FIRM BRIEFINGS AFRICAN HUB COUNTRIES
Ward in Norton Rose Beijing, advise the China Export Import Bank in relation to a $1.2 billion facility agreed in January 2013.
Velma Law
2012 Firm Overview Highlight clients
Mwenga Hydro, Alistair James Company
Most active disciplines corporate, banking, PPP/PFI, project finance (energy and infrastructure), renewables finance, employment, IP, land
Key sectors Mining and metals, power, renewable energy
Key partners Victoria Makani, Nicholas Zervos
Velma Law is a purely transactional and advisory firm of two founding partners and two associates led by Nicholas Zervos, a former banking partner of CMS Cameron McKenna. Zervos focuses on projects and structured finance and is experienced in advising lenders and sponsors on infrastructure projects. Victoria Makani focuses on employment law.
Matters Nicholas Zervos led a team acting as an expert witness for Standard Chartered Bank in relation to an in an ICSID arbitration in London over equity investment requirements and a security package in the debt of an IPTL 1000MW diesel plant. A sponsor mandate saw the office represent Mwenga Hydro (Rift
Valley energy Group) on the construction of a 4MW hydro run-of- river project to supply electricity to 14 villages, the local tea industry and national grid. The firm also worked with Trinity advising Wind East Africa on a joint agreement between the IFC, Aldwych Interna- tional and Six Telecoms to develop a 100MW wind farm worth $285 million. The project will be the country’s first independent wind power project.
UGANDA AF Mpanga
2012 Firm Overview Key partners
David Mpanga, Julius Musoke
AF Mpanga is consistently recommended by clients, who reserve much of their praise for David Mpanga, a practitioner with copious experi- ence of energy deals. Julius Musoke, who joined the firm from the po- sition of principal counsel of the African Development Bank (ADB), is also well-liked by clients and often recommended, while his back- ground at the ADB is an attractive element for clients. One client from the Ugandan government picks the firm out as one of its leading advi- sors for energy matters. The team covers banking and all manner of fi- nance, EPC, capital markets, M&A and private equity, energy and oil & gas, infrastructure and arbitration.
Byenkya Kihika & Co
2012 Firm Overview Key partners
Ebert Byenkya
Byenkya Kihika & Co is smaller than some of its competitors in Uganda but it punches above its weight and features on some of the major energy projects in the country. A Kenyan client working on a large hydropower energy project endorses the firm, recommending Ebert Byenkya in particular. “He has very good experience and the firm knows the local environment very well,” says the client. Some interna- tional clients put the firm, which is on the IFC panel, at the top of the pile in the country.
Kampala Associates Advocates (KAA)
2012 Firm Overview Key partners
David Mpanga
KAA is one of Uganda’s largest and most established firms and also one of the most often recommended by clients. One client in the Ugandan government recommends the firm for oil and gas, in particular David Mpanga. The firm is associated with Dentons.
Kasirye Byaruhanga & Co
2012 Firm Overview Cross-border matters
DRC, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania
Highlight clients Excel Construction, Umeme, Association of Ugandan Oil & Gas Service Providers
Most active disciplines
ADR, arbitration, litigation, company and commercial, public and administrative
Key sectors Oil and gas, power, airports and aviation, industry and manufacturing
Key partners William Byaruhanga, Andrew Kasirye
Andrew Kasirye and William Byaruhanga are the firm’s two senior part- ners that focus on energy and infrastructure work. Between them, they handle oil and gas, power and infrastructure matters. Partner Paul Rutisya focuses on litigation and is especially focused on manufactur- ing, industry and roads. The firm is allied with the Mackrell International network of inde-
pendent law firms and was recently retained by Excel Construction, a major contractor to the government of Uganda.
Matters The firm was retained by Umeme to provide legal advice during a re- view of its electricity supply agreements by the Electricity Regulatory Authority. The advice covered the company’s concession agreements with the government and negotiations with the Authority. The firm also advised the Association of Ugandan Oil & Gas Services, namely in regard to pushing local content provisions in oil and gas legislation. Andrew Kasirye led a team to advise Eko Power on the construction
of a 20MW mini-hydropower dam and VS Hydro on a similar project on the River Mpanga.
ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE | SUB SAHARAN AFRICA 2013 65
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