INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

It maintains an active projects practice and advises on both the financing and operation of major developments in the oil and gas sector. The firm is also notable for its tax advisory work, receiving particular recognition from clients for its knowledge of the subject. Impressed interviewees describe how "they are always up to date on the current laws, are proactive and find solutions."
Chambers and Partners

POSITIONING AND STRENGTHS

Legal and tax expertise in connection with implementation: Our expertise in the implementation and monitoring of international projects provides key legal and tax protection to clients undertaking complex projects throughout the world, and especially in developing African countries.
Deep industry knowledge: Our extensive experience with various industry regulations such as energy (oil & gas, mining industry, electricity and water activities) and infrastructure (transportation, telecommunications, construction) enable us to advise clients on a wide variety legal and stakeholder concerns.
Bilingual and bicultural profile: Our assistance is provided by French and foreign international project attorneys who speak fluently French, English and Spanish and have significant advisory experience in Africa, having worked there for many years.

SPECIFIC AREAS OF SKILL

International projects implementation
- Legal structure (corporate and contract law), tax and customs for implementation ;
- Drafting, review and negotiation of infrastructure agreements (PPP, concessions and leasing) ;
- Creation of subsidiaries and branches or acquisition of existing companies.
Ongoing international project support
- Monitoring of tax and legal issues ;
- State audits and support during audits ;
- Agreement renegotiation.
Financing and banking regulations
- Establishing dedicated financing ;
- Drafting of security agreements and monitoring of formalities ;
- Specific foreign exchange and banking regulations.
International business law
- Drafting of commercial agreements ;
- International collections (see the litigation section).
Legal and tax audits (acquisitions and internal audits)

OUR CLIENTS

French and foreign (USA, UK, Singapore, Japan, China) multinational groups, listed on the Paris, New York, London, Tokyo and Singapore stock exchanges, operating in the following sectors:
- Oil and mines ;
- Water and the environment ;
- Port management ;
- Construction and civil engineering ;
- Banks and financial institutions ;
- Insurance.
Non-listed family groups with international activities, especially in the forestry products sector.

OUR NETWORK

Africa

ANGOLA

Legal and tax assistance for the implementation in Angola of an insurance broker acting worldwide.
Tax and legal structuring of an infrastructure project in Angola (water treatment sector).

BENIN

Advise on a bank / insurance implementation project of a finance company acting worldwide.
Tax advice for the integration of a French engineering company.
Tax structuring in the establishment of a prepositioned stock of goods for a French company.

BOTSWANA

Legal and tax assistance for the implementation in Botswana of an insurance broker acting worldwide.

BURKINA FASO

Advise on a bank / insurance implementation project.
Tax and legal structuring of an infrastructure project in Burkina Faso (water treatment plant). Follow-up of the day-to-day completion.
Tax and legal structuring of an infrastructure project in Burkina Faso (water pumps networks).

CAPE VERDE

Tax and legal structuring of an infrastructure project (water treatment plant).

CAMEROON

Advise on a bank / insurance implementation project.
Corporate, regulatory and tax assistance to the local implementation of a major engineering construction company.
Corporate assistance to open a branch of an international company (water sector).
Tax advice for the integration of a French engineering company.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Advise on a bank / insurance implementation project.

CHAD

Advise on a bank / insurance implementation project.
Debt recovery litigation.

IVORY COAST

Advise on a bank / insurance implementation project.
Legal advice on the establishment of an American international group.
Tax and legal structuring of an infrastructure project in Ivory Coast (water pumps networks).
Tax structuring of an implementation project of urban equipment and its concession of operation.
Tax and legal structuring of the establishment of an English group (IT sector).
Tax structuring in the establishment of a prepositioned stock of goods for a French company.
Tax and legal assistance to the taxing of a French company branch in Ivory Coast.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF GONGO - Kinshasa

Legal assistance to the local restructuring of the subsidiary of an international group. Review and drafting of the corporate documentation (OHADA).
Advise on a bank / insurance implementation project.
Debt recovery litigation.

DJIBOUTI

Advise on bank / regulatory aspects.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

Advise on a bank / insurance implementation project.
Tax and legal structuring of an infrastructure project in Equatorial Guinea (water treatment sector).

