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Energy and Natural Resources

Our local and global teams have wide experience advising and representing clients and stakeholders engaged in energy, natural resources, power and related activities throughout the African continent. 

We are entering an era of unprecedented demand for energy, power generation and transmission, especially in emerging and developing economies. This requires lawyers to provide far more than legal skills alone: they need in-depth sector knowledge, commercial experience and the ability to design innovative solutions. As one of the most active law firms in Africa, we provide this level of service. 

Our clients range from the world’s largest power, oil and gas, mining and renewable companies to project sponsors, corporations, utilities, developers, banks, governments and regulators. 

Local insight, global reach: with teams in 20 African countries, our lawyers understand the political, legal, cultural, commercial and regulatory issues that impact energy and natural resources in the continent, with hubs in places such as South Africa and Morocco. Our global Energy and Natural Resources sector team includes more than 400 lawyers in key cities such as London, New York, Paris, Dubai, Perth, Beijing, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong, and many more across South America, Canada and the Nordics. 

Being part of one of the world's biggest business law firms means we can deliver fully integrated cross-border business legal services across multiple jurisdictions, collaborating with multidisciplinary colleagues around the world. 

Our people understand the technical, geographical, commercial and geopolitical factors that shape this sector in Africa and have first-hand access to contacts, sponsors and decision makers worldwide. For example, our team includes lawyers experienced in the detailed, multi-layered and often complex regulatory frameworks applying to projects and activities in this field. We advise regulators, the regulated, investors and other industry participants. 

Please contact us to discuss how we can help you to achieve your objectives.

Recognised by Chambers Global (2018-2020) in Projects and Energy in Africa-Wide.  One client lauded the firm, stating: "On every issue that we have engaged them on, they have always been proactive. There's depth to their advice, they're always reliable and consistent." Another source highlighted the firm's "deep expertise across Africa," additionally citing the team as "very responsive and upfront," with "efficient communication and product delivery."

A step forward for energy security in South Africa

On 10 June 2021, the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced amendments to schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) in terms of which, amongst other things, embedded generation projects with a capacity of up to 100 MW will become exempt from being required to be licensed with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA).