IFLR Africa Awards 2024: shortlist revealed

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IFLR Africa Awards 2024: shortlist revealed

Deborah Olaniyi, 
Karry Lai, Danielle Ngwana-Joseph, James Wilson
January 31, 2024
IFLR Africa Awards 2024 Shortlist Announced

The full list of finalists has been revealed and the winners will be presented in South Africa on 11 April

IFLR is delighted to reveal the finalists of the fourth annual IFLR Africa Awards.

All the winning deals, firms, in-house teams and lawyers will be presented at IFLR Africa Awards' first ever in-person awards ceremony, which will be held at the Protea Hotel Johannesburg Balalaika, South Africa, on April 11, 2024.

To find out more and to book your place at the ceremony, please contact Emily Kyriacou.

The winners of the non-shortlisted categories, including Rising Star Lawyer and In-house Market Maker awards, will also be revealed on the night, as will the 2024 recipient of the IFLR Lifetime Achievement Award.

IFLR's awards are unique in the market for focusing on legal innovation through dealmaking and celebrating work that improves the cross-border investment environment. The 2024 Africa awards highlights some of those most impressive achievements of 2023 from across the continent.

The law firms and legal teams listed on each of the shortlisted deals below are based on preliminary research. If your firm advised on one of the deals, but is not listed, please contact the awards research lead Deborah Olaniyi.

Congratulations to all of those shortlisted!

DEALS OF THE YEAR

  • Capital Markets

    Afreximbank Africa Repack programme
    Baker McKenzie
    Fieldfisher
    ALN Rwanda | K-Solutions & Partners
    Walkers
    In-house: Afreximbank
    AngloGold Ashanti secondary listing
    Bentsi-Enchill Letsa & Ankomah
    Cravath Swaine & Moore
    ENSafrica
    Slaughter and May
    CEC Renewables green bonds
    Allen & Overy
    Moira Mukuka Legal Practitioners
    Trinity International
    In-house: Copperbelt Energy Corporation
    Electricity for All Program social ABS
    Clifford Chance
    Gide Loyrette Nouel
    KF Conseils
    KSK Société d'Avocats
    In-house: International Finance Corporation
    Gabon debt-for-nature conversion
    Alevina Partners Gabon
    Clifford Chance
    Hunton Andrews Kurth
    Kutak Partners
    Morgan Lewis
    Shearman & Sterling
    White & Case
    In-house: Bank of America
    Government of Ghana domestic debt exchange
    Addison Bright Sloane
    Bentsi-Enchill Letsa & Ankomah
    Hogan Lovells
    Sibanye-Stillwater convertible bonds
    ENSafrica
    Linklaters
    White & Case
    In-house: Absa Bank, BMO Capital Markets, Goldman Sachs and Merill Lynch
    Transnet notes issuance
    Allen & Overy
    Bowmans
    ENSafrica
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    In-house team: Transnet SOC

  • Domestic

    Access Holdings / Sigma Pensions
    ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode
    Banwo & Ighodalo
    Clifford Chance
    Jackson Etti & Edu
    In-house: Access Holdings
    FCMB Group Additional Tier 1 bonds
    Banwo & Ighodalo
    Jackson Etti & Edu
    Olaniwun Ajayi
    In-house: Chapel Hill- Issuing House, and FCMB Capital
    Lagos State Series 2 Forward Ijarah Sukuk
    Alliance Law Firm
    Banwo & Ighodalo
    G Elias & Co
    Olaniwun Ajayi
    The Metropolitan Law Firm
    Udo Udoma & Bello Osagie
    In-house team: Chapel Hill Denham, and Lotus Capital
    NNPC Limited/ Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
    Olaniwun Ajayi
    Watson Farley & Williams
    Republic of South Africa Al-Ijarah sukuk
    White & Case
    Safaricom / M-Pesa
    ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna
    Kaplan and Stratton
    In-house team: Safaricom
    Sonangol retail bonds offering
    ASP Advogados
    VdA Vieira de Almeida

