Africa Desk

Opportunities & Demands of Doing Business in Africa

Harris Sliwoski understands the opportunities and demands that come with doing business in Africa, and our experienced legal team excels at navigating diverse legal systems and business cultures found throughout the continent.

Our global presence and relationships enable us to deliver sophisticated legal advice tailored to the unique needs of our clients, which include public and private corporations, multinational companies, SMEs, governments, and other entities operating in Africa.

Harris Sliwoski’s Africa Desk is spearheaded by Ngosong Fonkem, who has both an extensive professional background and a personal connection to Africa, having grown up in Cameroon. This firsthand experience has shaped his understanding of the region’s challenges, prospects, and cultural nuances, allowing him to provide our clients with invaluable insights and strategic counsel. With Ngosong at the helm, we are positioned to address the most complex matters, forge strong partnerships, and guide our clients to success in their endeavors throughout Africa.

Infrastructure and Construction: Our Infrastructure and Construction team is dedicated to supporting clients in realizing their infrastructure projects across Africa. From project development and financing to dispute resolution, we bring extensive experience in sectors such as transportation, energy, and real estate. Our expertise ensures the smooth execution of your projects, mitigating risks and maximizing returns.

Banking, Finance, and Fintech: Our Banking and Finance team offers sophisticated counsel on a wide range of financial matters, including project finance, structured finance, fintech, venture capital, private equity, and capital markets transactions. With a deep understanding of the African financial landscape, we have successfully advised lenders, borrowers, investors, and companies, facilitating financial transactions that propel business growth.

Employment and Immigration: Navigating the ever-evolving landscape of employment and immigration law is vital for businesses operating in Africa. Our Employment and Immigration team offers comprehensive guidance on employment contracts, work permits, and immigration compliance. Across diverse industries such as financial services, telecommunications, and hospitality, we provide sound legal advice to ensure compliance and to optimize workforce management.

Key Africa Projects

• Represented U.S. coffee importer in transaction with Kenyan high net worth investor and in related corporate governance and investment matters.
• Provided U.S investment manager with cross-border advisory work related to Uganda.
• Represented large U.S. company on collecting its U.S. judgment against defendant with assets in Egypt.
• Managed trademark portfolios spanning jurisdictions across Africa.
• Provided legal counsel to U.S. company on its greenfield construction project to build a palm kernel oil facility in Sierra Leone.
• Provided U.S. company with legal counsel on setup and operations of Gambian flagged vessel.
• Provided legal counsel to a U.S. company regarding a government fishing concession in Gambia.
• Provided legal counsel to Tanzanian agribusiness company on importation of food products into the United States.
• Provided legal counsel to U.S. technology company on market entry and business operations in South Africa.