With the foreign international law firms tapping into the rich vein of mandates in Africa, it would be remiss for us not to ask if African law firms are actually getting a fair share of the instructions. As Africa takes centre stage in the development strategies of many international law firms, with a range of high profile appointments and promotions at Allen & Overy, Freshfields, Hogan Lovells, Holman Fenwick Willan and Fieldfisher, Norton Rose Fulbright, Baker & Mckenzie, this is a legitimate question to ask. It is undeniable that some African firms have benefitted from working alongside some of these foreign international law firms, with Linklaters (working alongside Udo Udoma & Belo Osagie) and Clifford Chance (working alongside Aluko & Oyebode) advising on Seven Energy International’s refinancing deal worth USD 445 million. Linklaters also recently advised a consortium of lenders on the 18-year financing of a USD 2.6 billion, 1,386 MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired independent power station near the port of Safi in Morocco. Thanks to its Webber Wentzel links, it is also advising the South African government on its 5000MW renewable energy programme.
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