Africa Legal Podcast Africa Legal

It’s essential for law firms to contribute to the space they’re working in and not just have answers for hypothetical situations. In this podcast, Africa Legal host Craig Sisterson chats to Eric Gumbo about providing real-world solutions to clients.

In Africa’s dynamic and multi-faceted legal landscape, Eric Gumbo emerges as a paragon of collaborative success and relationship building. As a seasoned advocate practising at G&A Advocates LLP, a Kenyan full service law firm which he founded in 2006, Gumbo has dedicated his professional trajectory to cultivating meaningful connections with clientele spanning diverse industries.

G&A’s purpose, he says, is to provide real-world solutions to real-world problems. “Our clients are at the heart of what we do,” Gumbo told Sisterson.

Over the last 18 years, G&A Advocates LLP has become a trusted advisor, handling a number of highly complex and sensitive matters, including providing counsel in electoral disputes that have arisen following the past three presidential elections in Kenya.
In handling political disputes, Gumbo believes in fostering transparent communication which enables the firm to deliver customised solutions. “It gives us an opportunity to contribute to what you would call the ‘democratic space’ of our country,” he said.

G&A seeks to contribute to key sectors of the economy both in Kenya and in the region, and Gumbo views energy as an integral sector in Kenya, and the backbone of economic activities in the East African country. The firm plays a significant role in advising on the energy transition agenda in Kenya and the region.

Working on a Kenya-Djibouti green energy project gave G&A an opportunity to have high-level impact. “It gave us an opportunity to understand how much lawyers can impact society through deliberate and well-structured documents in a way that not only achieves success for the client’s project, but also helps them achieve greater societal objectives,” Gumbo added.

Another significant mandate that the firm recently received was advising on a recent Eurobond or sovereign debt transaction. Gumbo believes in building the capacity of Kenyan firms, so with this client G&A brought on board a few up and coming law firms which would not otherwise have had the opportunity to work on such a deal. This, he said, was done so that they could collectively contribute to the advancement and evolution of the legal landscape in Africa.

In their discussion, Gumbo shares with Sisterson the values the firm espouses, saying client centricity, tailoring solutions to best fit their needs, professionalism and integrity are their top priorities.

The podcast wraps up with Gumbo sharing the firm’s future-focused outlook which will ensure it remains relevant in the industry and society as a whole.

In this third episode of the Ubuntu Mental Health Matters Series with Dr Mathero Michelle Nkhalamba, she speaks with Thomas Pearson about imposter syndrome, a mental health condition facing many in the legal industry.

The competitive nature of the legal profession and the constant need to demonstrate expertise exacerbate feelings of inadequacy, often making even the most skilful lawyer feel like an imposter.

Renowned chartered psychologist Dr Mathero Michelle Nkhalamba explains that imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where people who are professional and capable doubt themselves and their accomplishments and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud.

She has found that it presents itself commonly among people in professions that are hypercompetitive, highly skilled or societally well regarded.
“The unique thing about the legal profession is that it’s really high stakes. It’s hyper competitive, very visible and a transparent profession. It’s a career that can expose you to a lot of criticism or a lot of praise. That puts the pressure [on one] to feel, ‘Well, am I good enough or do I even belong in this space?’ and that increases your anxiety.”

The symptoms of imposter syndrome, says Nkhalamba, manifest through feelings of inadequacy. One of the ways to help manage and prevent this, is to normalise failure.

“It’s not only in your professional life; even in your personal life you have to be okay with failing sometimes and understanding that failure is not a major setback. You’re just trying to learn something new about yourself and improve.” Every failure – including those in the legal profession – is a learning process, she says.

“Shut down the voice and remind yourself that, ‘Yes, I have had failures, I’ve had setbacks, but I’ve also had achievements.’ Acknowledge them and accept positive feedback,” she added

Nkhalamba advises that having a mindset of continual learning helps to deal with this condition.

The insightful conversation between Nkhalamba and Pearson includes information on how employers can help break the imposter syndrome mindset in the workplace and why the host and the guest of this podcast should not be allowed on the golf course!

In this Coffee Break episode, Africa Legal’s Tom Pearson chats to Mamadou Coulibaly, co-founder and managing partner of Satis Partners, about the shift in Mali’s mining regulations.

Recent bold changes to Mali’s mining regulations aim to boost the West African country’s economy while empowering local communities. Mamadou Coulibaly, a seasoned lawyer at Satis Partners sheds light on these changes that have unfolded since the 2020 political shift.

Following the regime change and national dialogue, one key resolution was to enhance revenue generation for Malians from the lucrative gold and ore mining sector. To achieve this goal, Mali's mining code underwent significant adjustments, levelling the playing field for all stakeholders.

