Kinshasa
Nouakchott
Local expertise, International standards
About Us
Depth of knowledge
Diamantis & Partners was set up as a law firm dedicated to energy and infrastructure projects worldwide, with a focus on emerging markets in general and Africa in particular. It brings together complementary expertises, legal but also strategic. Law is a technical knowledge, but it is also the reflect of thought, of culture, and of power dynamics, deeply rooted in local politics and local history. Having a knowledge which goes further than law is often a valuable advantage.
Plurality of expertises
Our team consists of complementary profiles used to working together, all of which are knowledgeable in several fields of law, allowing for a wider span of professional attention. Having the experience of litigation is in our view beneficial to the transactional practice, and likewise, having structured complex projects and having a deep sectorial understanding is also useful in the event of litigation.
International Standards
The firm’s partners have all worked in global law firms and overseas. Paris based and active in France, the team’s practice, including that of our associates, is largely international. We are used to work in various legal environments, and have a long experience working with local law firms in many jurisdictions. Some of the team’s members have more than 25 years’ experience working in emerging markets.
Local Expertise
Through our two independent offices in Kinshasa (DRC) and Nouakchott (Mauritania), we are able to cover complex legal and regulatory matters across these regions, combining strong local expertise with cross-border capabilities, particularly in the mining, energy and transport infrastructure sectors.
We represent our clients directly on the ground in both jurisdictions, acting in transactional and contentious matters before local courts and administrative authorities, and handling the full spectrum of formalities, including company registrations with the GUCE, licensing processes, and representation before courts and tribunals in both the DRC and Mauritania.
Our Team
With over 40 years of experience, our attorneys have proven their ability to deliver indisputable results in a complex regional legal landscape.
Partners
Eric is a member of the Paris bar. He focuses his practice on project development and risk management and acts as an advisor to project companies as well as developers, governments, lenders, and other participants in oil and gas, mining energy and other infrastructure projects, in France and abroad, and has more than 25 years’ experience working on the Africa continent. He also regularly intervenes in international/cross-border mergers and acquisitions and has extensive and varied litigation experience, before domestic and foreign courts, with extensive experience in international arbitration (ICJ, ICSID, ICC, DIS, SIAC, AAA, UNCITRAL).
He was rapporteur for the legal working group set up by the European Commission, the World Bank, and the OECD on the protection of investments in the Mediterranean region, at the origin of the ISMED program. He was also a member of the EU-Jordan working group and the MENA working group on energy / infrastructure and infrastructure finance in Iraq set up by the OECD.
Co-founder and current President of the Euro-Mediterranean think tank Ipemed (Ipemed. coop) and member of the board of La Verticale AME, a foundation under Belgian law aimed at strengthening strategic cooperation between Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
Education
- Sciences Po ParisInstitut d’études politiques de Paris
- HEC ParisÉcole des hautes études commerciales
Languages
Jemal Taleb is a member of the Paris bar, soon to also become a member of the Nouakchott bar. His practice focuses on international litigation and business law.
Jemal began his career as a lawyer after a fifteen-year career in politics and public administration in several African countries and has practiced for almost another fifteen years in international law firms. He has extensive experience advising governments and investors, particularly in the energy and natural resources, infrastructure, and development projects sectors.
Jemal is actively involved in many organizations and regularly participates in working sessions devoted to investment and development in the Maghreb, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa. He is a member of the board of directors of IPEMED, the French Society for International Law, and the Le Gotta Noir club in France.
Education
- Sciences Po GrenobleDoctorate in European Law
- Sciences Po GrenobleDoctorate in Political Science
- Institut Technique de Banque (ITB)Finance
Languages
Pierre is a member of the Paris bar. His practice focuses on business law, both in relation to transactional matters (M&A and projects) and litigation aspects (arbitration).
Pierre devotes a large part of his activity to the hydrocarbons sector, assisting oil and gas companies in the negotiation of exploration and production sharing contracts with States or during the process of acquiring oil interests. He has in-depth knowledge of the legal, contractual and regulatory framework for oil and gas in most French-speaking African countries. Pierre also assists traders in downstream issues of importing petroleum products into non-petroleum producing countries.
