Overview

Much of our Angola-related representations involve infrastructure projects, project development, engineering, construction, and the global energy industry. In addition to industry-focused counsel, we have also handled general corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, finance and tax matters, foreign exchange issues, immigration, distribution disputes, and litigation in which our attorneys have taken depositions and developed evidence, all while working with African-based attorneys.

For operating in Angola we have a group of lawyers with experience in the traditional areas of law and with a unique insight on the country's legal environment and client needs.

Our Angola desk combines local support with access to the Mayer Brown worldwide platform by effectively using local/international based attorneys depending on the need of our clients. We handle our client issues directly from different offices depending on the nature of the assignment and the profile of the attorney to be involved. We assign a lead partner to direct and manage the assignment from inception to completion, giving our clients the comfort and security of knowing that this individual will keep them informed about the work being done at every stage.

Our attorneys are used to working to tight deadlines, and they take proactive approach to ensuring that issues are fully anticipated and resolved. In practice, this means proper analysis of the work at its outset, the early identification of potentially problematic areas, and rigorous planning and timelines, where applicable. We also make sure that our approach is flexible enough to allow for and deal with last-minutes issues, and we have a proven ability to field additional manpower at short notice whenever necessary.

In short, we do whatever it takes to meet our client’s needs and exceed their expectations.

Experience

We present ourselves as a full service law firm in Angola. Notwithstanding, due to the specificities of local market there are some areas where we have been working more intensively. Those areas are:

Joint Venture Agreements: Advising on Angolan local content requirements and the need to partner with local individuals or companies, negotiating such agreements for compliance with local law while safeguarding foreign investor’s position.
Regulatory Oil & Gas: Advising on regulatory aspects of the Angolan Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Framework, notably by reference to the Petroleum Activities Law (10/04) and ancillary regulations.
Oil & Gas Contractual Aspects: Drafting, reviewing and negotiating Production Sharing Contracts, Joint Operating Agreements, participating interest assignment agreements, sale
and purchase agreements (farm-in/out) and infrastructure/EPC contracts. Advising on how to structure transactions between Oil Operators and Oilfield Service providers, notably through the setting up of efficient subcontracting, consortium or tripartite structures.
Corporate & Securities: Advising on all legal aspects pertaining to Corporate and Securities Law in respect of Angola-Based entities and joint ventures, including the incorporation of these vehicles.

Tax: Advising on the various taxes existing in Angola, notably the ones that specifically apply to the oil industry (v.g. Petroleum Income Tax, Training Levy and other specific oil & gas regimes such as the special customs regime) or that have a particular impact on the oil business, such as Industrial Tax and Investment Income Tax withholdings.
Labor: Advising on every aspects dealing with compliance with the Angolan Labor Framework provided by the Angola General Labor Law and ancillary regulations.
Immigration: Advising on the compliance issues raised by the Angola Immigration Law and ancillary Regulations.
Foreign Exchange: Advising on the foreign exchange requirements applicable in Angola, notably by reference to the special foreign exchange regime applicable to the oil industry.
Local Content: Advising on the requirements in respect of hiring local goods and as well as on the impact of the Local Content Regulations in other domains, such as the training of Angolan Personnel.
Real Estate: Advising on all regulatory aspects pertaining to the use of land and development of real estate projects.
Banking and Finance: Advising and issuing legal opinions on facility agreements pertaining to Angola-based projects, notably infrastructure projects.
FCPA: Carry out FCPA audits on local agents and JV partners as well as conducting reviews on client’s internal procedures as to improve FCPA compliance control.

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