Expert legal advice to help access West African markets

 

North East businesses who are wary of the legal complexities of doing business in West Africa can now draw on the services of a highly qualified Aberdeen-based Namibian lawyer with extensive knowledge of West African legislation.

 

Dr. Leon Moller, who is also a former Petroleum Commissioner in the Ministry of Mines and Energy in Namibia, has recently joined lawyers Shepherd and Wedderburn’s Aberdeen office.

 

One of the UK’s leading law firms, Shepherd and Wedderburn has joined forces with the UK West Africa Action Group (UK WAAG) to offer enhanced legal advice for UK WAAG members planning to enter the buoyant, although challenging, West African oil and gas market.

 

UK WAAG is an industry-led marketing initiative formed in partnership with the UK government to jointly promote the UK's capabilities and increase its market share in West Africa's oil and gas industry.  The group is formed in partnership with BP, UK Trade & Investment, Scottish Development International and Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce.

 

"While there are great investment and trade opportunities in West Africa, the markets are highly demanding,” commented Jon Woodwards, International Business Director at Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce (pictured right with International Business Executive Suzanne Bird).

 

“With significantly different legal and fiscal regimes in play, expert advice is essential both in early planning to trade and throughout the life of the venture.”

 

One Aberdeen-based business which has already benefited from the new service is READ Well Services, which recently established operational capabilities in Angola and Nigeria, despite having had no previous experience in either country

 

Stan Jackson, customer support geophysicist at READ said: “Although there were inevitable difficulties along the way, expert legal advice enabled us to overcome them without serious disruption to our plans.

 

“Ongoing legal advice remains a core element of the development of these businesses ensuring compliance with local statutory requirements while also protecting the company's position in the UK.

 

“We found that, in many cases, UK law firms can only advise from the UK perspective.  They often lack the necessary expertise and detailed knowledge of West African legislation systems and local conditions.  Suitably experienced lawyers can be hard to find.’

 

Dr Moller explained the range of legal services which can be made available to UK WAAG members under the new arrangement.

 

“By joining forces with WAAG as its sole UK counsel, we can offer a wealth of hands-on experience and a unique insight into this lucrative market for group members. Shepherd and Wedderburn provides the full range of legal services required in taking an oil and gas project from conception to completion, including financing, planning, operation and maintenance, regulatory issues and re-financing.  We look forward to working with the UK WAAG members.'

 

UK WAAG has identified Angola and Nigeria as priority markets, but notes there are also opportunities in Gabon, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Namibia, and the Republic of Congo.  Click here for a recent report on one of the world’s fastest-growing economies - Equatorial Guinea.

 

To support this initiative, UK WAAG maintains a detailed database of information on the region, and provides practical advice and support to member companies.  Activities include:

 

• Production of a bi-monthly newsletter 

• Regular information packs on specific target countries 

• Access to contacts in companies in West Africa 

• Market research 

• Close contact with British Embassies and High Commissions in West Africa 

• Company profile included in the UK WAAG online directory 

• Organisation of trade missions and networking events 

• Information seminars 

• Angolan and Nigerian initiatives - unique in-market business support services in Luanda, Lagos and Port Harcourt

 

Click here for further information on UK WAAG.

 

Membership of UK WAAG is open to UK-based companies.  Information on membership and subscription can be obtained from the secretariat, based at Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, Greenhole Place, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, AB23 8EU. Tel: 01224 343 900, Fax: 01224 343 999, email: waag@agcc.co.uk

 

 

 

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