Pierre originally practised business law and spent several years working extensively in the field of mergers and acquisitions and private equity, representing targets/management and investors.
He has in-depth knowledge and corporate expertise in terms of investment and/or share purchase protocols and devotes a large part of his activity to international arbitration cases. He notably represented Mauritania for four years in an ICSID arbitration.
Education
- Université Paris II Panthéon-AssasLaw degree
- Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinLL.M.
- Sorbonne UniversityDoctorate (Ph.D.)
Languages
Julien is registered at the Paris, Kinshasa and Kisangani (Tshopo) Bars, and serves as an independent board member of Mayfair Insurance Congo.
His practice focuses on the energy, mining and infrastructure sectors in the DRC, with a particular focus on complex contracts (including PPAs and concessions), regulatory matters and disputes, under both public and private law. He advises operators active in the DRC, as well as investors seeking to enter the market, across a broad range of legal services.
Julien previously worked at TotalEnergies within the natural gas and LNG business unit.
Education
- Université Paris II Panthéon-AssasLaw degree
- Université Paris X NanterreRegulation Law (Droit de la régulation)
- CHESD, KinshasaCollege of Strategy and Defence – Special Session 7
Languages
COUNSELS
Raphaël is a counsel at Diamantis & Partners, where he represents States, corporations, and individuals in investor-state and international commercial arbitration disputes as well as cross-border litigation, with a focus on energy, infrastructure, and construction industries. Raphaël also advises clients on energy and infrastructure projects worldwide.
Prior to joining Diamantis & Partners, Raphaël worked for two years as in-house counsel for a leading company in the mass transit sector. He also interned with international arbitration and project teams at several international law firms.
Jennifer Chollet
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- jchollet@diamantispartners.com
Jennifer is a member of the Kinshasa bar in the DRC, soon to also become a member of the Paris bar. Her practice focuses on business law and international litigation.
Jennifer devotes a large part of her activity in the energy and natural resources sectors, in particular in the electricity and gas production and distribution. She has in-depth knowledge of the legal, contractual and regulatory framework for electricity in most French-speaking African countries, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Republic of Congo and Angola.
Jennifer previously worked as legal counsel for over two years in a major international law firm in Paris and as intern in a major international auditing firm.
Education
- Université Catholique de LilleLaw degree
- EDHEC Business SchoolCertificate in Business Management (CAAE)
Languages
ADVISORS
Pierre is a Professor of Law at the University Paris Nanterre where he teaches public international law, the law of international responsibility, and the law of international organizations. He also acts as co-director of the Diploma in Energy Law and Major Projects. Since June 2019, he is the Director of Studies of the International Law Association.
Before entering an academic career, Pierre Bodeau-Livinec held numerous positions in the practice of international law. Between 2003 and 2006, he worked as a Legal Officer in the Legal Affairs Directorate of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2006, he joined the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, where he served until 2010 as a Legal Officer in the Codification Division.
Pierre also has strong experience in the practice of international law. He has been involved in numerous international proceedings before international courts and tribunals, in particular the ICJ, the PCA, and the ICC. He regularly acts as counsel for governments and international organizations.
Jean-Louis is a former French judge with extensive experience in counter-terrorism.
Since 1981 he has been in charge of terrorism cases. In 1995, he was appointed First Vice-President of the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris.
In this capacity, until May 2007, he was in charge of the management and coordination of the National Judicial Anti-Terrorist Unit, composed of specialised investigating judges with national jurisdiction.
He investigated numerous cases concerning Euro-terrorism, Palestinian terrorism and, above all, from 1992 onwards, most of the cases concerning Islamist terrorist organisations, the GIA, the GSPC and Al Qaeda, in particular an attempted attack in the United States in 1999 and the attacks of 11 September 2001 in conjunction with the American authorities.
He will also be in charge of important terrorist files, such as those relating to the attack on the UTA DC10 or the assassination of Chapour Bakhtiar, former Prime Minister of the Shah by the Iranian secret services and the files on the 1982 attacks attributable to Illich Ramirez Sanchez alias Carlos.
