Lex Mundi and the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Present Series on Investing in Africa
Houston, Texas (PRWEB) October 17, 2013 -- Lex Mundi and the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) have joined forces to present a series of symposia in New York, Paris and London focused on investing in Africa. The symposia are specifically designed for in-house counsel advising organizations that operate in Africa or are considering entering African markets.
The half-day symposia address key challenges that arise in connection with rapidly evolving legal regimes, not only domestic rules and regulation but the increasing harmonization of laws within regional institutions such as COMESA and OHADA. Topics include assessing markets, opportunities and risks, identifying local partners, evaluating contractual issues and navigating local and foreign compliance. Panel sessions cover current developments and trends in mergers and acquisitions and international arbitration with in-depth focus on specific regions.
"The focus of foreign investment in Africa is changing,” commented Dan Agbor, Partner at Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, Lex Mundi member firm for Nigeria. “Traditional sectors, such as the extractive industries, remain important but the establishment of democratic regimes, greater political stability and a growing middle class means that Africa now provides opportunities in the sectors that serve this middle class, such as telecommunications and fast moving consumer goods."
Faculty for the symposia include senior in-house counsel from multinational corporations and senior investment bankers who share their experience and provide practical tips for doing business in the region along with partners from Lex Mundi member firms who give on-the-ground advice for Africa.
The first symposium, “Investing in Africa: Current Legal Developments and Business Opportunities,” was held in New York on October 1. Among the participants were corporate counsel from more than 50 companies such as NetApp, Inc., Zurich Financial Services, Standard Bank, Honeywell Process Solutions and Marriott International, Inc.
The second symposium, held in Paris on October 10, 2013, included 45+ in-house counsel participants from companies such as Bayer Environmental Science, Havas Media Group, Federal Express, Pernod Ricard, Intelsat, Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company, S.L.
“The presentations and discussions at the Lex Mundi/ACC Symposium in Paris were advanced and the field experience of the participants contributed significantly to the level of discussion,” stated Duncan Bagshaw of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and Mauritius International Arbitration Centre Limited (MIAC).
The final symposium in the series will be held in London on December 3, 2013. In-house counsel wishing to attend the final symposium can R.S.V.P on the Lex Mundi website at: http://www.lexmundi.com/africasymposium_UKC .
The Investing in Africa symposia series is jointly organized by the Association of Corporate Counsel and Lex Mundi’s Africa Practice Group.
Lex Mundi in Africa
With more than 500 lawyers on the ground in fifteen African jurisdictions, Lex Mundi’s member firms have experience working together to provide investors coordinated legal advice and service covering all relevant areas of commercial and financial law, including mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution, antitrust and competition, compliance and tax. Lex Mundi’s member firms in Africa are working on transactions across the continent. Together they provide extensive coverage and are committed to working together to provide on-the-ground expertise in Africa.
About Lex Mundi
Lex Mundi is the world’s leading network of independent law firms with in-depth experience in 100+ countries. Lex Mundi member firms offer clients preferred access to more than 21,000 lawyers worldwide – a global resource of unmatched breadth and depth. Each member firm is selected on the basis of its leadership in – and continued commitment to – its local market. The Lex Mundi principle is one independent firm for each jurisdiction. Firms must maintain their level of excellence to retain membership within Lex Mundi.
Through close collaboration, information-sharing, training and inter-firm initiatives, the Lex Mundi network is an assurance of connected, on-the ground expertise in every market in which a client needs to operate. Working together, Lex Mundi members are able to seamlessly handle their clients’ most challenging cross-border transactions and disputes.
Member law firms are located throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean and North America. Through our nonprofit affiliate, the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation, members also provide pro bono legal assistance to social entrepreneurs around the globe.
For more information, please visit [http://www.lexmundi.com and http://www.lexmundiprobono.org.
Kathleen Pope-Sance, Lex Mundi, 1.713.328.4521, [email protected]
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