Previously, the mining code offered varied incentives for different operations. Now, as Coulibaly notes, the revised code standardises regulations. Notable changes include increased government participation in mining activities, a revised tax regime, and mandates for 90% of the workforce to comprise local employees. Importantly, Coulibaly emphasises that these shifts reflect an international trend, with other West African nations embracing similar principles for promoting local content.

Coulibaly encourages investors to explore opportunities in smelting, processing and refining enterprises, as extractives need to be refined before being exported. Additionally, he highlights the potential in training programs. As local workforce participation becomes mandatory, there's a growing demand for specific skills. These two areas, Coulibaly suggests, could provide interesting opportunities in the years ahead.

In this podcast hosted by Tom Pearson, Jamal Fofana and Benoît Diouf from Asafo & Co. discuss the dynamic and evolving banking and finance sector across Africa.
Leading law firm Asafo & Co. is influencing positive change and growth through its innovative legal and financial strategies and solutions. Jamal Fofana, a founding member of Asafo & Co., has rejoined the firm with his blended experience gained both as in-house counsel and in private practice, equipped with a mix of legal skills required for banking, finance and project development practices in Africa.
Fofana says Asafo offers legal services on the ground that bring together their technical skills as a global firm, together with an unparalleled understanding of specific considerations involved in the African market and the pragmatism needed to close deals.
Benoît Diouf, who joined the firm in 2021, shares his insights into the banking and finance sector, and speaks about what sets the firm apart. Promoting financial inclusion is a top priority in this sector, he says.
“The banking sector is a key factor to the development of our continent and we need a strong banking system with less barriers to enable and support the development of impactful intra-African trade. We know there is a need to adapt the banking regulations across the continent to facilitate capital movement and enhance the capabilities of our banking industries,” Diouf said.
Fofana and Diouf, both advocates for local currency funding, are of the view that when it comes to larger scale infrastructure projects, creating a bridge of both awareness and facilitation between existing capital markets and Africa's demand is required.
Fofana shares the firm’s commitment to West Africa and adds that they are one of the few firms in the region with legal professionals in the banking & finance sector, and have been involved in a number of recent landmark transactions.
The experts further discuss the merits of going into securitisation and increasing the awareness of individuals willing to invest in local notes, thus having an impact on the region.
The conversation wraps up with Fofana and Diouf sharing interesting takeaways from the annual Africa Securitisation Forum, which Asafo & Co. co-organised with Deloitte for the second consecutive year in November 2023 in Lomé, Togo.

Discover the potential of Nigeria's maritime industry in our featuring Joseph Siyaidon, Esq, MCIArb from Stren & Blan Partners. Joseph explores how legal reforms and economic strategies are set to revolutionise this sector, contributing significantly to Nigeria's GDP. Join us for an insightful journey into the future of maritime opportunities in Nigeria.

In this podcast, Tom Pearson chats to Tom Onyango and Chetan Hayer, the experts at the forefront of Kenya’s internationally recognised real estate development, The Marquis.

Leading Kenyan law firm TripleOKLaw LLP has collaborated with Hayer One, a property development company, to deliver a landmark residential property in Nairobi, The Marquis. Recognised for its architectural design, superior build quality, ultra-modern finishes and a range of amenities, The Marquis has set new standards in the Kenyan property development sector.

Chetan Hayer, the CEO of Hayer One, says their vision was to create a desirable, high-value real estate development to cater for those who want to experience a high-end lifestyle.

What’s more, Hayer says that the entire project, from start to finish, has been delivered by Kenyans for Kenyans through Kenyan financing.

“It is the people of Kenya who, through their hard work, their skill and, most importantly, their resilience, have shown to the rest of the world that we can produce an extremely high, Grade A quality residential development in the heart of Nairobi which, when you put it next to any Grade A development in any other developed city in the world, would compete very well,” Hayer shared.

Tom Onyango, a senior partner at TripleOKLaw, has a wealth of experience and insight into the legal intricacies of real estate development and worked alongside Hayer on The Marquis.

Onyango says having a reputable developer, ensuring the proper title documents and approvals are in place, and understanding the interest rates when borrowing for purchase, should be among the key considerations for investors.

He adds that when it comes to legislative changes, further clarity is needed on taxation, and he explains why better financing models are needed for buyers who want to purchase properties sold off plan.

He says the legal team at TripleOKLaw is uniquely positioned to assist in the success of real estate projects in Kenya because of the team’s dedicated resources, and explains that the firm’s aim is to minimise the risks and ensure the projects succeed.

The conversation wraps up with Hayer sharing his future development plans.