  • Loans

    Africa Finance Corporation Unsecured Term Loan Facility
    G Elias & Co
    Milbank
    Simmons & Simmons
    In-house team: Africa Finance Corporation, Export-Import Bank of China
    African Non-Ferrous Industries and African Foundries financing
    ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    BUA Cement financing
    Olaniwun Ajayi
    Pinsent Masons
    Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie
    In-house: International Finance Corporation
    Caculo Cabaca HEP project - Allianz Trade covered financing
    Baker McKenzie
    Fátima Freitas & Associados
    Miranda & Associados
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    RSA in association with Sociedade de Advogados AV&A
    In-house: UniCredit, Commerzbank
    Grit ESG loan
    ALN Zambia | Musa Dudhia & Co
    ENSafrica
    Mulenga Mundashi
    Stephenson Harwood
    Invictus Trading FZE financing
    Aztan
    Clifford Chance
    Matouk Bassiouny
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    In-house team - BII and Invictus Trading FZE
    M-KOPA receivables-based secured syndicated facility
    Allen & Overy
    Kaplan & Stratton
    Shonubi Mosuke & Co Advocates
    In-house: M-KOPA, Standard Bank
    MTN Group US dollar RCF
    Appleby
    ALN Mauritius | BLC Robert & Associates
    Herbert Smith Freehills
    White & Case
    In-house team: MTN Group

  • M&A

    Access Bank / Finibanco Angola
    ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna
    ASP Advogados
    MC Jurist Advogados
    VdA Vieira de Almeida
    In-house: Access Bank
    AgroFresh Solutions / Tessara
    Bowmans
    Morrison & Foerster
    White & Case
    In-house: AgroFresh Solutions
    Commercial International Bank / Mayfair CIB Bank
    DLA Piper Africa, Kenya (IKM Advocates)
    Dentons Hamilton Harrison & Mathews
    In-house: Commercial International Bank
    Equity Bank Group / Compagnie Générale de Banque (Cogebanque)
    ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna
    ALN Rwanda | K-Solutions and Partners
    In-house: The Equity Group Holdings
    Heineken / Distell and Namibia Breweries
    Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr
    ENSafrica
    Engling Stitter & Partners
    Hogan Lovells
    Webber Wentzel
    In-house team: Heineken
    Infinity Group and Masdar / Lekela Power
    Bracewell
    Clifford Chance
    ENSafrica
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Stibbe
    In-house: Infinity, Actis, Mauritius Commercial Bank and Absa Bank
    Manta Bidco / Mediclinic International
    Ashurst
    Bowmans
    Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    Linklaters
    Slaughter and May
    Webber Wentzel
    In-house: MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company and Mediclinic
    Sanlam Group – Allianz JV
    AB & David
    ADNA
    AF Legal Law Firm
    Allen & Overy
    ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna
    ALN Madagascar | Madagascar Law Offices
    ALN Mauritius | BLC Robert & Associates
    ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode
    ALN Rwanda | K-Solutions & Partners
    ALN Uganda | MMAKS Advocates
    ALN Zambia | Musa Dudhia & Co
    Anyray Partners
    Atherstone and Cook
    AVM Advogados
    Bennani & Associes
    Bentsi-Enchill Letsa & Ankomah
    Bookbinder Business Law
    Bowmans
    Cabinet d'Avocats Fernand
    Cabinet d'Avocats O Anasside et N Assogba
    Chazai Wamba
    Desai Law Group
    Engling Stritter & Partners
    Elvinger Hoss Prussen
    Etah Nan & Co
    G Elias & Co
    Henwood and Company
    JFC Avocats
    John W Ffooks & Co
    Kleingeld and Mayet
    Koep & Partners
    Linklaters
    Mabushi Chambers
    Matouk Bassiouny
    MDR Advogados
    Noor partners in association with Al Tamimi & Co
    PFI Partnerships
    Project Lawyers
    Savjani & Co
    Scanlen and Holderness
    SCP François Sarr et Associés
    SCP Martial Akakpo
    Slaughter and May
    Steering Legal
    Trust Law Chambers
    Webber Wentzel
    In-house: Sanlam

  • Private equity

    Africa50, AfricInvest and Ohara Pharmaceutical Co / Africa Healthcare
    Allen & Overy
    ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna
    ALN Mauritius | BLC Robert & Associates
    ALN Rwanda | K-Solutions & Partners
    ALN Tanzania | A&K Tanzania
    N Dowuona & Company
    In-house: Africa 50
    AfricInvest / Justrite
    AELEX
    Olaniwun Ajayi
    AP Moller Capital / Vector Logistics
    Baker McKenzie
    White & Case
    Bayobab – Africa50 East2West partnership
    Clifford Chance
    White & Case
    In-house: MTN / Bayobab and Africa50
    IBL and STOA / Equator Energy
    AF Mpanga Advocates
    Ajo & Co Advocates
    Amie Bensouda & Co
    Atherstone & Cook
    Bowmans
    Djingo Gouginski Kyutchukov &
    Hogan Lovells
    Mahmoud Gitau Jillo (Advocates)
    Milele Energy (Gemcorp) – Lake Turkana Wind Power investment
    Bowmans
    Houthoff
    Mayer Brown
    In-house: Gemcorp Capital Management
    Norfund and AFIG / Nouvelle Mici Embaci LBO
    ASAFO & Co
    Hogan Lovells
    IKT Avocats
    Trinity International
    In-house: Bridge Bank Cote d’Ivoire and Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB)
    PAT Holding / Pan African Towers
    Banwo & Ighodalo
    Charles Russell Speechlys
    G Elias & Co
    Olaniwun Ajayi
    In-house: Chapel Hill Advisory Partners

