Africa

Skadden has worked with businesses and governments in Africa for more than 20 years and continues to be retained in high-profile matters. We have established strong working relationships with leading, independent law firms in the region.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Skadden has one of the largest, most experienced mergers and acquisitions teams among the world’s top law firms. We represent a broad array of governmental entities, public and private companies, investment banks, private equity firms, and other institutions and individuals.

Our long-standing experience in handling complex, cross-border transactions and our global network of offices give Skadden a distinct advantage in serving our international clients on international transactions. Our offices outside the U.S. are staffed with both U.S. and local attorneys who represent U.S. as well as international clients in mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, sovereign wealth fund investments and other transactions. We have handled many M&A matters in Africa, including in the Congo, Guinea, Morocco and South Africa.

Private Equity

We represent private equity firms in connection with all aspects of their businesses, including structuring and organizing fund sponsors and their investment funds; executing acquisitions, financings and exit transactions; and providing corporate, securities, financing and litigation advice to portfolio companies.

Capital Markets

Corporate Finance

Skadden advises underwriters and issuers on public and private financings, including IPOs and secondary equity transactions, convertible, equity-linked and hybrid security offerings. Our experience includes the full range of leveraged finance, acquisition financing, high-yield debt and investment grade offerings, and out-of-court restructuring transactions. Our derivatives and financial products lawyers have been involved in the development and evolution of major innovations in the capital markets, and we emphasize an interdisciplinary approach to product structuring and execution.

Banking

Skadden advises on all types of financings involving commercial banks, investment banks, insurance companies, pension funds, finance companies, investment banks, private investment funds and other institutional lenders and investors, as well as LBO sponsors, private equity funds, borrowers and issuers of securities. With approximately 100 lawyers in the major financial centers, we provide a diverse client base with a sophisticated understanding of the global markets. We have experience handling banking matters in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Morocco and the Ivory Coast. We advise on virtually all types of financing transactions, including syndicated loan facilities, mezzanine financings, private placements of debt securities, letters of credit, note purchase agreements, LBOs, working capital and asset-based financings, structured products and restructurings.

International Arbitration and Litigation

Skadden has a vast breadth of knowledge and experience in the resolution of international disputes, including claims of expropriation and other investor/state disputes. We are regularly engaged in the most high-profile and complex disputes across the world’s high-growth markets.

We have provided counsel on appropriate arbitration and forum selection clauses for project finance and energy transactions, joint ventures, technology transfers, corporate financings and other transactions in numerous jurisdictions across Africa, including Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania and Tunisia.

Energy and Infrastructure Projects

Skadden represents project sponsors in developing power projects, transmission lines and gas pipelines, including negotiating power purchase agreements, construction contracts, fuel agreements, joint venture agreements, and operating and maintenance agreements. We have extensive experience with energy acquisitions, combinations and divestitures — involving electric utilities, independent power producers, natural gas pipelines, and oil and gas companies — and integrated energy regulatory, tax and environmental practices.

Mining

The firm has handled numerous acquisitions, joint ventures, regulatory work and capital markets matters in the African mining sector. These have involved iron, copper, gold and aluminium mines in South Africa, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, among others.

We have acted for governments; multinationals; mining companies; utility companies from Africa, Europe and Asia; project promoters; various consortia; and international investors.

Other Areas of Focus

Privatizations

Skadden represents both governmental and private parties in connection with the privatization of government-owned enterprises around the world. Our experience in this area, as well as with complex tax, securities and financing issues raised by privatizations, enables us to advise on all aspects of privatization programs.

As part of the conversion from a state-owned to a private-market structure, we have helped to identify, evaluate and implement effective strategies for privatizing assets, taking into account creative structures, up-to-date market knowledge, and requirements of investors, lenders and lessors.

Corporate Investigations

Our practice provides wide-ranging advice and representation to corporations and individuals involved in cross-border regulatory investigations and disputes. We have performed investigations relating to anti-corruption issues in dozens of countries, including several countries in Africa.

The practice combines an on-the-ground presence in Europe with Skadden’s experience in the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 and other government investigations, enforcement actions and internal investigations.

Technology, Media and Telecommunications

We represent licensees, investors, lenders, governments and customers in telecommunications and media-related matters. Our attorneys have experience advising on issues involving television and radio broadcasting, multichannel video programming, mobile services, satellite services, the internet and e-commerce.

Skadden’s communication clients have included some of the largest media, communications and investment firms in the world, as well as startup companies and telecommunications users.