On June 28, the final results of the of the 100 Legal Powerlist, an exclusive ranking of the most active business lawyers in French-speaking Africa, compiled by Africa Business+ in partnership with Jeune Afrique, were published online https://www.africabusinessplus.com/en/rankings/legalpowerlist/2024/). In its eighth year, the 2024 edition singles out 100 legal practitioners, including partners, counsels and associates working in 57 firms. The editors assess each lawyer on several criteria, including volume and complexity of files handled in 2023, underlying financial values, diversity of countries covered, as well as specific projects that stand out for their socioeconomic impact.
In maintaining his number one position in the ranking, the 100 Legal Powerlist editors point out Pascal Agboyibor’s decisive role in a number of strategic matters, particularly those involving critical minerals, an essential component for the global energy transition. Leveraging his sovereign advisory skills and in-depth expertise of critical minerals markets in Africa, the editors highlight Pascal’s role in negotiations involving major global production agreements, which have shaken up the status quo and resulted in stronger local value chains for African States.
A total of 7 Asafo & Co. lawyers are recognized in the 100 Legal Powerlist this year, the second highest number of lawyers from one firm compared with other firms in the ranking. Each is distinguished for excellence in business law, and is active in the practice areas key to the firm’s foundation and steadfast commitment to driving progress in Africa — project development, project finance, M&A, private equity, venture capital, banking and finance, capital markets, litigation, international arbitration and strategic advice to sovereigns, with a particular focus on the clean energy, mining and extractives, infrastructure, healthcare, education, technology and fintech sectors.
The Asafo & Co. lawyers ranked in the 100 Legal Powerlist include:
Pascal Agboyibor – Project Development, Project Finance, Strategic advice to sovereigns, M&A, Capital Markets
Emmanuel Avramesco – Litigation
Bob Bastos – Project Development & PPP, Project Finance, Strategic advice to sovereigns
Yacouba Coulibaly – Banking & Finance, Project Development & PPP
Benoit Diouf – Banking & Finance, Capital Markets
Louis Dubois – Project Development & PPP
Patrick Larrivé – M&A, Private Equity, Funds and VC
The entire team is immensely pleased to see the recognition the firm has achieved since it was founded in 2019. We could not have reached these results without the continued support of our clients, lawyers and staff who believe in our vision of building an international law firm entirely dedicated to the transformative work and projects that are shaping Africa’s future.