Jean-Louis Bruguière is an Officer of the Legion of Honour and Commander of the National Order of Merit. He is also holder of the Silver Medal of the Spanish Guardia Civil and received in 2007 the Dialogo Prize from the Spanish Government.
Jean-Louis Costes
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Jean-Louis Costes is a French politician who has held a number of elected offices: Member of the French National Assembly, National Secretary for Rural Affairs alongside Nicolas Sarkozy, Departmental Councillor and President of an inter-municipal body. Since 2001, he has served as Mayor of a municipality in south-western France.
After studying political science, he began his career in the private office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean François-Poncet. He then pursued a career as a senior civil servant in various positions within the French territorial administration.
For many years, he taught administrative law at the Centre National de la Fonction Publique Territoriale (CNFPT).
In recent years, he founded a public strategy consultancy that assists companies with their institutional relations, mainly on the African continent.
In 2018, together with former Socialist Secretary of State François Loncle, he launched the association Groupe de liaison des Amis de la Mauritanie, which he has chaired since 2023.
Éric Besson
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- ebesson@diamantispartners.com
Éric Besson is a French politician and former senior official. He held several ministerial positions under the presidencies of Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande in France.
Éric Besson has significant experience in the private sector. In particular, he has worked in communications and the media, holding senior positions in major companies.
Graduation: Sciences Po; École Nationale d’Administration
Office: Paris
Prof. Grégoire Bakandeja wa Mpungu is a lawyer registered with the Kinshasa-Gombe Bar, a licensed mining agent and a Professor of Law (Professor Emeritus at the University of Kinshasa).
A distinguished legal scholar and practitioner, he focuses on economic law and natural resource management. He holds a Doctorate in Economic Law from the University of Paris XII and has held prestigious academic positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Kinshasa, and has been Professor Emeritus since 2023.
Beyond academia, he has held prominent roles, such as Chairman of the Central Bank of Congo and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and has served as an arbitrator for the ICC and OHADA. His contributions have profoundly shaped legal and economic policy frameworks in Africa, with a focus on sustainable development and good governance.
Education
- Université Paris XIIDoctorate in Economic Law
Languages
Prof. Ursil Lelo is a lawyer registered with the Kinshasa-Gombe Bar, a licensed mining agent and a Professor of Law at the University of Kisangani (UNIKIS). He is also a member of the Tshopo Bar.
He served as Provincial Minister in charge of Mines, Environment and Communication in Bas-Uélé Province (2022–2024).
Focusing on economic law and sustainable development, he has headed the Interdisciplinary Laboratory on Law and Sustainable Development at UNIKIS since 2018, and is a certified trainer in OHADA business law.
Education
- Université de LouvainLaw degree
- CHESD, KinshasaCollege of Strategy and Defence – Special Session 7
Languages
Mohamed Lemine Amar
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Mohamed Lemine Amar is the Bâtonnier (President) of the Mauritanian Bar Association. He studied law in Mauritania and served as Secretary General of the Bar Council in 2015.
His practice covers business criminal law as well as corporate advisory work for companies.
He is also a former Member of Parliament, where he served as President of a parliamentary group.
Law graduation: Mauritania
Bar registration: Mauritania
Office: Nouakchott
ASSOCIATES
Quentin is an associate at Diamantis & Partners in Paris, where he assists companies, States and individuals in international commercial and investment arbitration, cross-border litigation and the enforcement of awards and judgments. His practice extends to advising on the development of energy projects, particularly in Africa.
Prior to joining the firm, he worked at several leading international law firms in Paris and Geneva, on matters ranging from commercial and sports arbitration to international litigation and enforcement proceedings.
Quentin was awarded first prize of the Jim Hurlock White & Case Scholarship to pursue the Geneva LL.M. in International Dispute Settlement (MIDS). He is admitted to the Paris Bar.
Education
- Geneva Graduate Institute & University of GenevaLL.M. in International Dispute Settlement (MIDS), 2024
- Sciences Po Law SchoolMaster’s degree in Economic Litigation and Arbitration, 2023
Languages
Yseult works with the firm’s lawyers on a range of legal matters, primarily in the energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors, with a focus on African jurisdictions.
