Clifford Chance
Our East Africa practice provides legal advice across Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, The Seychelles and Uganda.
Led by two Kenyan qualified lawyers (Jennifer Chimanga and Daniel Mutisya) with several years of experience at leading Kenyan and international law firms, our East Africa team has genuine on-the-ground experience in advising international and regional-based businesses on market leading transactions across the region.
Integrated East Africa Team
Our international team of Clifford Chance lawyers regularly work on high-profile and complex matters in the region, are familiar with the local legal and business environment and are able to use that experience to quickly identify issues and design effective solutions for clients. The team includes lawyers who are qualified or have worked in the region. They jointly work with other Clifford Chance lawyers, who are specialists in their areas.
Working with the best East African practitioners
Our team works with and has excellent and long-standing relationships with the leading law firms in each East African jurisdiction. We have delivered numerous Clifford Chance Africa Academy training sessions in the region since 2013, sharing insights and discussing best practice with over 100 regional lawyers.
Offering full-service capability
Our practice stands out from that of other firms by its breadth across types of clients and diversity of practice and sectors. Over the years, we have developed close relationships with some of the region's leading corporates, financial institutions, private equity houses as well as with local regulators and governments.
Our East Africa team has specialist knowledge across a variety of industries including banks and financial services, energy and infrastructure, telecommunications, TECH, healthcare. The integrated team advises across a broad spectrum of legal services ranging from project finance to capital markets, bank lending, private equity and corporate/M&A, and dispute resolution.
Committed to the region
We are providing funding and legal assistance to a number of pro-bono organisations across the region. Our flagship Cornerstone Initiative, launched in 2019 with the aim of improving the lives of those in some of the poorest communities in Kigali, is already creating lasting, sustainable change in Rwanda. Our East Africa team is also working with governments and national organisations to develop regulations and training programmes which are intended to attract further investment into the region.
Our core areas of focus across East Africa
Projects
Our experience includes advising:
- IFC and the Italian Climate Fund (managed by Cassa Depositi et Prestiti) on a USD 210 million investment in ENI's Kenya subsidiary to expand the production and processing of advanced biofuels
- the lenders on all financing aspects in relation to lots 15 and 18 of the Kenya Annuity Road Programme
- the 500 MW Corbetti geothermal IPP and the 500 MW Tulu Moye geothermal IPP (Ethiopia)
- the sponsor in relation to the development of a 105MW peat-fired power station in the Akanyaru valley (Rwanda)
- a consortium of investors strategically on their bidding process for the landmark Kampala Jinga Expressway Project
Corporate / M&A / Private Equity
Our experience includes advising:
- Blackrock's Climate Finance Partnership (CFP) on its investment into the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project in Kenya
- Actis on the US$1 billion sale of Africa's second largest renewables company, BTE Renewables ('BTE'), to Engie and Meridiam
- Actis' exit from Creditinfo Group, an emerging markets credit referencing business with operations in 4 continents including Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, Mali and others).
- The Carlyle Group in acquiring majority stake in East African pharmaceutical leader
- Medical Credit Fund on the establishment of MCF II, its second fund fully dedicated to the African health sector
- AIIM on their investment in BBOXX, an off-grid solar solutions specialist company with operations in Kenya, Rwanda and the DRC
- Mitsubishi on a US$50 million investment into next generation utility company BBOXX
- On the formation of Zoscales Partners' second fund which is targeting US$175 million for investment in East Africa
- On the US$1.25 billion acquisition by Ophir Energy of a 20% stake in three gas blocks offshore Tanzania
- On the acquisition of a 42% stake in Orient Bank in Uganda alongside a consortium principally comprised of a founder of the bank
Banking & Capital Markets
Our experience includes advising on:
- Sun King's securitisation arranged by Citi with Standard Bank Group as co-placement agent to fund Kenya's off-grid solar sector
- the issuance of Kenya's US$2 billion Eurobond to be listed on both the Irish and London stock exchanges and to be sold in two tranches of 12 and 31 years.
- the EUR334 million MIGA-backed financing to support the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank's (TDB) trade finance business in its member states
- the launch of the world's first sovereign blue bond by the Republic of Seychelles
- the mandated lead arrangers in relation to a US$800m syndicated medium-term loan facility for the government of the Republic of Kenya
- the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank's (TDB) establishment and update of its US$1bn EMTN programme, including a US$300m combined new issuance and liability management exercise
- the lenders in connection with the US$400m refinancing of the 250MW Bujagali hydro project (Uganda)
- the US$865 million financing for Ethiopian Railways Corporation for the purpose of funding the construction of the first section of the Awash-Weldia/Hara Gebeya Railway Project.
