NEW EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW CEMAC REGULATION

On November 5th, the Governor of the Central Bank for Central African States (the “BEAC”) issued a decision to extend the moratorium period granted to extractive companies to comply with CEMAC Regulation No. 02/18/CEMAC/UMAC/CM relating to foreign exchange (the “New CEMAC Regulation”) until 31 December 2021. This is rather good news for mining and petroleum … Read more

NOTABLE DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH AFRICAN AND AFRICAN COMPETITION LAW IN 2020

This brief addresses notable developments in competition law in South Africa and across the rest of Africa during the course of 2020. It includes the measures introduced by various competition law regulators in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and related cases and prosecutions. Please click here for the detailed report. For more information, please contact … Read more

CHAMBERS WHITE COLLAR CRIME 2020 (Q&A): SOUTH AFRICA

LAW AND PRACTICE  Legal Framework 1.1 Classification of Criminal Offences South Africa’s criminal legal framework consists of a mixture of common law and statutory offences, and does not consist of a formal framework of categories of offences – however, offences can be categorised in terms of severity, by way of the sentence or sanction ascribed … Read more

CHAMBERS AFRICA AWARDS 2021

Herbert Smith Freehills is pleased to announce that the firm’s Africa Practice Group has been shortlisted by Chambers Global in the following categories: Africa-wide Projects & Energy Law Firm of the Year  Africa-wide Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year Africa-wide Corporate Law Firm of the Year The winners will be announced at the Chambers … Read more

TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS: PROJECT FINANCE 2020 – SOUTH AFRICA

Authors: Brigette Baillie and Biddy Faber Trends & Developments in the South African market during 2020 South Africa has historically had a strong showing in the public-private partnership (PPP), concessions and independent power project (IPP) markets, having undertaken: PPPs in the healthcare, prisons, transport infrastructure, serviced government office accommodation and biosciences sectors; concessions in the … Read more

HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS’ JOHANNESBURG OFFICE CELEBRATES ITS 5TH ANNIVERSARY

  Herbert Smith Freehills celebrated the fifth anniversary of the launch of its office in Johannesburg, South Africa on 1 November 2020. The office has grown from a small team of two to a total staff complement of more than 85 including partners, lawyers and business services staff. With 7 partners and 5 senior consultants … Read more

AFRICA RENEWABLE ENERGY: ENERGY TRANSITION AND THE AFRICAN RENEWABLES MARKET

For our clients looking to invest in the “green” energy sector, the African renewables market is occupying a growing space in strategic thinking. Projected GDP expansion and rapid population growth will drive up energy demand in Africa, which combined with the presence of rich renewable resources (including wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower) means that African … Read more

AfCFTA PROTOCOL MUST PROVIDE A FAIR REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECTION FOR INVESTORS

Authors: Peter Leon, Ernst Muller and Natasha Rachwal Negotiators have an opportunity to fashion a regime that supports modern investment policies by promoting sustainable development.  With less than three months before the expected conclusion of negotiations on the African Continental Free Trade Area’s (AfCFTA) protocol on investment increasing attention is being paid to the protocol’s … Read more

Ethiopia’s Renewable Energy Goals

While Ethiopia has expanded its energy production capacity tenfold in the past 25 years, it continues to experience energy shortages as it struggles to meet its population’s demand for electricity. Ethiopia’s population is growing by more than 20% per year and it is struggling to provide access to electricity, which is currently available only to … Read more