Herbert Smith Freehills announces new Africa Group leadership team

Partner Martin Kavanagh, who was previously co-head of the firm's Africa Group, has been appointed as chair while partners Jean Meijer and Paul Morton have been appointed as the Group's new co-heads. Their roles came into effect on 1 July 2024. 

Collectively, they take over from former chair Peter Leon and former co-head Nina Bowyer, both of whom continue to be key members of the Africa Group. 

Jean Meijer, a competition partner with 30 years of experience working across Africa, has been the Managing Partner of the firm's Johannesburg office since May 2022. Recognised as one of the "top 100 women in antitrust" and a leading competition lawyer in legal guides and directories, Jean advises leading global companies in the mining, TMT, and consumer sectors as well as some of the largest financial institutions in Africa. 

Paul Morton has been working on Africa-related matters for more than 20 years. Having previously worked in the firm's Johannesburg office, Paul is currently based in Paris. His practice is pan-African, supporting clients throughout Anglophone and Francophone Africa on some of the region's most significant matters. Paul is increasingly focused on Africa's unique role in the energy transition, notably as a key source of critical minerals, but also as a focal point for investment in green and transitional energy sources.

Based in London, energy transition and infrastructure finance partner Martin Kavanagh is also the firm's Regional Head of Practice for Projects in UK, US, Middle East & Africa. He has extensive experience in the project finance and project development fields, including oil and gas, power, transport, hydroelectric and renewable power and mining sectors. A significant amount of Martin's work is focused on Africa, particularly in Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi, as well as other emerging markets such as India and Nepal. 

Martin Kavanagh, Chair of the Africa Group, Herbert Smith Freehills, said: 

"Organisations can face many legal complexities in Africa but it is an exciting place to do business and can be hugely rewarding. We have a deep track record advising on matters in Africa for over 40 years and are constantly exploring innovative ideas and different approaches for clients. The new Africa Group leadership structure brings together the three key offices of our Africa practice – Johannesburg, London and Paris – and will enable us to really draw on expertise from across our global network and from our strong relationships with local counsel to continue offering the best solutions to clients."

Recent highlight matters:  

• Acting for Lotus Resources Limited on the Kayelekera uranium project in Malawi – the country's first uranium mine once commissioned.
• Securing a significant win for the Republic of Tunisia in an ICSID arbitration, successfully ensuring 99.997% of the monetary claims against the country were dismissed. 
• Acted for Maurel & Prom on the acquisition of Wentworth Resources, the independent Tanzania-focussed natural gas production company listed on AIM. 
• Advising the Government of Malawi/International Finance Corporation on the development and structuring through a PPP model of the proposed 350MW Mpatamanga Hydropower Project in Malawi. 
• Acted for VERBUND, Austria's leading electricity company, in its partnership with TE H2, a joint venture between TotalEnergies and EREN Group, for the development of the "H2 Notos" project, a large green hydrogen project in Tunisia that will export green hydrogen to Central Europe through pipelines.
• Acted for ENGIE and G7 Renewable Energies as the preferred bidder for the Oya hybrid renewable energy project comprising a 155MW solar PV facility, a 86MW wind facility, and a 94MW battery energy storage system. The Oya project is Africa's largest hybrid energy facility.
• Acted for Diageo on its sale of Guinness Cameroon S.A for £389 million.

About Herbert Smith Freehills' Africa Group 

Herbert Smith Freehills has over 40 years of experience advising clients in the African continent. The firm has worked on matters in all 54 countries of Africa, covering French, English, Portuguese, Spanish and Arabic-speaking jurisdictions. The Africa Group consists of approximately 200 partners from across its global network of offices, including its 50-lawyer Johannesburg office which opened in 2015.