  • Projects

    Autoroute de l'Avenir Dakar-Diamniadio-AIBD PPP toll road financing
    Hogan Lovells
    SCP François Sarr & Associés
    SCP Mame Adama Gueye & Associés
    White & Case
    In-house: SECAA, BOAD and CBAO Attijariwafa Bank
    Dakar Mobilité electric BRT project
    Gide Loyrette Nouel
    Hogan Lovells
    SCP François Sarr & Associés
    Willkie Farr & Gallagher
    Elektron and Eko Disco embedded IPP
    Templars
    Trinity International
    In-house: African Development Bank, the Bank of Industry, and FBNQuest
    Government of Namibia – Hyphen feasibility and implementation agreement
    Clifford Chance
    DLA Piper Africa, Namibia (Ellis Shilengudwa Inc)
    ENSafrica
    Slaughter & May
    Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium concession
    ASP Advogados
    Ashurst
    Clifford Chance
    Latham & Watkins
    Morais Leitão Galvão Teles Soares da Silva & Associados
    VdA Vieira de Almeida
    Metbassta solar IPP financing
    Clifford Chance
    Ferchiou & Associés
    Gide Loyrette Nouel
    Global Lawyers North Africa (in partnership with Gide Loyrette Nouel)
    In-house: African Development Bank (AFDB), International Finance Corporation, AMEA Power
    Simandou – Rio Tinto and the Simfer co-development convention
    ADNA
    August Debouzy
    Clifford Chance
    Hogan Lovells
    Kabele Law Group
    Linklaters
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Thiam & Associes
    Trinity International
    Watson Farley Williams
    Walo Storage project finance
    DLA Piper Africa
    Mame Adama Gueye & Partners
    Trinity International

  • Restructuring

    Ghana Cocoa Board Bills
    Addison Bright Sloane
    Bentsi-Enchill Letsa & Ankomah
    Hogan Lovells
    Nampak Group
    Appleby
    Bowmans
    Cains Advocates
    Eversheds Sutherland
    FBL Advogados
    Morrison & Foerster
    NautaDutilh
    Werksmans Attorneys
    White & Case
    In-house: Nampak Group
    Steinhoff International Holdings
    Baker McKenzie
    Bowmans
    Kirkland & Ellis
    Latham & Watkins
    Linklaters
    Loyens & Loeff

TEAMS OF THE YEAR

  • Capital markets

    Allen & Overy
    Baker McKenzie
    Clifford Chance
    ENSafrica
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    Linklaters
    Slaughter and May
    White & Case

  • Loan

    Allen & Overy
    Baker McKenzie
    Clifford Chance
    Herbert Smith Freehills
    Milbank
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Simmons & Simmons
    White & Case

  • M&A

    Allen & Overy
    Bowmans
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    Hogan Lovells
    Linklaters
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Slaughter and May
    Webber Wentzel

  • Private equity

    ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna
    Bowmans
    Clifford Chance
    G Elias & Co
    Hogan Lovells
    Mayer Brown
    Olaniwun Ajayi
    White & Case

  • Projects

    Ashurst
    Clifford Chance
    Gide Loyrette Nouel
    Hogan Lovells
    Latham & Watkins
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Trinity International
    White & Case

  • Restructuring

    Baker McKenzie
    Bowmans
    Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
    Eversheds Sutherland
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    Hogan Lovells
    Linklaters
    White & Case

  • Southern / East Africa Capital markets

    Bowmans
    Baker McKenzie Johannesburg
    Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr
    Corpus Legal Practitioners
    DLA Piper Africa
    ENSafrica
    Webber Wentzel
    White & Case Johannesburg

  • Southern / East Africa Loan

    ALN Mauritius | BLC Robert & Associates
    Allen & Overy Johannesburg
    Bowmans
    ENSafrica
    Kaplan & Stratton
    Mulenga Mundashi Legal Practitioners
    Webber Wentzel
    White & Case Johannesburg