Dispute Resolution
Our experience includes:
- Representing an international private equity fund in a shareholder dispute concerning an investment in East Africa
- Representing Pacific Wildcat Resources Corp and its subsidiaries Cortec Mining Kenya Limited, Cortec (Pty) Limited and Stirling Capital Limited in an ICSID investment treaty arbitration against the Republic of Kenya.
More Information
Recent highlights
- Ethiopia: a new commercial code
10 February 2023
Client Briefing - Ethiopia's New Investment Framework – The Regulation
15 January 2021
Client Briefing - Ethiopia's new investment law – what does it mean for foreign investors?
29 April 2020
Client Briefing - Rwanda – Where minority shareholders have a major right
19 January 2018
Client Briefing
Directory and client comments
We are recognised every year as international experts in the Chambers rankings for Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Uganda.
- Daniel Mutisya co-chairs the East Africa practice of Clifford Chance LLP. Based in London, Daniel Mutisya is qualified both in England and Wales and in Kenya. He is particularly experienced in advising on market exits and auction sales.
"Daniel is very solid and capable and a lovely guy to work with."
"He has an enviable knowledge of the challenges and solutions for successful acquisitions and disposals in East Africa."
Chambers Global – Corporate/M&A (Expertise Based Abroad) – Recognised Practitioner in Kenya, 2023, 2024 - London-based Jennifer Chimanga co-heads the firm's East Africa practice, providing guidance and advice on inbound investments and M&A transactions. A dual-qualified lawyer in Kenya and in England and Wales, she is particularly active in the technology sector.
"Jennifer Chimanga has in-depth knowledge and business acumen concerning East Africa."
Chambers Global – Corporate/M&A (Expertise Based Abroad) – Recognised Practitioner in Kenya, 2021 - 2024 - London-based Jennifer Chimanga has a strong focus on the technology and telecoms sectors, handling a broad range of commercial and regulatory matters. She co-heads the Africa practice at Clifford Chance and is especially noted for her work concerning Kenya and East Africa.
"Jennifer is a thorough and pragmatic lawyer."
"She is absolutely fantastic."
Chambers Global – Africa-wide – Corporate/M&A & Private Equity, 2024 - Clifford Chance is an acclaimed international law firm distinguished for its involvement in business law matters in Rwanda and throughout Central and East Africa. Its experience features capital markets-related mandates, as well as cross-border transactions and foreign investments into the region. Its lawyers are also well equipped to handle international arbitration proceedings involving Rwandan entities. The law firm's Rwanda expertise is largely derived from its East Africa practice group based in its London office. Sources note that "The lawyers are commercially aware and are able to balance risk and reward in their transactional advisory work.“
Chambers Global – General Business Law (Expertise Based Abroad) – Only international law firm ranked in Rwanda, 2021 - 2024 - Clifford Chance is a highly regarded player in the Ethiopian legal market, and routinely acts on a variety of corporate and commercial concerns. The firm houses experts in M&A, private equity and project finance, with particular expertise in energy and agribusiness-related projects. "They're very experienced, they are proactive, they are very professional."
Chambers Global – General Business Law (Expertise Based Abroad) – Only international law firm ranked in Ethiopia, 2021 - 2024 - Clifford Chance is a high-profile multinational law firm with widely recognised expertise in Uganda, particularly out of its London office. The firm is regularly sought out for its handling of projects-related mandates, notably acting for lenders and sponsors on the financing and development of projects in the traditional and renewable power sectors, as well as infrastructure. Additionally, it regularly acts for international companies on acquisitions, investments and divestitures in the jurisdiction. The firm also has demonstrable proficiency in cross-border transactions through its dedicated East Africa practice group. "The firm is highly responsive to client requirements and is good at steering complex transactions involving multiple jurisdictions."
Chambers Global – General Business Law (Expertise Based Abroad) – Only international law firm ranked in Uganda, 2021 - 2024
Awards
- Private Equity Deal of the Year 2024 – MTN/Bayobab – Africa50 East2West Partnership – IFLR Africa Awards
- African Telecoms Deal of the Year 2023 – MTN/Bayobab – Africa50 East2West Partnership – IJ Global Awards
- Financial Institutions/Bank Bond Deal of the Year 2024 – Mauritius Commercial Bank USD 300m Notes Issuance – Bonds, Loans, & ESG Capital Markets Africa Awards
- Loans Deal of the Year 2021 – Trade and Development Bank Pandemic Relief Loan – IFLR Africa Awards
- African Refinancing Deal of the Year 2018 – Bujagali Hydropower Project, Uganda – IJ Global Awards
- African Power Deal of the Year 2017 – Hakan Peat-Fired, Rwanda – IJ Global Awards
- EMEA Deal of the Year 2015 – Kenya Airways ECA-backed aircraft financing, Kenya – Trade Finance
- Debt Deal of the Year 2015 – Ethiopian Railways Corp Financing, Ethiopia – African Banker
