Partner/ Associé

Specialisations
• Telecommunications
• Oil &Gas and mining
• Corporate and commercial law
• Corporate mergers and acquisitions

Relevant experience at John W Ffooks & Co

April 2008 – present- Partner at John W Ffooks & Co

John W Ffooks & Co is one of Francophone Africa's leading international law firm specializing in commercial and business law, including finance, project finance, intellectual property, minerals, mining and oil & gas, environmental law, privatization, telecommunications and banking law.

I advised:

- a market leading telecom tower company on its acquisition of interests and assets in Africa. This included reviewing the transaction documents, the corporate documents and licences as well as issuing a due diligence report on the target companies.
- a leading international bank on its financing of the acquisition by a Malagasy telecom company of assets in Africa. This included reviewing the finance documents, the borrower’s corporate documents and licences and issuing a due diligence report on the borrower and its assets.
- an African bank on its financing of the acquisition by a Malagasy telecom company of certain telecom assets. I drafted the security documents, reviewed the finance documents, the borrower’s corporate documents and licences. I also drafted and issued a due diligence report on the borrower and its assets as well as a capacity opinion on the latter’s authority to sign the finance documents.
- A Switzerland telecom company on its sale of certain telecom assets to a Malagasy telecom company. I assisted the client with the transaction structure, reviewed the asset purchase agreement, drafted the security documents and conducted a due diligence on the purchaser and the latter’s authority to enter into the transaction documents.
- an AIM listed company on its acquisition of a share in a Madagascar Production Sharing Contract. This included reviewing the PSC and opining on its legality and continuing validity, performing a thorough due diligence of the project structure.
- a multinational oil and gas exploration company on the legal management of its Production Sharing Contract in Madagascar.
- a major Thai group in its acquisition of the Madagascar assets of a Canadian listed company: this included reviewing all mining asset documentation, all corporate and commercial contracts and environmental reports.
- an international Non-Governmental Organisation on its financing of a Madagascar borrower in respect of the promotion and development of Madagascar bio-agricltural products. This included reviewing credit agreements, assisting with the execution of the agreements in Madagascar and the respective compulsory filings and registration before the competent authority.
- a multinational oil and gas company as joint Guinea and Madagascar counsel to the purchaser in relation to the acquisition of various downstream petroleum assets in both country.
- a multinational mining company on its on-going mining operations in Madagascar.

Over the past few years, my practice has been focused in Francophone Africa and in particular in Madagascar, Republic of Congo, Benin, Gabon, and Senegal.