  • Southern / East Africa M&A

    ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna
    Bowmans
    Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr
    DLA Piper Africa, Kenya (IKM Advocates)
    ENSafrica
    Hogan Lovells Johannesburg
    Webber Wentzel

  • Southern / East Africa Private equity

    ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna
    Bowmans
    Kaplan & Stratton
    Webber Wentzel
    White & Case Johannesburg

  • Southern / East Africa Projects

    Bowmans
    Corpus Legal Practitioners
    DLA Piper Africa, Namibia (Ellis Shilengudwa Inc)
    ENSafrica
    SNC Incorporated
    Webber Wentzel
    White & Case Johannesburg

  • West Africa Capital markets

    Alliance Law Firm
    Banwo & Ighodalo
    Bentsi-Enchill Letsa & Ankomah
    G Elias & Co
    Jackson Etti & Edu
    Olaniwun Ajayi
    Udo Udoma & Bello Osagie

  • West African Loan

    ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode
    Banwo & Ighodalo
    G Elias & Co
    ENR Advisory
    Jackson Etti & Edu
    Olaniwun Ajayi
    Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie

  • West Africa M&A

    ADNA
    AELEX
    ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode
    Banwo & Ighodalo
    G Elias & Co
    Templars

  • West Africa Private equity

    ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode
    Asafo & Co
    Banwo & Ighodalo
    Duale Ovia & Alex-Adedipe
    G Elias & Co
    Olaniwun Ajayi
    Templars

  • West Africa Projects

    ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode
    Banwo & Ighodalo
    G Elias & Co
    Mame Adama Gueye & Partners
    SCP François Sarr & Associés
    Templars
    Thiam & Associes
    Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie

IN-HOUSE TEAMS OF THE YEAR

  • In-house Team: International Investment Bank

    Bank of America
    Barclays Bank
    Citibank
    JP Morgan
    Mizuho Bank
    MUFG Bank
    Nomura International
    Standard Chartered Bank

  • In-house Team: Regional Investment Bank

    Absa Bank
    Attijariwafa Bank
    Chapel Hill Denham
    Nedbank
    Rand Merchant Bank (FirstRand Bank)
    Standard Bank Group

  • In-house Corporate Team

    Access Bank
    Africa50
    Equity Bank
    Mauritius Commercial Bank
    MTN
    Sanlam Group
    Transnet

  • In-house Finance Team

    Africa Finance Corporation
    African Export-Import Bank
    African Development Bank
    International Finance Corporation

SPECIALIST AWARDS

  • African Legal Network

    ALN
    DLA Piper Africa
    ENSafrica
    Miranda Law Alliance
    Morais Leitão Legal Circle
    VdA Legal Partners Network

  • IFLR Women Dealmakers Hall of Fame

    Azeezah Muse-Sadiq, Banwo & Ighodalo
    Deepa Vallabh, Hogan Lovells
    Lerato Nkanza, White & Case
    Ouns Lemseffer, Clifford Chance
    Preeti Nana, White & Case
    Sally Hutton, Webber Wentzel
    Sharon Sakuwah, Moira Mukuka Legal Practitioners
    Zoe Phillips Takyi-Appiah, JLD & MB

  • Net-Zero Transition Award

    Allen & Overy
    Baker & McKenzie
    Clifford Chance
    DLA Piper Africa, Namibia (Ellis Shilengudwa Inc)
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    Gide Loyrette Nouel
    White & Case

  • Financial Services Regulatory – Regional

    ADNA
    ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna
    Aman & Partners
    ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode
    ALN Rwanda | K-Solutions & Partners
    Bentsi-Enchill Letsa & Ankomah
    G Elias & Co
    Kaplan and Stratton

  • Digital Finance Award – Regional

    Aman & Partners
    Bentsi-Enchill Letsa & Ankomah
    Pavestones Legal
    TTA Advogados

LAW FIRMS OF THE YEAR

  • Africa Law Firm

    ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode
    Banwo & Ighodalo
    Bowmans
    ENSafrica
    G Elias & Co
    Olaniwun Ajayi
    Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie
    Webber Wentzel

  • International Law Firm

    Allen & Overy
    Baker McKenzie
    Clifford Chance
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    Hogan Lovells
    Linklaters
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    White & Case

  • Francophone Africa Law Firm

    ADNA
    DLA Piper Africa, Senegal (Geni & Kebe)
    KSK Société d'Avocats
    Mame Adama Gueye & Partners
    SCP François Sarr & Associés
    Thiam & Associés

  • Francophone Africa International Law Firm

    Allen & Overy
    Asafo & Co
    Baker McKenzie
    Clifford Chance
    Gide Loyrette Nouel
    Linklaters
    Trinity International
    White & Case