ETHIOPIA

Tax and legal assistance with the local implementation of an international group acting worldwide (feasibility study, structuring and effective implementation, specific foreign investment aspects).

GABON

Advising (due diligence and structuring) for the acquisition of a participation in a Forest Group located in Gabon by an international fund.
Tax and legal structuring of the establishment of an oil company.
Tax, legal and regulatory structuring of the transfer of an international group holding Gabonese assets.
Advising on the legal aspect of a Revolving Credit Facility financing oil operations.
Advising (tax and legal) for the contribution of the Gabonese branch of a foreign company to a Gabonese subsidiary (Tax & legal). In-depth feasibility analysis & expected completion.
Advising (legal and regulatory aspects) for the setting – up of a factoring program with a Gabonese Bank to cash-out receivables.
Merger of the two subsidiaries of an international Co.
Advise on a bank / insurance implementation project.
Tax assistance of different issues.
Drafting of a complete new oil transportation contract.
Tax advice on the acquisition of a historic oil company by a French company.

GANA

Assistance with the implementation – Tax and legal structuring of an infrastructural project (water treatment plant).
Tax structuring in the establishment of a prepositioned stock of goods for a French company.

GUINEA-BISSAU

Advise on a bank / insurance implementation project.

LIBYA

Assistance with the implementation – Tax and legal structuring of an infrastructural project (water treatment plant).

MALI

Advise on a bank / insurance implementation project.

Tax and legal structuring of an infrastructure project in Mali (water pumps networks).

MALAWI

Legal and tax assistance for the implementation in Malawi of an insurance broker acting worldwide.

MOROCCO

Tax structuring of an infrastructure public transport project in Casablanca.

MOZAMBIQUE

Legal and tax assistance for the implementation in Mozambique of an insurance broker acting worldwide.
Assistance with the implementation – Tax and legal structuring of an infrastructural project (water treatment plant).

NAMIBIA

Legal and tax assistance for the implementation in Namibia of an insurance broker acting worldwide.

NIGER

Negotiating a renewal concession contract (water sector).
Tax and legal structuring of an infrastructure project in Niger (water pumps networks).
Advise on a bank / insurance implementation project.

NIGERIA

Regulatory (oil and gas local content restrictions) and legal assistance to the local implementation of an engineering company.

REPUBLIC OF CONGO - Congo Brazzaville

Port construction and exploitation project in Pointe-Noire:
Global feasibility study (legal, regulatory and tax framework)
Negotiations and drafting of a port concession agreement with the Congolese authorities
Tax structuring
Reverse takeover on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of London with a company holding oil interest/permit:
Tax and legal structuring of the operation
Negotiations of the SPA
Specific regulatory aspects (Oil & Gas)
Review of readmission documents
Sale of oil interest/permit (Tax and legal structuring of the operation)

RWANDA

Legal and tax assistance for the implementation in Rwanda of an insurance broker acting worldwide.
Assistance (corporate law) with the establishment of the local subsidiary of an international group in Rwanda.

SENEGAL

Tax and legal structuring of an infrastructure project in Senegal (water pumps networks).
Assistance with the local implementation of the subsidiary of an international group (including structuring and tax & legal implications – implementation and tax structuring, day-to-day follow-up of the local operations, litigation with a shareholder).
Tax structuring of a BOT contract in Dakar (shipment of the equipment and concession operation).
Tax structuring of a contract for the delivery of a computer program for the management of of an electrical grid.
Advise on a bank / insurance implementation project.

SIERRA LEONE

Tax and legal structuring of an infrastructure project in Sierra Leone (water treatment sector).

SOUTH AFRICA

Assistance for local implementation – structuring and legal implications related to the local content requirements (B-BBEE) in the water sector.

TUNISIA

Tax and legal structuring of an infrastructure project in Tunisia (water treatment sector).

TOGO

Advise on a bank / insurance implementation project.
Tax and legal structuring of an infrastructure project in Togo (water pumps networks).
Tax structuring in the establishment of a prepositioned stock of goods for a French company.

UGANDA

Tax and legal structuring of an infrastructure project in Uganda (water treatment sector).

ZAMBIA

Tax structuring of an infrastructure project in Zambia (water treatment sector).
Legal and tax assistance for the implementation in Zambia of an insurance broker acting worldwide.

ZIMBABWE