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credible difference

We are legal experts in agribusiness in Africa. We are passionate about agribusiness and the crucial impact it has on food security and GDP enhancement.

 

PROVEN
TRACK RECORD
NOVEL
SOLUTIONS
AFRICAN
FOOTPRINT
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Proven track record

Our agribusiness team has a strong track record of working with major companies across Africa to overcome complex hurdles.

We therefore have a deep understanding of the business and legal intricacies you face, and we are able to provide you with commercially astute advice that is tailored to your specific requirements and circumstances.

Additionally, we have contributed to food security in Southern Africa through being part of the South African National Coronavirus Response Team on Food and Security.

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Novel solutions

Weather, water, production, agri-tech, food safety, finance, insurance and labour are but some of the many difficulties faced by agribusinesses expanding across Africa through acquisitions, financing and trade arrangements, joint ventures, and commercialising their intellectual property.

Our wealth of expertise across all relevant areas of the law enables us to offer you simple, innovative, practical solutions to your legal, regulatory, tax, exchange control and commercial requirements, turning your challenges into opportunities.

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African footprint

Multi-jurisdictional businesses face significant risks, as well as the challenge of complying with vastly different laws and regulations.

We are Africa’s largest law firm, with offices in Eastern, Southern and Western Africa.

With more than 600 specialist practitioners, we have deep expertise and the capacity to solve all your legal, tax, forensics and IP requirements, and help you navigate regulatory hurdles, no matter where in Africa you do business.

Because we have had many years of practical experience working on the ground throughout the continent, we have developed a proven track record and a solid understanding of local cultural, commercial and geopolitical contexts, as well as long-standing partnerships with trusted firms with whom we work.

excellent on every front with expert practical advice
Legal 500 EMEA Guide
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team

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awards and rankings

ENS is recognised by leading international ranking agencies, including Chambers Global, Legal 500, IFLR1000 and the World Tax Guide, for achieving consistently high standards.

Furthermore, the firm is a regular recipient of regional awards such as DealMakers and the African Legal Awards.

Chambers GlobalLegal 500IFLR1000Dealmaker Awards
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deep experience operating across the African continent
Chambers Global Guide
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widely praised as the pre-eminent firm in the market
Chambers Global Guide
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frequently sought out for its significant expertise handling multinational and cross-border matters on behalf of market-leading clients
Chambers Global Guide
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the “go-to” firm for complex transactions and intricate legal issues
Legal 500 EMEA Guide
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quick turn-around times
Legal 500 EMEA Guide
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expertise

Agri‑finance Agri‑processing Competition Disputes Environmental Estate planning Expropriation 
(land claims)
Infrastructure Institutional 
investment
Intellectual 
property
Property and 
water rights
Structuring of 
transactions
Tax, VAT and 
exchange control
Trade (local 
and international)
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experience

AGRI FINANCE
Provision of USD50-million funding facility by an African credit financier to a major sugar producer in Kenya.
BEEF PRODUCTION
Sale of a leading South African feedlot, abattoir and beef products business for ZAR5.2-billion.
AGRI PRODUCTS
Distribution of the agri products of a Saudi Arabian diversified manufacturing company across Africa.
AGRI MARKETING
Marketing arrangements of a multinational food group for Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, and acquisitions of food processing, meat processing and ready meal businesses by this group.
TRADE MARKS AND PATENTS
Protection of the portfolio of trade marks and patents of a diversified chemical group’s fertiliser business across Africa.
WATER USE
Analysis of water use entitlements in the context of disposals and valuations by banks and other financial institutions in Southern Africa.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Dispute between a leading African agribusiness and a Ghanaian supplier of poultry products.
LAND CLAIMS
Representation of multiple land owners in connection with land claims in South Africa.
PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
Acquisition of a Namibian private game reserve with the greatest biodiversity outside of the Etosha National Park.
MACADAMIA NUTS
Advice on joint venture, supply and off-take arrangements for macadamia nuts, involving a grower and processor in Southern Africa and an Australian market leader, to establish a major macadamia processing factory and the largest tree nut distribution operation, globally.
WINE ESTATES
Disposal and restructuring of a number of high profile wine estates in the Western Cape region of South Africa.
MERGER NOTIFICATIONS
Acquisition by an agricultural solutions and technology company of a chemicals manufacturer, requiring merger notifications in Kenya, South Africa and other COMESA countries.
PIG FARMING
Advice to an agricultural development company on financing for the development of newly established pig production facilities in Uganda.
STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISE
Advice on commercial aspects in the context of statutory requirements for a state-owned meat corporation in Namibia.
BLUEBERRIES
Provision by international financiers of a EUR30-million term loan facility to a company in Mauritius to finance blueberry farming in Africa.
GLOBAL FOOD PROGRAMME
Advice to an international financier, acting on behalf of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme, on the provision of credit facilities to a dairy farm in Uganda.
PRIVATE EQUITY
EUR250-million term loan package from international financiers for a beef company, and a private equity investment into the same group.
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news

 

expertise