KEY CONTACT

Kamal Shah

Kamal Shah
Partner

T: +44 20 7809 2301 M: +44 7958 272 742 Email Kamal | vCard Office: London

Awards

Winner at the Africa's Strategic Partner of the Year 2017 and 2016 awards

Winner at the Africa's Strategic Partner of the Year 2017 and 2016 awards

Highly commended for our secondment programme

Highly commended for our secondment programme

Africa

Our leading Africa practice has been active in Africa for many years. We regularly advise on key mandates of wide economic, political and strategic importance across Africa. We have advised listed and private companies, financial institutions, private clients, family offices, investment companies, private equity houses, governments and state-owned entities on a range of African-related matters.
  • Profile
  • Experience
  • Key contacts

Our connection with Africa extends beyond clients; we have formed strong relationships with local law firms, governments and businesses. We visit the continent regularly and many of our team were born and lived there. Our advice is set against a background of in-depth local knowledge.

We are stand-out specialists in arbitration and litigation, asset finance, capital markets, fraud and asset recovery, oil and gas, projects and infrastructure and renewables. We have particular expertise in the aviation, banking, construction, energy, infrastructure, mineral, rail and shipping sectors.

Our Africa practice, headquartered in London, includes members from our international offices in Paris, Dubai, Singapore, Seoul and Hong Kong. This allows us to offer a full range of services to our clients.

We have a strong working relationship with leading local law firms in Africa, and well-developed secondment programme which has so far seen 50 secondees from leading African law firms and corporate entities spend time at Stephenson Harwood, along with members of our own team seconded to law firms in Africa.

"provide excellent work all round"
Chambers Global 2017

Misappropriation of assets from the Arab Republic of Egypt

Advising and managing the global tracing and recovery of approximately US$ billions in misappropriated assets by the former regime. Involving allegations of fraud, corruption and money laundering over nine jurisdictions.

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria's state-owned oil company

Advising in allegations of fraud and forgery in the high-value case involving the defence in England of several attempts to enforce a Nigerian arbitration award, now valued at over US$350 million.

Transport for Cape Town, South Africa

Advised the City of Cape Town on the establishment of its new transport authority, Transport for Cape Town. Now advising on the development of TCT's integrated transport strategies.

Large African-based mining and metals company

Defending a US$400 million claim in arbitration proceedings and concurrent English High Court proceedings which resulted in clarifying the High Court's view on seeking interim relief in support of arbitration.

African Government

Advising on previous and future transportation contracts, reviewing contract terms, potential breaches of local procurement rules and potentially set aside contracts because of undue influence/fraud.

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)

Advised on a 23% investment into an AIM-listed company, Ncondezi Energy Limited, an African power development company which is developing a coal mine and associated coal-fired power plant in the Tete region of Mozambique.

Ambience Ventures and Qalaa Holdings, Kenya and Uganda

Advised on the initial acquisition of a majority stake in the national rail operator of Kenya and Uganda, Rift Valley Railways. We subsequently advised on the buy-out of Transcentury, bringing Ambience's overall holding to 85%.

Soma Oil & Gas, Somalia

Advised on its agreement with the government of Somalia to assist in the development of the country’s hydrocarbons sector and its subsequent US$50 million equity investment.

Green Africa Power LLP

We continue to advise this fund established to stimulate private sector investment in renewable energy in sub-Sahara Africa. Providing on-going advice on all corporate and commercial needs and on its investment in African projects.

Shipping company

Advised on the commercial and legal issues of its negotiations in respect of a seven year US$360 million charter, including operation and maintenance.

Kamal Shah

Kamal Shah Partner

T: +44 20 7809 2301
M: +44 7958 272 742 Email Kamal | vCard Office: London

Latest news & insights

22 Dec 2022

From News

Kamal Shah named in Africa’s 20 Arbitration Powerlist 2022

Stephenson Harwood partner Kamal Shah has been named in Africa’s 20 Arbitration Powerlist 2022.

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18 Aug 2021

From Insights

New AFSA International Arbitration Rules set new standard for arbitration in Africa

On 1 June 2021, the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA) International Arbitration Rules came into effect (Rules).

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03 Sep 2020

From Insights

Select highlights from the East Africa International Arbitration Conference 2020

On 26-28 August 2020, the eighth edition of the East Africa International Arbitration Conference, took place on a virtual platform instead of Zanzibar.

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04 Dec 2019

From Insights

“We have a treaty!”

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, hosted a diplomatic conference in Pretoria, to finalise and adopt the fourth protocol to the Cape..

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04 Oct 2019

From News

Partner Kamal Shah publishes the African Promise

Stephenson Harwood partner Kamal Shah, along with Dr Emilia Onyema of SOAS University of London and Dr Stuart Dutson of Simmons & Simmons, has published the text of th..

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22 Aug 2019

From Insights

Interview - Ayodele Ashiata Kadiri

My name is Ayodele Ashiata Kadiri. I am a lawyer at a leading Nigerian law firm, G. Elias & Co., where I am a member of the disputes and technology, media and telecomm..

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22 Aug 2019

From Insights

Interview - Wairimu Karanja

I am a Kenyan lawyer practising in the areas of international energy law, corporate law and dispute risk advisory. I am founder of, and lead consultant at, Wairimu & C..

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22 Aug 2019

From Insights

Celebrating our Africa secondment programme

In 2007, Stephenson Harwood launched an African secondee programme, to offer lawyers in Africa the opportunity to spend time with the firm in London and help provide a..

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22 Aug 2019

From Insights

Interview - Hamid Abdulkareem

I have always been drawn to books and argumentation. In primary school, I was an avid debater, representing my school in competitions and winning laurels.

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22 Aug 2019

From Insights

Interview - Viola Echebima

My name is Viola Chimdinma Echebima. I graduated from the University of Nigeria where I obtained my LL. B. with first class Honours.

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22 Aug 2019

From Insights

Interview - Fayaz Hajee Abdoula

I joined BLC Robert & Associates (BLC Robert) in 2008, after having done my studies in the UK. I did my LLB at the University of Manchester and completed my Bar Vocati..

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22 Aug 2019

From Insights

Interview - Ernest Kaggwa Sembatya

My name is Ernest Kaggwa Sembatya, born in Uganda in 1976 during the reign of Idi Amin Dada. I am a partner at MMAKS Advocates, the leading corporate and commercial la..

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22 Aug 2019

From Insights

Interview - Suleiman Usman Kuku

My name is Suleiman Usman Kuku. I read law and graduated from the University of Jos in 2007 with an upper second class. I then went to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos C..

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22 Aug 2019

From Insights

Interview - Rosa Nduati-Mutero

My name is Rosa Nduati-Mutero. I will turn 40 this September [2019]. I have been married to Jeremy Mutero a fellow lawyer for the last 12 years and together we are ble..

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25 Jan 2019

From News

Lawyers named in The Legal 500’s Africa Specialists Powerlist

Stephenson Harwood LLP partner Kamal Shah and of counsel Duncan Bagshaw have been named in The Legal 500's 'Private Practice Powerlist: Africa Specialists'.

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16 Jan 2019

From News

Stephenson Harwood supports African investment initiative

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP is supporting an initiative to showcase Africa’s most inspiring small and medium-sized enterprises.

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© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2016. Any reference to Stephenson Harwood in this document means Stephenson Harwood LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Any reference to a partner is used to refer to a member of Stephenson Harwood LLP.