She holds master’s degrees in international business law and in strategy and management.
Yseult spent nearly twenty years living in several countries across Africa and Asia. Before joining the firm, she completed internships at a construction company and a law firm in Morocco.
Education
- Aix-Marseille UniversityMaster of International Business Law & DJCE
- University College DublinMaster of Business Law
- ESSEC Business SchoolMaster of Strategy and Management of International Business (SMIB)
Languages
Sid M'Hamed Mohamed
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Sid M’Hamed Mohamed is an associate at Diamantis & Partners, based in Nouakchott. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in private law (2013) and a Master’s degree in civil law (2016).
He works in Arabic and French.
Law graduation: Master’s degree in Civil Law
Office: Nouakchott
Oil & Gas
Our firm supports clients across the entire oil and gas industry, helping them navigate a constantly evolving landscape. We advise on both strategic projects and day-to-day operations, offering comprehensive and practical guidance.
With deep experience in oil and gas laws across both mature and emerging markets, and the flexibility to operate in multiple jurisdictions worldwide, our lawyers bring an innovative, solutions-driven approach tailored to each client’s needs.
We regularly assist international oil companies, national oil companies and traders with their projects and transactions in Africa, including:
- In the oil sector: the negotiation of concessions and operating licences, the sale and acquisition of assets (production fields, pipelines, refineries) and contracts with subcontractors;
- In the gas and LNG sectors: the negotiation of offtake agreements, gas supply contracts and related agreements such as cooling down and gassing up agreements and bunkering agreements.
Selected references
Upstream
- Advising a national oil company on the management of its equity participation in a major offshore gas field.
- Advising an international oil company on the negotiation of several deep offshore production sharing contracts in Gabon.
- Advising an international oil company on the set-up of its operations in the Republic of Congo.
- Advising an international oil company on the acquisition and divestment of petroleum interests in Algeria, Senegal, Gabon, Guinea, Cameroon and Chad.
- Advising a national oil company on the structuring of joint ventures with other oil & gas companies.
Midstream – pipelines and infrastructure
- Advising a national oil company in relation to the Nigeria–Morocco gas pipeline project.
- Advising a government on the implementation and financing of a cross-border oil pipeline in Central Africa.
- Advising an international oil company on the transfer of its interests in the Chad–Cameroon pipeline.
- Advising on the drafting of a contract for the purchase and reprocessing of natural gas in Nigeria.
- Advising a fuel distributor on the construction of oil products storage facilities.
Downstream and trading
- Advising a pan-African fuel distributor on supply operations and the related regulatory frameworks in several African jurisdictions.
- Advising trading companies on the supply of petroleum products and on oil supply agreements in Mauritania.
- Advising an international oil company on regulatory matters in Algeria, Gabon and Congo, and under OHADA and WAEMU law.
Gas and LNG
- Advising an energy major on the drafting and negotiation of LNG supply and bunkering agreements, and on the structuring of LNG sales operations across Europe.
- Advising an energy major on the negotiation of a 15-year LNG loading agreement and of a terminal use agreement with a European LNG terminal operator.
- Advising an energy major on an agreement for the cooling down and gassing up of LNG tankers.
- Advising a gas supplier on the enforceability of master netting agreements, its commercial operations and regulatory compliance in France.
Arbitration and disputes
- Advising an international oil company in ICSID proceedings against Cameroon.
- Advising an oil & gas operator in an expropriation dispute under ICSID jurisdiction.
- Advising an oil & gas company in a farm-out dispute under ICC jurisdiction.
- Advising a US company in arbitration and court proceedings in Cameroon regarding cash calls under a joint operating agreement (JOA).
- Advising a national oil company in a JOA cash call dispute.
- Advising several entities in an ICC arbitration related to oil trading in Mauritania.
- Advising an oil trading company in an ICC dispute in Mauritania.
- Advising an oil & gas contractor in relation to the explosion of a refinery in Italy.
Mining & Natural Resources
We advise clients across the mining, forestry, carbon credits, water and agricultural sectors, with in-depth knowledge of the industries’ resources, regulatory frameworks and business opportunities.
