January 31, 2025 | 2 minute read

LONDON and PARISBracewell LLP’s London and Paris offices have been recognized for their market-leading work in energy, lending and project finance across Africa over the past year, as the firm was named a finalist for seven awards – including International Law Firm of the Year – at the 2025 IFLR Africa Awards. Winners will be announced at the Mount Nelson in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 27.

Bracewell has also been shortlisted for Energy Team of the Year and Loan Team of the Year, and the firm has been recognized for its work on three deals, all of which have been named a finalist in their respective categories:

  • Oando / Nigerian Agip Oil Company (Domestic) – Led by London partner Adam Blythe, Bracewell (UK) LLP represented Eni S.p.A. as international counsel on all aspects of the sale of its wholly owned subsidiary – Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (owning operated interests in oilfields in Nigeria – to Oando PLC. This transaction recently won Africa Energy Week 2024’s (AEW) Deal of the Year.
  • CrossBoundary Energy Financing (Loans) Gordon Stewart led the Bracewell (UK) LLP team, which advised CrossBoundary Energy on their $140 million senior debt commitment from the Standard Bank of South Africa to scale their renewable energy portfolio of commercial and industrial off-takers across Africa. The groundbreaking transaction highlights the potential role of commercial funders in supporting the adoption of renewable energy solutions by businesses across Africa without straining sovereign balance sheets.
  • Feriana PV Project Financing (Projects) – Led by Anne Lapierre in Paris, Bracewell advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on the financing of two solar photovoltaic plants with a total capacity of 20 MWp, both located in Feriana, Tunisia. These projects are the first renewable energy independent power producer projects to reach financial close in Tunisia.

In addition, Adam Quigley has also been named a finalist for Rising Stars – International Lawyer of the Year. He is recognized for his work advising Eni SpA on the Oando / Nigerian Agip Oil Company transaction, which was the first significant M&A deal to complete under Nigeria’s new Petroleum Industry Act. That work is honored as a “pathfinder” transaction for how to navigate this process and work alongside the new Nigerian regulator.

The IFLR Africa Awards focus exclusively on regional transactions that break new legal ground, set market precedents or introduce innovations in deal-making and financing.