African hub countries - Mozambique Legal Circle Advogados

AFRICAN HUB COUNTRIESFIRM BRIEFINGSMattersThe firm, led by Albert Mumma, was retained by the Energy RegulatoryCommission to assist in drafting regulations for the downstreampetroleum sector and electricity sector and also advised the Rural ElectrificationAuthority on the development regulations.In a large PPP project, the office was supporting the Governmentof Kenya and IFC on the $264 million Kenya-Uganda railways concession.The firm was working with Wragge & Co on the latter project.Mumma also represented SBI in arbitration in a dispute related to levieson a road construction project.Walker Kontos Advocates2012 Firm OverviewHighlight clientsAthi River Mining, BG International, African Development BankMost active disciplinesArbitration, litigation, company and commercial, M&A and jointventures,private equity and funds, corporate restructuring, banking,project finance (energy, resources and infrastructure)Key sectorsOil and gas, power, renewable energyKey partnersMichael Kontos, Deepen ShahWalker Kontos is one of the go-to firms in Kenya for energy work andboasts having acted on the majority of project finance transactions inthe Kenyan energy sector that have taken place in the past two years.The team has represented a raft of lenders and sponsors in both thetraditional and the renewable energy space. On the infrastructure sideit has also recently been working for development finance institutionsin relation to a significant Kenya-Uganda railway concession.Michael Kontos and Deepen Shah lead the practice. “We haveworked with Michael on three financings and he is excellent, we likehim a lot and Deepen Shah is also excellent and very switched on”.Commentators note that the firm is popular with banks and strong intelecoms, energy, wind and geothermal matters.MattersThe firm, led by Michael Kontos, worked alongside internationalcounsel to advise OPIC for project financing in the refinancing andexpansion of the Olkaria III geothermal power plant; a deal worth $310million. Similarly, the firm acted as local counsel to the IFC and a consortiumof bank on financing for the development of the Thika PowerHFO diesel power plant.Another project for the IFC saw the firm advise the IFC and OPECFund in relation to an 80.32MW HFO diesel power plant on the AthiRiver, to be constructed by Gulf Power.MAURITIUSAppleby2012 Firm OverviewHighlight clientsShell Mauritius, BNP Paribas, Standard Chartered Bank, First CityMonument Bank Nigeria (UK subsidiary)Most active disciplinesCompany and commercial, private equity and funds, corporaterestructuring, asset finance, banking, project finance,Key sectorsMining and metals, oil and gas, powerKay partnersMalcolm Moller, Gilbert NoelAppleby has offices in all the off shore financial centers including Mauritius,where it opened in 2007. The office plays a key role on Africanenergy and infrastructure deals and in a recent example played a partin the $600 million Seacom fibre-optic project, a 15,000km cable connectingSouth Africa to India, where it advised the Emerging AfricaInfrastructure Fund (EAIF).Appleby’s key areas are in registering and financing ships and aircraft,international projects, asset and equipment finance and assisting onjoint-ventures and other structures.MattersGilbert Noel led a team to support Allen & Overy on the $1 billionrestructuring of Shell. The office handled Mauritian legal and financeaspects and also advised Shell Mauritius, the locally listed subsidiary,on the sale of 75% of its issued share capital to joint venture Vivo Energy(Helios, Vitol and Shell).Malcolm Moller led a team to advise BNP Paribas and a group ofbanks on a $20 million increase to an existing $155 million facility toPuma Energy to finance its acquisition BP’s downstream business inSouthern and East Africa. The office also advised a syndicate of banksincluding Standard Chartered Bank on a facility to MTN Zambia andhelped Addleshaw Goddard advise the UK subsidiary of First CityMonument Bank on a $10 million loan for the acquisition of constructionand mining equipment.Uteem Chambers2012 Firm OverviewCross-border mattersKenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, South Africa, UgandaHighlight clientsICICI Bank, GuarantCo, 8 Mile FundMost active disciplinesArbitration, company and commercial, private equity and funds,corporate restructuring, asset finance, banking, capital markets,project finance (infrastructure), competition, taxKey sectorsMining and metals, oil and gas, power, airports and aviation, portsand shipping, social infrastructureKey partnersMuhammad Uteem, Soo Fon Ip Min WanUteem Chambers is a clear leader in Mauritius and covers all aspectsof energy and infrastructure projects from financing, corporate and disputesto EPC, employment, tax and competition. Muhammad Uteemmanages the firm, which is experienced in shipping and aviation mat-62ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE | SUB SAHARAN AFRICA 2013