Africa Legal

“Africa is the least interconnected continent on the planet, but the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement aims to change that,” says banking expert Iyasu Teketel of leading Ethiopian firm DABLO Law. “It’s a huge market with a billion-plus population that could trade among themselves, and, as one of the biggest economies, Ethiopia has a role to play.” With its recent economic liberalisation and fresh moves to join the WTO, Ethiopia is becoming an increasingly attractive market for African and overseas investors. Iyasu and Bruk Geremew, a co-founder and deputy managing partner at DABLO Law, believe a revamped PPP regime will help usher in an exciting future. With its experience advising on pilot municipal PPP projects for large housing developments in Addis Ababa, alongside its membership of Alliott Global Alliance®, DABLO is ready to help investors navigate new waters: https://lnkd.in/dUD7wVTD #InvestinAfrica #EthiopianOpportunities #DABLOLawFirm #PPPs #AlliottGlobalAlliance

As it works to get off the FATF “grey list”, South Africa has been addressing legislative deficiencies identified in 2023. Financial services experts Kent Davis and Lerato Lamola Esq. of Webber Wentzel take a look at the evolution and impact of group governance and anti-money laundering measures. Navigating myriad regulatory layers is a significant challenge. For example, South Africa-headquartered banks or insurers can face general South African governance rules, specific financial-sector requirements imposing obligations on controlling company boards to ensure governance frameworks overseeing the entire group, variations in local laws in other African jurisdictions, overlaid with ESG requirements, climate disclosures, AML requirements, and other standards imposed by clients.  Historically, AML requirements were seen as a parallel or isolated framework, but really they should be considered as part and parcel of the entirety of a group’s governance framework, and are a good example of how group governance should be managed, say Davis and Lamola: https://lnkd.in/d2hVgNzz #YourAfricaLegal #WebberWentzel #InvestinAfrica #GroupGovernance #AfricaLegal #WebberWentzel #AML

Africa’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry is booming, fuelled by digitalisation, urbanisation, and shifting consumer behaviour. Yet the legal landscape remains fragmented, leaving businesses and consumers vulnerable to IP infringements, data breaches, and consumer rights violations. Experts like Kereseakara Usendu and Alexandra Sobowale argue that harmonising trade laws, reducing tariffs strategically, and fully implementing the AfCFTA Agreement could unify regulations and bolster growth.  Read more about the challenges and opportunities in Africa’s evolving FMCG sector: https://lnkd.in/dhrGKj8e  #FMCG #AfCFTA #TradeLaws #Harmonisation #YourAfricaLegal #AfricaLegal #LegalNews  

In today’s fast-moving world, top legal skills aren’t enough for lawyers to succeed! From AI to climate change, ESG to talent retention, lawyers face a rapidly evolving world full of fresh challenges, and in a digital age where information can be at our fingertips in seconds, it’s vital for lawyers to offer more than technical expertise. Business law experts Johanne Hague and Medina T. of CMS Prism discuss how lawyers must be able to grow and add value in broader ways, and how the leading factor that will help lawyers of all levels thrive in our fast-changing world, is having a great attitude: https://lnkd.in/dkRCKSar “Be willing to learn and to invest your precious time in your own professional growth,” says Johanne. “Technical and legal skills can be acquired, but if you have the right attitude and remain humble regardless of your professional level, then I truly believe you can thrive in any environment.” “There's always room for improvement and learning,” says Medina, a Rising Star in this year’s ITR World Tax rankings, who worked on a range of  ‘soft skills’ including collaboration, personal branding, and leadership at a CMS Africa Academy. “I think those attributes can make you evolve from a good to a great lawyer.” Read more about the importance of the right attitude: https://lnkd.in/dkRCKSar #CMSLegal #InvestinAfrica #Mindset #CMSPrism #CMSAcademy #CareerDevelopment #Mauritius