In the DRC, we support mining companies throughout the project lifecycle – from securing mining titles and regulatory approvals to structuring and managing project development.
We have particular experience in sustainable forest management and REDD+ policies aimed at enhancing forest carbon stocks in developing countries. Our services cover acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, project financing, taxation, land use and forestry-related litigation.
We support clients throughout the value chain – from the buying, selling and transport of raw materials to regulatory compliance – assisting with government approvals, due diligence, tax structuring and the negotiation of contractual arrangements.
Selected references
Mining
- Advising several major mining groups on DRC mining law and regulatory matters relating to the operation of their mining projects, the transport and export of mineral products, and related compliance requirements.
- Advising several junior and semi-industrial mining companies on the issuance, conversion and securing of their mining titles, their project development, commercial agreements and mineral transactions in several provinces of the DRC.
- Advising a lender on the USD 600 million financing of a copper and cobalt concentrate processing project in Lualaba Province, DRC.
- Advising an export credit insurer on the due diligence of a major iron ore project in West Africa, including mining, rail, port concessions and regulatory aspects.
- Advising a gold producer on the development of its mining activities in Mauritania.
- Advising on the financing of a mining company in the DRC.
- Advising a chemicals group on the negotiation of a phosphate sales contract and the acquisition of a mining company in Senegal.
- Advising a steel group in connection with the supply of iron ore from Mauritania.
- Advising the advisor to a West African government on the reform of its mining code.
Agriculture and forestry
- Advising an investor on the acquisition of a stake in a company operating an oil palm plantation in Côte d’Ivoire, including the JV agreement negotiation.
- Advising a Kenyan company on the negotiation of several forest conservation concessions in the DRC for the generation and sale of REDD+ carbon credits, including the legal due diligence and the implementation of conservation activities on the ground.
- Advising a Central African government on the implementation of REDD+ policies.
Hydrogen and carbon
- Advising a government on its green hydrogen strategy.
- Advising an energy major on the formation of a consortium for the management of an EU grant for green hydrogen studies.
- Advising developers on green hydrogen projects in Tunisia and the United Kingdom (waste-to-hydrogen).
- Advising an investment firm on a carbon capture project in Ghana.
Arbitration and disputes
- Advising a government in ICSID proceedings relating to the mining sector in Mauritania.
- Advising a mining company in ICC arbitration proceedings in Mauritania.
- Advising a construction company in a dispute with a steel and mining group in Liberia.
Power & Electricity
We have extensive experience across the electricity sector, covering generation, transmission, distribution and electricity trading, with a particularly strong track record in the DRC and other African markets.
Our team advises developers, investors, utilities and large industrial and mining offtakers on the development, financing and implementation of power projects, including utility-scale and captive Solar PV + BESS projects, mini-grids, hydropower and transmission infrastructure.
In the DRC, we have recently advised major mining companies on the development and negotiation of captive Solar PV + BESS projects for their operations in Lualaba Province. We also advise developers and operators on electricity distribution concessions, mini-grid projects, and cross-border and domestic energy transactions. More broadly, we regularly support international and regional energy stakeholders on project development, electricity transactions and corporate matters across Africa.
Selected references
Captive power, C&I and mini-grid projects
- Advising a major copper producer on the drafting and negotiation (phases 1 and 2) of several PPAs for Solar PV + BESS projects providing 30 MW of baseload power, and on the implementation of the related power projects for its mining complex in Lualaba Province, DRC.
- Advising two mining companies on the drafting and negotiation of PPAs for Solar PV + BESS projects each providing 20 MW of baseload power, and on the implementation of the related power projects for their mines in Lualaba Province, DRC.
- Advising a mining company on the development and negotiation of a PPA for a 12 MWp + BESS captive power project on its mining perimeter in Haut-Katanga Province, DRC.
- Advising a developer on the financing, development and construction of several mini-grid projects in the DRC, including project structuring, permitting, regulatory and security package matters.
- Advising an energy major on the development of two off-grid solar projects in Nigeria and the negotiation of corporate PPAs.
