ENSafrica Rwanda

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credible difference

We are experts in Rwandan law, with the experience and resources required to execute large, complex mandates throughout the Great Lakes region, for foreign investors and local clients alike.

SIZE AND
CAPACITY

MULTILINGUAL

PROVEN
TRACK RECORD

AFRICAN
FOOTPRINT

Size and capacity

Our 20-strong team in Kigali is uniquely placed to guide you through unfamiliar commercial environments in Rwanda and beyond. We have unrivalled expertise in law, tax and IP, with deep specialisation in corporate commercial, finance, projects, mining, competition, technology, telecommunications, property, employment, dispute resolution and litigation.

Multilingual

We are the only fully multilingual law firm in the country, with the ability to assist you in French, English, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi and Kiswahili.

Proven track record

We have a strong track record of advising international investors, major banks, financial institutions and telecommunications firms, multilateral institutions, listed and non-listed multinational corporations, governments, mining houses, energy companies and international NGOs. In addition, we add value through our deep industry and sector knowledge.

African footprint

We are Africa’s largest law firm, with offices located in Eastern, Southern and Western Africa. Because we have many years of practical experience working on the ground throughout Africa, we have a proven track record and a solid understanding of local cultural, commercial and geopolitical contexts, as well as long-standing partnerships with trusted firms whom we work alongside in those countries where we do not have our own offices.

Contact Us

ENSafrica in Rwanda

Kacyiru
KG 7th Avenue #35
Blue Star House
1st Floor - Wing B
Kigali

tel: +250 252 551 500
PO Box 6571
Kigali

infoKGL@ENSafrica.com

What we offer

corporate commercial

Our corporate commercial team advises on various matters, including business structuring, shareholders arrangements, corporate governance, drafting and negotiation of constitution documents and various commercial agreements, business reorganisations, and mergers and acquisitions.

tax

Our tax team advises and assists client on various tax matters ranging from transfer pricing and thin capitalisation rules and taxation of intra-group transactions in general, business reorganisations, tax structuring in light of DTAs to which Rwanda is a party, VAT on cross-border service and intangible transactions, taxation of business transfer transactions, securing advance tax rulings, and representation of clients in tax disputes before the tax administration and Rwandan courts.

banking and finance

Our banking and finance team advises on various matters, including bilateral and syndicated financing transactions, derivative transactions, and financial sector regulation.

infrastructure and project development

Our infrastructure and project development team assists various clients, including developers, finance parties, and sponsors involved in energy, transportation and real estate development projects. Our experience includes drafting and negotiating various project documents such as power purchase agreements (corporate and utility scale), rooftop lease agreements, EPC contracts, concession agreements and land documents.

labour and employment

Our labour and employment team advises and assists clients on matters including collective dismissal of employees due to business restructurings, drafting employment contracts for senior, medium-level and junior employees, restraint of trade, employee stock ownership plans and other benefits schemes, and representing clients before the labour inspectorate and Rwandan courts.

competition law

Our competition law team advises on various aspects of competition law such as vertical and horizontal agreements, abuse of dominance, unfair competition, and merger control both under national and EAC and COMESA laws.

charitable organisations

Our charitable organisations team advises various charitable organisations on various aspects, including structuring their establishment in the Republic of Rwanda, drafting and negotiating agreements critical to their operations such as host country agreement and memorandum of understanding with relevant ministries, taxation of charities, and employment of expatriates.

dispute resolution

Our dispute resolution team represents clients before all levels of State courts, and in arbitration and other dispute resolution forums. The team has represented clients in precedent-setting disputes, including taxation of business transfer transactions, setting aside arbitral awards, and application of VAT on cross-border supply of services.

Doing
Business
Guide

highly experienced in litigation
Chambers Global Guide

team

awards and rankings

We have been named Rwandan National Law Firm of the Year at the IFLR Africa Awards.

Our firm is recognised by leading international ranking agencies, including Chambers Global, Legal 500, IFLR1000 and the World Tax Guide, for achieving consistently high standards. Furthermore, our firm is a regular recipient of regional awards such as DealMakers and the African Legal Awards.

the Rwandan arm of market-leading pan-African law firm ENSafrica is reputed for the quality of its tax and corporate/commercial departments
Chambers Global Guide

the Kigali team is widely recognised for its involvement in large corporate transactions, including M&A, project finance and debt recovery mandates
Chambers Global Guide

multidisciplinary team with legal practitioners having individually specialised knowledge and skills
IFLR1000

a wealth of experience engaging with government agencies and regulators
Chambers Global Guide

they were very responsive and precise – clear understanding of the brief and provision of advice and other deliverables in timely and professional fashion
IFLR1000

expertise

corporate

commercial corporate

commercial finance finance projects projects mining mining competition competition technology technology telecommunications telecommunications property property employment employment dispute

resolution dispute

resolution litigation litigation

experience

Assisting a leading TelCo on its listing by introduction on the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) with a free float of 20%. The transaction was concurrent with the delisting of an SPV holding 20% of the issuer’s shares and distribution of the SPV shares in the TelCo to its shareholders.

Advising a French DFI on the extension of a EUR 80 million facility to the Government of Rwanda to improve access to modern energy for households, enterprises and public institutions; and to enhance the efficiency of electricity service in the Republic of Rwanda.

Digital healthcare services : The deal entailed a merger between one of the world’s fastest growing digital healthcare companies, its subsidiary company, and a special purpose acquisition company, that resulted in a new company which will be able to trade on Nasdaq, in the USA.

Advising a Nordic leading renewable power producer and its partner on the various tax aspects ranging from enforcement of exemptions, structuring of flow of funds and various contractual arrangements in relation to the project for development, construction and operation of a hydroelectric power production facility of 206 MW on the Ruzizi River between Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”), and a high voltage transmission line to evacuate electricity from the plant.

Representing a Mauritius based company dealing in the supply of medical and laboratory equipment and consumables in connection with recovery of withholding retained and remitted in contravention of the double tax treaty between Rwanda and Mauritius.

Commercial litigation/Bond disputes: The matter consisted of enforcement of advance payment and performances guarantees/bonds issued by an insurance company pursuant to the construction contract.

The matter consisted of a dispute resulting from an EPC contract entered into between our Client, the Contractor (a professional power plant Engineering Procurement Construction contractor) and the Employer for completion, commissioning and testing of a 15 MW Peat Fired Power Plant in the Republic of Rwanda. The dispute involved issues of defects in the plant, failure to supply some of the equipment by the contractor, call on Chinese law governed performance bonds and retention of the contractor’s payments by the Employer.

Breach of contract/ EPC Contract: The matter consisted of a dispute arising from an EPC contract between a Joint Venture (our Client) and the employer for the designing of the Fit Out Works and Interior Decoration and Partition of state of the art commercial complex and headquarters of the employer, and the employer declined to pay part of the agreed contract price.

Pharmaceutical industry : The deal consists of a project for construction of an mRNA vaccine factory for the manufacturing of bulk drug substance and bulk drug product in Rwanda under a design, build, finance, operate, maintain and transfer framework between a Rwandan public institution and one of the major pharmaceutical companies in the World.

Private equity: The matter consisted of providing transactional legal and tax advice to our client, an international private equity fund for the acquisition of a 5-star hotel in Rwanda.

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credible difference

Size and capacity

Multilingual

Proven track record

African footprint

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