A pivotal jurisdictional clash may be on the horizon in East Africa’s legal landscape. The East Africa Court of Justice (EACJ) recently asserted its authority to hear a case filed by former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, despite Kenya’s Supreme Court having declared its judgments final and not subject to external review. This development raises significant questions about the balance of power between national apex courts and regional judicial forums, as well as the role of international treaties in safeguarding fundamental rights. Read the full article to understand the implications for governance, rule of law, and the future of regional integration: https://bit.ly/3VCnNJ6 #EastAfrica #EACJ #LegalNews #YourAfricaLegal #AfricaLegal

As business becomes more international, and a greater range of foreign clients look to invest in Africa, lawyers offering cross-border expertise plus multilingual mastery can be the crucial connection, say Walid BEN AMOR and Imen Neifar of AvocatsTunisiensRéunis (ATR), a leading Tunisian firm that’s part of Alliott Global Alliance®. At ATR, many lawyers speak English, Italian, French and Arabic, helping them relate to and build connections with clients throughout Francophone Africa, the Middle East and Asian countries, along with North American and European investors, “It’s easy for us to attract international clients because they can be 100% sure their query will be perfectly understood by everyone, because we understand the languages used by the client,” says Imen. “It gives us an opportunity to place Tunisia as a hub, because we can really connect different cultures and different businesses.” Read more about connecting across cultures and languages: https://lnkd.in/dFvZ5nTf #TogetherAsOne #Tunisia #MultilingualLaw #AlliottGlobalAlliance

Warren Beech, CEO of Beech Veltman talks about mining trends as we head into 2025. #yourafricalegal #africalegallearn #GCForum2025 https://lnkd.in/dwqfbMiN

Ethiopia is opening up to investment! Along with transformation of its legal sector, Ethiopia is undergoing macro-economic reforms that create huge opportunities for business and investment. It's vital to handle commercial disputes in an efficient, win-win manner where possible and avoid the stifling impact of litigation, say Addisu Hailegeberiel and Arega Fentahun Mekonnen of leading Ethiopian firm DABLO Law Firm LLP. Going to the courts or tribunals should be a last resort, says Addisu Hailegeberiel, deputy managing partner at DABLO Law Firm, which is a member of the Alliott Global Alliance®, an elite coalition of 220 leading law and accounting firms in some 100 countries, With international arbitration already a popular choice for multinational disputes, sectors including construction commonly choosing ADR methods, and Ethiopia’s government now promoting ADR through its proclamations, Arega Fentahun Mekonnen says the use of ADR methods will only increase alongside Ethiopia’s fast-growing economy. Read more about dispute resolution in the new Ethiopia: https://lnkd.in/dhpDK2CG #InvestinAfrica #EthiopianOpportunities #DABLOLawFirm #ADR

Transforming Prisons, Communities, and Justice Through Education Justice Defenders, in collaboration with the University of London, marked a momentous occasion as 47 individuals—including formerly incarcerated individuals and prison officers—graduated with LLB degrees under extraordinary circumstances. These graduates are redefining justice in Africa, challenging systemic injustices, and proving that education is a powerful tool for change. Read more on how they are reshaping legal systems and defending the vulnerable: https://lnkd.in/dA5HH8bM #JusticeDefenders #LegalInnovation #TransformativeEducation #LegalNews #YourAfricaLegal #AfricaLegal

Can fintech innovation combined with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement unlock Africa’s economic potential and lift millions out of poverty? Legal experts Lerato Lamola Esq. and Yael Shafrir of Webber Wentzel believe the answer is yes. Fintech can help solve Africa’s challenges, from youth unemployment to cross-border trade, providing opportunities for economic growth across the continent. With AfCFTA having the potential to create 18 million new jobs and help lift 50 million people out of extreme poverty by 2035, fintech is essential in facilitating inclusive trade and investment. Shafrir and Lamola stress that harmonising regulations across Africa will enable fintech’s benefits to flow freely. "Africa is ripe for investment," says Lamola, noting the tremendous opportunity for foreign direct investment in this fast-growing market. Discover more about how fintech and the AfCFTA are shaping Africa’s future: https://lnkd.in/dxR4fsPx #Fintech #AfCFTA #EconomicGrowth #PovertyReduction #Investment #WebberWentzel #Africa #Innovation #FDI #Trade