Utility-scale projects and electricity transactions
- Advising an international commodity trader on several transactions and projects in the electricity and energy sector in the DRC.
- Advising a developer on several solar power plants in Nigeria and the negotiation of two PPAs.
- Advising an export credit insurer on a 1 GW solar PV tender in Algeria and the negotiation of the related PPA.
- Advising a developer on a gas-to-power project in Papua New Guinea, including the gas supply agreement and PPA.
- Advising development finance institutions on the financing of a solar power project in Kenya and the PPA negotiation.
Distribution, transmission and grid
- Advising a consortium on the development, construction and commissioning of three electricity distribution concessions in the DRC.
- Advising a major mining company on the legal due diligence of several cross-border interconnection lines between the DRC and Zambia supplying the Copperbelt region.
- Advising an EPC contractor on power transmission and generation projects in Mauritania and Rwanda.
- Advising a Congolese public agency on the implementation of electricity sector fees applicable to the mining sector.
- Advising a bank on the feasibility of acquiring the electricity and gas transmission grid in France.
- Advising an energy major on a report of legal innovations aimed at accelerating the deployment of off-grid PV solutions in Africa.
Arbitration and disputes
- Advising an EPC contractor in a claim against a State-owned company in Rwanda.
- Advising an EPC contractor in multiple UNCITRAL proceedings against a State-owned company in Armenia.
- Advising a renewable energy company in Mauritania on tax and foreign exchange compliance matters.
Ports, Airports & Transport
We advise clients across all segments of the transport industry, including maritime and ports, rail, road, logistics and aviation.
Our team combines legal expertise and deep transactional experience in the transport sector, with a strong understanding of the legal, commercial and regulatory issues involved in acquiring, developing, divesting or investing in port, airport and rail assets.
We assist on a wide range of contracts and disputes involving ports and terminals, covering shipping, construction, labour, environmental compliance, leasing and regulatory frameworks. Our work spans port infrastructure projects – particularly PPPs, concessions, leasing arrangements, expansion works and regulatory licensing – as well as long-term marine service agreements, customs and taxation.
In the aviation sector, we apply our multidisciplinary approach to issues of contract law, tax, construction, public finance, labour and litigation.
Selected references
Ports
- Advising a container terminal operator in Kongo Central, DRC, in connection with the performance of its concession agreement with the Congolese State.
- Advising a terminal investor on the financing and construction of a new cargo terminal in Lomé, the sale of a 50% interest and the negotiation of the JV agreements.
- Advising sub-contractors on the handling of port services in a cargo terminal in Lomé.
- Advising a terminal investor on the financing and construction of a new cargo terminal at Fos-sur-Mer, and on the set-up of a JV to build, finance and operate a cargo terminal in France.
Rail and road
- Advising a major Emirati operator on a joint venture with a railway operator active between the Congolese Copperbelt and Zambia.
- Advising an engineering group on a road concession for a toll road project between the DRC and Zambia.
- Advising a rolling stock manufacturer on the financing of a rail transport project in Marseille and on a tender for the supply of rolling stock in Morocco.
Airports and aviation
- Advising on airport management projects in Mauritania and Gabon.
- Advising an aviation services company on labour litigation strategy, tax matters and the relocation of its activities at the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, under the international treaty governing the airport.
- Advising an airline in its litigation against a French airport following damage suffered by a passenger aircraft.
Arbitration and disputes
- Advising a port operator in an ICSID arbitration against Togo.
IT/Telecoms, Banking & Insurance
We assist infrastructure operators and service providers with their market entry and licensing in the electronic communications sector, including the preparation and submission of licence applications, negotiations with regulators and local authorities, and disputes related to licence extensions, withdrawals, fees or sanctions. Our team has deep knowledge of both domestic and regional regulatory frameworks across Africa.
We also support clients in the negotiation and execution of concession and public contracts (national and local) for the deployment of wireline (fibre) or wireless (spectrum) infrastructure, the introduction of new services or the upgrade of existing equipment. This includes commercial contracts with partner operators (inter-operator partnerships, outsourcing), subcontractors (equipment supply) and end customers (terms and conditions, credit agreements).
