Banking & Finance | Global

Baker McKenzie's London and Paris offices both have a strong track record in trade and development finance. The firm often acts for blue-chip commercial lenders based in North America, Europe and Asia, and is also a frequent counsel to multilaterals. Its comprehensive international network includes offices in Casablanca, Cairo and Johannesburg, all of which are well placed to provide support on major cross-border matters. The firm is active across the continent, with recent experience relating to jurisdictions such as Nigeria, Angola and Tunisia.

Clifford Chance maintains an excellent African finance practice. It is notable for its frequent roles acting on behalf of major commercial lenders and development finance institutions, in addition to sovereign governments and borrowers active in a variety of economic sectors. The practice is centred in London with the support of numerous offices across the firm's international network. Clifford Chance is also notable for the standout banking expertise of its Casablanca office, which regularly handles market-leading deals in Morocco.

White & Case has considerable experience in representing sovereign states in finance work, as well as in acting for export credit agencies, development finance institutions and various commercial lenders. It is well versed in issues relating to the provision of term loans and revolving credit facilities, and is active on such deals throughout Africa. The firm's African finance practice is largely run from London, but with the frequent support of partners based in Johannesburg, Dubai and Cairo. In addition to its lender-side work, lawyers within the team are regularly called upon to advise borrowers operating in sectors such as oil and gas.

The Africa group at Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) is well versed in term loans and revolving credit facilities. It also frequently acts as counsel on acquisition finance matters in sectors such as telecoms and oil and gas. Another area of strength is reserve-based lending. The Africa finance practice is composed of highly experienced lawyers based in London and Paris, with HSF's well-established presence in Johannesburg a frequent benefit on cross-border files.

Hogan Lovells is noted for its deep expertise in trade and development finance work. It has a comprehensive practice that offers regular counsel to sovereign governments and development finance institutions, and which is well regarded by other prominent players in the market. In addition to its capabilities in this arena, Hogan Lovells has an impressive aviation finance group that is regularly involved in African transactions. The firm's London office acts as a hub for the practice, with further experience located in Paris and numerous other offices worldwide.

Linklaters is active on a range of financing work in Africa, principally calling upon the skills of partners based in London and Milan. It frequently advises commercial and development banks on their lending agreements with African sovereigns, and is also consistently active on financings in the mining sector. South Africa is a key market for the firm, and Linklaters is noted for its long-standing association with leading South African law firm Webber Wentzel. Additionally, the Dubai and Riyadh offices of Linklaters are regularly active on financings involving borrowers in Egypt.

A&O Shearman is well known for its strong global banking practice, with its London team regularly advising commercial lenders on transactions involving African borrowers. It frequently handles term loans and syndicated financing arrangements, as well as trade finance matters. The firm is additionally noted for its strong project finance practice and its market-leading Casablanca office.

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 many key jurisdictions. In addition to advising on term loans and revolving credit facilities, the firm is noted for its complementary expertise in restructuring.

ENS has well-established offices in several key markets across Africa, with especially notable banking capabilities in South Africa, Kenya and Mauritius. It regularly advises on revolving credit facilities and trade finance agreements, and is also notable for its experience in counselling clients with regard to local financial services licensing requirements. The market-leading restructuring team in South Africa is also worthy of note.

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has a multidisciplinary African finance group, calling principally on the expertise of partners based in London, Paris and Dubai. It is active on a variety of asset finance, trade finance and reserve-based lending mandates, and is often seen acting for financial institutions, including multilaterals. Other clients include commodity trading companies. The firm's trade finance expertise is complemented by experience in handling commodities trading disputes.