Every year the International Financial Law Review (IFLR) reviews law firms from across the globe. It also gives an analysis of market trends and the business environment. In 2013 The CEO Magazine ran a piece on top tier law firms, which has not changed. The likes of MMAKS Advocates, AF Mpanga, Katende and Sempebwa and Shunobi Advocates continue to lead the pack. The CEO Magazine, takes a look at the new kids on the block in the industry as well as those recognized as notable firms to look out for in 2015.
ENS Africa
Over 80 percent of legal fees made in Africa are repatriated to the mother companies of Law firms while only 20 percent remains on the continent. This is attributed to the perception that there is no legal expertise and human resource to manage firms in Africa. However the work done in most foreign firms is by local lawyers. This according to Donald Nyakairu is the reason he and his three partners decided to collaborate with an international law firm to ensure the money stays in the country. Formerly Synergies Solicitors and Advocates, the four partners including Alexander Kibandama, Ronald Tusingwire and Bernard Katureebe, teamed up with ENS Africa, a company that is well ranked by the International Financial Law Review (IFLR 1000 2014).
I&M Select Banking Sapphire Club wins “Best Innovation of the Year” at UMEAS 2025ENS Africa was the firm responsible for advising Absa Bank on the USD 800 million financing of the Bujagali hydroelectric power project in Uganda. This Project was awarded the Euromoney Africa Power Project of the year 2008. The firm is currently representing UNRA in the Katosi road fraud. Other clients include Housing Finance Bank, Standard Chartered and Uganda Development Bank majorly.
The firm worked with lead counsel Norton Rose Fulbright to advise Standard Chartered Bank UK in relation to its US$40 million financing in February 2014 of telecoms company Airtel Uganda.
It also won several instructions from development finance institutions, among them advising the IFC on Uganda law aspects of two $4 million facilities to Pearl Dairy Farms and FMO on a $52 million project financing for the construction of four small hydro power plants in Uganda. Allen and Overy led in the latter while ENS also handled the power purchase agreement review and land matters.
ENS Africa has also been advising the government of Uganda (Uganda National Roads Authority) in relation to a tender for the construction of new roads and motorways worth €63 million. The case involved a claim against the government by a bidder that was refused the tender.
“Our concept from the beginning was to look at the bigger picture not only in Uganda but Africa as a whole. We decided to set up a firm that has collaboration with a bigger firm which was ENS Africa. With such collaboration we are able to tap into that foreign work which would otherwise be done locally but instruction would go to the mother company. Currently we represent major banks and we think the legal environment is favorable especially in the onset of huge foreign investments from China and so on,