In the banking and insurance sectors, we assist clients with market entry, acquisitions, restructurings, equity investments, and litigation related to securities or bank credit, with strong experience of the regulatory and contractual frameworks applicable to financial services across African jurisdictions.
Selected references
IT and telecoms
- Advising an international technology company on the review of the DRC digital legal framework applicable to the provision of cloud services.
- Advising a South African company on the negotiation and execution of several public-private partnerships for the digitalisation of e-government and e-administration in several provinces and at central State level in the DRC.
- Advising a French company on the incorporation and operation of its IT services in the DRC.
- Advising on the sale of a majority stake in a cybersecurity company.
- Advising a satellite operator on regulatory and corporate matters relating to its electronic communications licence, and on its satellite launch contracts.
- Advising a telecom operator on the drafting of laws and EU regulations, contentious matters before the French courts and a State aid claim.
- Advising a mobile operator in its challenge against the decree allocating the fourth mobile licence in France.
Banking and insurance
- Advising a development bank on the acquisition of an interest in a private bank.
- Advising on the acquisition of a bank in Mauritania.
- Advising a banking group on the acquisition of banks in West Africa and Eastern Europe, and another on the management of a bank in Greece.
- Advising a bank on the set-up of a USD 80 million facility for a Saudi investor.
- Advising an industrial group on trade guarantees and currency transfer issues in Mauritania.
- Advising an international bank on sanctions compliance.
- Advising an oil trading company in a banking fraud dispute in Sierra Leone.
- Advising an insurer on the financing of an insurance company in Côte d’Ivoire.
- Advising on the set-up of a carbon market trading platform (cash and derivatives).
Arbitration and disputes
- Advising a government in an ICC arbitration in the telecom sector in Togo.
- Advising a company in an ICC arbitration against the Central Bank of Guinea.
- Advising a company in arbitration proceedings against the Central Bank of Sierra Leone.
Our Practice
Project, Infrastructure and Concessions
We have a strong and diversified track record in public and private concessions, BOTs and PPPs across the energy, mining and infrastructure sectors in Africa.
Having advised sponsors, lenders, financial insurers and government entities, we bring a strategic perspective to transactions, grounded in a deep understanding of the African market. We take a pragmatic, business-oriented approach, focusing on our clients’ commercial objectives and the specific transactional, operational and market risks they face. Our goal is to complete transactions efficiently and creatively, while safeguarding the expected deal value.
Our interdisciplinary approach allows us to deliver full-service legal support across all stages of infrastructure projects – from bidding and project development to contractual structuring, financial close and operations – including construction, project M&A, concessions and administrative contracts, O&M agreements and project development contracts.
We provide end-to-end assistance on permitting, land rights, regulatory compliance, procurement, corporate, contractual and tax structuring, and project finance, covering both debt and capital markets.
Project Finance
We have extensive international experience in energy and infrastructure project finance, advising project companies, lenders, developers, insurers, export credit and guarantee agencies, public authorities, and construction and equipment providers.
Many of the transactions we handle involve complex financing structures, often combining multiple sources of funding (development finance institutions, export credit agencies and capital markets), multi-tranche debt, and cross-border legal and regulatory issues.
Selected references
- Project finance aspects of captive Solar PV + BESS projects supplying 20–30 MW of baseload power to three copper and cobalt mines in Lualaba Province, DRC.
- Financing and development of three electricity distribution concessions in the DRC.
- Financing, development and construction of several mini-grid projects in the DRC.
- Advising a lender on the USD 600 million financing of a copper and cobalt concentrate processing project in Lualaba Province, DRC.
- Advising development finance institutions on the financing of a 40 MW solar power project in Kenya.
- EUR 225 million financing of a portfolio of rooftop solar plants (approx. 55 MWp) and several financings of ground-mounted and parking-lot solar plants in France.
- Financing of two wind farms with a total installed capacity of 24 MW in France.
M&A, Corporate Law and Private Equity
We advise investors, corporates and sponsors on acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, shareholder arrangements and equity investments, with a particular focus on African markets.
