Africa

Africa is poised to lead the way in providing opportunities for investment, finance and technology. Almost $6.5 bn has already been invested in East-Africa by impact funds. This cohort seeks to respond to investment, finance and business law trends that are shaping the continent. We assess these trends across several sectors such as energy, fintech, infrastructure and emerging companies. Our vision is inspired by Wangari Maathai, Nobel Laureate of 2004: “It’s the little things citizens do. That’s what will make the difference.”

Drawing insight from experts and the wider Berkeley Law network, we hope to contribute to Africa to make a lasting impact.

We cover legal trends across modern francophone and Anglophone Countries in two sub-cohorts:

A. BGS – Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa “OHADA”

Established in 2018 by UC Berkeley Law students, the OHADA Group is an integral part of the BGS, comprising passionate practitioners and students working in different areas of Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa “OHADA”.

OHADA aims to create a favourable climate for developing countries which guarantee legal and judicial security for investors and companies for its Members’ States above 2 decades (1993) through an integrated legal space conducive for a viable and lively economic space.

The Organization is leading by civil law countries except Cameroon which applies as well as common (Minority part) and civil law.

Almost French Sub-Saharan Countries are Members States (17): Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo, Comoros, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Senegal, Chad and Togo.

OHADA governing following areas of Business Law:

• Insolvency law
• General commercial law
• Organizing Securities
• Contracts for the carriage of goods by road
• Commercial companies and economic interest group
• Law of Cooperative Societies
• Organizing simplified recovery procedures and measures of execution
• Arbitration law
• Mediation

Africa will be “the place to be” for many companies and investors in consideration of growth’s expectations and wealthy resources.

There are breakthrough developments and innovative solutions, in affiliated areas of Business Law in Africa, being made nearly on a daily basis, around the world towards making investments easier, safer, quicker, and profitable through the cancellation of legal and judicial insecurities. In this purpose, as committed to academic excellence At BGS, we are delighted to make a sharing and updates of Africa Business Law practice.

The purpose of the OHADA Group is to:

• Establish a global network of legal practitioners and Berkeley Law graduates who work in OHADA area for knowledge, skill and information sharing;
• Organize events such as conferences to bring together experts and professionals in the field of learning, development, technology and science, and advocacy;
• Promote our academic and professional work on OHADA; and
• Support each other in our professional and career developments.

The BGS OHADA Group is open to all Berkeley Law graduates and those who keenly follow the developments in different areas of OHADA across the world and wish to become part of our shared values.

B. BGS – Rest of Africa, Union of African Business law Professionals

Founded in 2018 by Berkeley law students. The cohort responds to the needs of the wider Anglophone Countries.

The cohort is guided by the millennial development goal to “develop global Partnerships for development.” Accordingly, we aim as a cohort to accelerate the growth of these partnerships through creating clear pathways for investment, taxation, judicial certainty, and de-risking investments. Often these factors determine the viability of doing business in Africa.

All countries in this cohort are common law countries. These countries include; Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South-Africa, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Rwanda.

Key Areas;

We intend to support several key areas such as: Technology, Renewable Energy, infrastructure, and Oil & gas by offering unique advice on:

a) Energy, Oil and gas law
b) Startup, social enterprises and general business Setup
c) Taxation
d) Technology law (Fin-tech, Edutech, Agritech and Drone & Aviation Law)
e) Private Equity, Venture Capital and Debt or Leveraged Financings
f) Mergers & Acquisition
g) General Commercial and Corporate Law.

The Purpose:

– To create a pipeline of opportunities for investment.
– To offer support legal services that boost growth of African countries.
– To offer opportunities and facilitate efficient legal service delivery among cohort members.

The group is open to all members of Africa subject to any new requirements that may be determined by the Director.

Director

Co-Director