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 on deals across Africa, with recent experience relating to jurisdictions such as Nigeria and Angola.

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 representing export credit agencies, development finance institutions and commercial lenders on Africa-related transactions. 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.

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.

The Africa group at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer 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 the firm'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 and Paris offices act as hubs for the practice, with further experience located in Dubai 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.

Norton Rose's African lending work has a strong emphasis on the telecoms sector, with a team that has acted on a wealth of acquisition finance mandates in this sphere. The firm also advises on trade and development finance, where it has experience concerning social impact loans. The core banking and finance team is well supported by a strong debt capital markets practice which has significant experience advising on sustainability bonds. Clients of the firm further benefit from access to Norton Rose's well-established office in Morocco, as well as its strategic alliances with law firms in Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Burundi.

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 key African 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 finance capabilities in South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Mauritius. It regularly advises on revolving credit facilities and trade finance agreements, with additional expertise in acquisition finance. The market-leading restructuring team in South Africa is also worthy of note, as is the firm's strong standing in project finance and associated project development matters.

Watson Farley & Williams 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. The firm's trade finance expertise is complemented by experience handling commodities trading disputes.