African hub countries - Mozambique Legal Circle Advogados

AFRICAN HUB COUNTRIESLEADING LAWYERSAntónio Vicente MarquesManaging PartnerAVM AdvogadosLuanda, AngolaTel: +244 92 3610786Email: avm@avm-advogados.comWeb: www.avm-advogados.comIqbal Rajahbalee, Senior counselManaging partnerBLC ChambersPort Louis, MauritiusTel: +230 2137920Email: Iqbal.r@blc.muWeb: www.blc.muPractice areas:BankingCapital marketsEnergy and natural resources Finance and insuranceLitigation and arbitration Public lawTax and custom lawTelecommunicationsLanguages: Portuguese, English, French, SpanishBar admissions: Angola, Brazil, PortugalAssociation memberships:Portuguese Arbitration AssociationInternational Bar AssociationWorld Service GroupMember of the Portuguese Group of AIPPIAcademic qualifications:University of Coimbra Law SchoolPost-graduate Degree, European Economic Criminal Law, Institute ofEuropean and Economic Criminal Law, University of Coimbra LawSchoolM.A. Company Law, University of Coimbra Law SchoolOil and Gas Specialisation, LondonRelated articles by this lawyer:Oil and Gas Decommissioning, Angola chapter – London, 2013The Rebirth of Africa?; IBA Global Insight; Ed. December2012/ January2013Energising Africa, Iberian Lawyer, Ed. November/ December 2012Oil and Gas Decommissioning, Law Policy and Comparative Practice,September 2012Energising the Portuguese market, Iberian Lawyer, Ed. July/ August 2012Oil regulation – Angola, Oil regulation in 35 jurisdiction worldwide, Julyde 2012The Land Planning and Urbanism in Angola. “Reports on” Law of Urbanand Regional Planning Vol. I, from Dra. Fernanda Paula Oliveira,Almedina, 24 May 2012Capitalising on energy synergies across Mozambique and Angola, IberianLawyer, Ed. March/ April 2012A new balance of power in Africa’s energy markets; Iberian Lawyer, Ed.November/ December 2011Energising the emerging markets, Iberian Lawyer, Ed. September/October 2011Clients told IFLR1000: “Rajahbalee understands the technical aspects ofboth financial and corporate deals very well and he’s very knowledgeableabout the Mauritius regulations.”Biography: Iqbal Rajahbalee is the founder of BLC Chambers. Seniorcounsel, with over 25 years of practice in corporate law, banking andfinance, he pioneered the Mauritius offshore industry and has gainedsolid accolades from offshore clients who remark that “he knows thisbusiness outstandingly well’. Iqbal has had an exceptional exposure toboth public and private sides of the business environment. He wasappointed as the first Executive Director of the first Mauritius offshoreregulatory authority and subsequently the first Chief Executive of theFinancial Services Commission. Iqbal also served as Assistant SolicitorGeneral at the Attorney General‘s Office. He drafted numerous pieces oflegislation, including the Trusts Act and the Securities Act. He has advisedon infrastructure projects, shareholders disputes in large conglomerates,on private equity funds investing in Africa and Asia, and on internationaltaxation. He is Mauritius legal counsel to General Electric, Barclays Bank,BlackRock among others and has appeared as counsel in high profilelitigation involving shareholders to joint ventures, and high net worthfamily businesses. He was also called as expert witness on Mauritius lawbefore foreign courts, including the UK and Singapore courts. Toobservers, Iqbal is a “sensible choice for large corporate transactions”.Recent transactional highlights: Iqbal is the Mauritius counsel andadvisor on the setting up of an environmental infrastructure fund inAfrica.He is also acting as Mauritius Counsel to the Transaction Adviser on thebiggest infrastructure project in Mauritius. The project is for TrafficDecongestion Programme involving the setting up of a ring road aroundthe capital city and the upgrading and expansion of the national highwayroad network.Iqbal is advising as Mauritius counsel in the reorganisation of mininggroup in Zimbabwe.Practice areas:Financial services regulatory International taxInvestment fundsLitigationMergers and acquisitionsSector specialisation:Financial and corporate General businessLanguages: English, FrenchBar admissions: MauritiusAssociation memberships:Honourable Society of the Middle Temple (Inn of Courts, London)Mauritius Bar CouncilAcademic qualifications:LL.B & LL.M, London School of Economics and Political Science74ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE | SUB SAHARAN AFRICA 2013