Asafo & Co. has anticipated this moment for some time. Opening an office in Washington DC is a key step in strengthening the Firm’s reach and enhancing our ability to service our worldwide clients. In addition to adding to our core corporate strengths, this new office expands our capabilities in international public policy and in developing stronger relationships with key decision makers within the international and financing institutions in the U.S.  Our expansion to Washington also comes as the US Administration seeks to build new alliances with the African continent.

With our new office in Washington DC, U.S.-based clients will benefit from the experience and support of Asafo & Co.’s 180+ team of first tier legal professionals in Europe and in Africa. Specializing in the core sectors and practice areas that drive Africa’s economic and industrial development, Asafo & Co. is unique in its blending of African, European and US legal experts.

This new office will be headed by lawyers well-steeped in African corporate transactions. Jude Kearney, the managing partner in the Washington DC office, is a U.S. lawyer who has been a pioneer in the development of the dedicated Africa practices in US firms, and has previously chaired the Africa practices of major international firms in the past. Over the past two decades, Mr. Kearney has focused his practice exclusively on advising public and private sector clients with regard to Africa based transactions and he has lived on the African continent twice. In addition to his career as a lawyer, he served in the Clinton Administration as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Service Industries and Trade Finance, and was chief advisor on African policies. Jude is recognized for his extensive experience in oil & gas, project finance, mergers and acquisitions and privatizations in Africa. Ricardo Bernard is a partner specializing in the financing of transactions. He focuses on M&A, private equity and venture capital. Ricardo’s career has included working in New York at leading international firms, as well as at well-known development finance institutions in Africa. Before becoming one of the co-founders of the Washington DC office, Ricardo was based in Kenya. He will continue to share his time between the US and Africa. Clients will also benefit from the team’s sectoral knowledge, particularly in natural resources, energy and oil & gas, and ability to connect its network of U.S. based entities to Africa’s natural resources and energy transition initiatives.

“This is a significant step in the development of our firm launched just two years ago. Jude and Ricardo both have a very deep understanding of Africa and the key public and private stakeholders involved in Africa-related business. They are ideally positioned to launch our Washington DC office. Our pooled strengths in the key sectors and practice areas that drive progress in Africa and our shared commitment to African industrialization will further strengthen our ability to continue contributing to shaping the Continent’s future”, says Pascal Agboyibor, Managing Partner of Asafo & Co.