For additional information on Bertrand’s professional background, please visit: https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/our-people/b/bertrand-montembault