Cabinet d’avocats

Law firm

MINING EXPERTISE

PRESENTATION

1. GENERAL
We regularly advise public and private players in the mining sector in projects located in Central Africa
(DRC, Rwanda and Republic of Congo).
Our practice covers the entire extractive process, from prospecting and extraction to processing and
distribution.
Our expertise notably includes:

• Assisting our clients in obtaining research / exploration and exploitation permits;

• Advising on the acquisition of shares or assets of extractive companies;

• Drafting and negotiating joint venture and partnership agreements;

• Drafting and negotiating financing agreements as well as related security documents for the
funding of mining activities;

• Drafting other types of mining contracts such as transfer and lease agreements.
Through close contact with clients, regulators, mining experts as well as local counsels, we have
developed in-depth knowledge and a thorough understanding of the legal, industrial and financial
framework of the ferrous and non-ferrous metals industries.

2. SUBCONTRACTORS
We have developed a strong portfolio of mining subcontractors, assisting them with all the legal aspects
of their operations, and notably the compliance of their corporate structure with the local relevant content
laws. In that context, we are regularly solicited by subcontracting companies to assist them in the
restructuring of their corporate structure in view of such compliance.

3. ARBITRATION AND INTERNATIONAL LITIGATION

We have been requested to intervene as DRC law experts in several international arbitration and
litigation proceedings in mining-related disputes. Furthermore, certain of our team members have
advised on high profile disputes between joint-venture partners involved in large mining projects.

PROVEN TRACK RECORD1

DRC
- Assisting a London-Stock Exchange listed company in the acquisition of a majority stake in a
small-scale mine in the DRC as well as day-to-day legal advice on the operations of the mine;
- Assisting an ASX-listed company in the sale of its participation in a gold mining company in
the DRC;

1
Including experience from previous firms.
 Cabinet d’avocats
Law firm

- Assisting a mining company headquartered in the DRC with several international arbitration
proceedings in relation to minority shareholder positions held in joint ventures;
- Assisting a Chinese company in connection with the conduction of a legal due diligence on two
mining companies in DRC and the issuance of a legal opinion in the framework of an IPO;
- Assisting several large mining subcontractors in their restructuring in view of compliance with
the DRC subcontracting regulation;
- Assisting a large mining and trading group in the set-up of a pre-export finance structure for its
Congolese mining subsidiaries;
- Assisting a quarry and mining group in the restructuring of its debt position with IFC and Trade
& Development Bank;
- Assisting the project sponsor in the structuring and development of a toll road project in the
DRC;
- Assisting a Chinese mining player in the legal due diligence of an important lithium asset in the
DRC in view of a potential investment;
- Assisting the DRC State in the negotiation of joint-venture partnerships with the United Arab
Emirates, mainly in the mining sector;
- Advising a DRC State-owned enterprise on the negotiation of several joint venture partnerships;
- Assisting an African development finance institution with the legal due diligence of a DRC
mining company in view of the financing of an hydroxide plant.

REPUBLIC OF CONGO (MINING AND NON-MINING WORK)

- Assisting a South African group in the set up of a partnership with a local mining company for
the exploitation of a gold deposit in the Department of Pool;
- Assisting a large logistics group in the sale of its local subsidiary;
- Assisting a Belgian bank in a potential export finance transaction for the financing of dredging
works in the Port of Pointe-Noire;
- Assisting a Singapore fund in a trade finance transaction with a Congolese oil company.

RWANDA
- Assisting Rio Tinto in its partnership with Aterian for the exploration of a lithium deposit;
- Assisting Rio Tinto in its partnership with the Rwandan State for the exploration and
exploitation of lithium.

DEDICATED TEAM

Partner Counsel Paralegal

Didier Bracke Nicolas Dupont Julie Ikoli

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