  • Lusophone Africa International Law Firm

    Miranda Law
    Morais Leitão Galvão Teles Soares da Silva & Associados
    VdA

  • Rising Star Law Firm

    ADNA
    Asafo & Co
    Bowmans Mauritius
    Bowmans Zambia
    SNC Incorporated

NATIONAL LAW FIRMS OF THE YEAR

  • Angola

    ALC Advogados
    ASP Advogados
    Fátima Freitas Advogados, Miranda Law Alliance
    FBL Advogados
    MC Jurist Advogados

  • Ethiopia

    Aman & Partners
    Mehrteab & Getu Advocates
    Mesfin Tafesse and Associates

  • Ghana

    AB & David
    Addison Bright Sloane
    Bentsi-Enchill Letsa & Ankomah
    ENSafrica Ghana
    JLD & MB Legal Consultancy
    N Dowuona & Company

  • Kenya

    ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna
    Bowmans Kenya
    Dentons Hamilton Harrison & Mathews
    DLA Piper Africa, Kenya (IKM Advocates)
    Kaplan and Stratton
    Oraro & Company Advocates

  • Madagascar

    ALN Madagascar | Madagascar Law Offices
    John W Ffooks & Co

  • Mauritius

    5 St James Court
    ALN Mauritius | BLC Robert & Associates
    Appleby
    Bowmans Mauritius
    ENSafrica
    Juristconsult Chambers

  • Morocco

    ADNA
    Asafo & Co
    Clifford Chance
    Naciri & Associés Allen & Overy
    Nasrollah & Associés Baker McKenzie

  • Mozambique

    Couto Graça e Associados
    DLA Piper Africa, Mozambique (SAL & Caldeira)
    GDA Advogados
    MDR Advogados

  • Namibia

    DLA Piper Africa, Namibia (Ellis Shilengudwa Inc)
    Engling Stritter & Partners
    ENSafrica Namibia
    Koep & Partners
    SNC Incorporated

  • Nigeria

    AELEX
    ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode
    Banwo & Ighodalo
    G Elias & Co
    Olaniwun Ajayi
    Templars
    Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie

  • Rwanda

    ALN Rwanda | K-Solutions & Partners
    Trust Law Chambers

  • South Africa

    Allen & Overy
    Bowmans
    Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr
    ENSafrica
    Hogan Lovells
    Webber Wentzel
    White & Case

  • Tanzania

    ALN Tanzania | A&K Tanzania
    Bowmans Tanzania
    Clyde & Co
    Dentons EALC East African Law Chambers
    DLA Piper Africa, IMMMA Advocates
    FB Attorneys

  • Tunisia

    Abdelly & Associés
    Dentons Zaanouni
    Eversheds Sutherland El Heni
    Global Lawyers North Africa (in partnership with Gide Loyrette Nouel)
    Meziou Knani & Khlif

  • Uganda

    AF Mpanga Advocates
    ALN Uganda | MMAKS Advocates
    ENSafrica Uganda
    Katende Ssempebwa & Company Advocates
    Shonubi Mosuke & Co Advocates

  • Zambia

    ALN Zambia | Musa Dudhia & Co
    Corpus Legal Practitioners
    Moira Mukuka Legal Practitioners
    Mulenga Mundashi Legal Practitioners

  • Zimbabwe

    Atherstone & Cook
    DLA Piper Africa, Manokore Attorneys

Topics

AwardsIFLR AwardsAfricaDebtEquityM&ARestructuring and InsolvencyAngolaMauritiusNigeriaSouth AfricaTunisiaUganda
DO
Deborah Olaniyi
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Karry Lai
Managing editor
Contact
Karry is managing editor of IFLR. She manages the team and is responsible for IFLR's content. She also sits on the editorial judging panels of IFLR's global awards and the Women in Business Law Awards. Before joining the legal media industry, she was project manager at a startup focused on sustainable lifestyle media and events.
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Danielle Ngwana-Joseph
Head of IFLR research
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Danielle heads the global research for IFLR. She joined IFLR1000 as EMEA Editor in 2021 and now serves as the main point of contact for IFLR1000 globally. She was previously the Editor of Benchmark Litigation Europe and has been working in the legal benchmarking business since 2017.
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James Wilson
Director of research IFLR, ITR, IP
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James oversees IFLR research, including the global IFLR1000 and IFLR Awards programmes. IFLR has five prestigious annual awards, covering Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. He is based in the UK and has worked with IFLR since 2016.
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