We have experience across a broad range of sectors in both Europe and Africa, including oil & gas, electricity, mining, telecommunications, banking and insurance, business services, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, sports and leisure, transportation and waste management.
Our work covers the full transaction cycle: structuring, legal due diligence, negotiation of transaction documents, regulatory approvals, closing and post-closing integration.
Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
We assist clients at every stage of the dispute resolution process, particularly in complex, high-stakes and multi-jurisdictional cases. Our team is experienced across the full range of dispute resolution methods – including negotiation, mediation, expert determination and adjudication – with a strong focus on the oil & gas, energy, mining and natural resources sectors.
Our dual experience as transactional counsel and litigators helps us understand how arbitral tribunals assess cases in an international context. We regularly represent clients before domestic courts and international arbitral tribunals, including under ICSID, ICC, LCIA and ad hoc UNCITRAL rules, as well as before the OHADA Common Court of Justice and Arbitration (CCJA).
Selected references
- Representing a government in ICSID proceedings in the mining sector.
- Representing an oil & gas operator in an expropriation dispute under ICSID jurisdiction.
- Representing a port operator in an ICSID arbitration against a West African State.
- Representing the shareholders of a Central African company in two ICC arbitrations against the host State.
- Representing companies in ICC arbitrations against two West African central banks.
- Joint operating agreement (JOA) cash call and farm-out disputes in the oil & gas sector.
- EPC claims against State-owned companies in Europe and Africa.
- Jurisdictional proceedings before the CCJA (OHADA).
Public International Law
Our practice covers the full spectrum of public international law, including the law of treaties, international responsibility, State and diplomatic immunities, the law of international organisations, international investment law, human rights law, the law of the sea and international trade law.
We benefit from the support of our Senior Legal Counsel, Professor Pierre Bodeau-Livinec (University Paris Nanterre, Director of Studies of the International Law Association), whose experience includes acting as counsel in State-to-State disputes before the ICJ, the PCA and the ICC.
We have an established investor-State arbitration practice, representing both investors and sovereign States in cases under ICSID and PCA rules, and we advise governments on the drafting of investment treaties and legislation.
Selected references
- Advising States in proceedings before the International Court of Justice, including land and maritime boundary disputes and a reparations phase.
- Advising a State in an island and maritime frontier dispute.
- Advising a group of African governments on the drafting of an international treaty to foster investment in renewable energy access.
- Advising governments on constitutional law matters in Africa and Europe.
- Advising an African international organisation on the interconnection of national railway networks.
- Advising a government and an aircraft manufacturer on the Cape Town Convention and its aircraft equipment protocol.
Legislative, Regulatory and Administrative Law
With deep experience in public and administrative law in both France and Africa, we advise on the legal design, drafting and implementation of legislation, regulations and public policies – particularly in the energy, mining, electronic communications and audiovisual sectors.
We assist African governments, State-owned entities and private clients in managing regulatory reforms, preparing policy changes, drafting legislation, and mitigating regulatory and litigation risks. Our support spans the full legislative lifecycle – from defining policy objectives to drafting, implementation and enforcement.
We also advise both incumbent operators and new market entrants on development strategies, stakeholder engagement and regulatory transitions, and we assist public and private clients on all aspects of general public law, including administrative law, public property law and public finance law.
Commercial Contracts
Our team has deep experience with all kinds of contracts, with particular strengths in the energy, transport and oil & gas sectors, but also in technology, sourcing, supply chain and licensing agreements.
We service the entire lifecycle of a contract, including:
- pre-contractual advice and consultancy;
- drafting, reviewing and revising terms and conditions;
- contract negotiation;
- breach of contract and remedies, including compensatory, liquidated and nominal damages;
- contract interpretation, choice of law and jurisdiction;
- validity of electronic signatures.
Ours is a holistic approach to contractual matters: we help our clients achieve their business goals and develop, protect and monetise their key commercial assets.
Training Programs
On request, our lawyers deliver training courses to our clients and their teams, sharing our experience, reflexes and good practices in the sectors in which we work. For example:
- Local content in Africa;
- The electricity sector and its contracts;
- Best practices in drafting LNG supply agreements.