Global law firm Baker McKenzie has once again been named "Banking & Finance Legal Adviser of the Year" at the Global Banking & Markets Africa Awards 2025 (formerly the Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Africa Awards). This marks the fourth time in five years that Baker McKenzie has clinched this prestigious title.
In addition to this remarkable achievement, the Firm has also been recognised for its advisory roles in two "Deal of the Year" transactions: the Infrastructure Finance Deal of the Year and the North Africa Deal of the Year.
Infrastructure Finance Deal of the Year – Michael Foundethakis (Partner, Paris) and his dedicated team advised the African Export-Import Bank on a USD 153 million facility agreement with African Medical Centre of Excellence Limited. This financing will support the construction of a state-of-the-art hospital in Abuja, Nigeria, in partnership with King's College London. A further team led by Ben McLaughlin (Of Counsel, Sydney) played a pivotal role in negotiating the hospital management agreement with KCH and the host government agreement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The AMCE will revolutionise intra-African trade medical tourism by offering comprehensive services in oncology, haematology, cardiology, and general healthcare, as well as training, research, and development skills. It will also serve as the headquarters for other AMCEs to be launched across Africa.
North Africa Deal of the Year – The Baker McKenzie team, led by Mostafa Lotayef (Counsel, Cairo), advised Banque Misr and a consortium of seven participating banks on a significant real estate financing deal with Palm Hills Developments, one of Cairo's largest real estate developers. The consortium includes National Bank of Egypt (NBE), Banque du Caire, Emirates NBD, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Ahli United Bank, Al Baraka Bank Egypt, and Industrial Development Bank. The banks signed a loan agreement valued at EGP 10.3 billion (USD 212.3 million) on 2 October 2024, marking the largest real estate finance deal to date in the Egyptian market. This financing will support the development of the 'Badya' project, one of Egypt’s largest real estate projects and a groundbreaking smart city.
"We are thrilled that our team has once again been recognised as the leading African Banking & Finance legal adviser. This recognition underscores our unwavering commitment to our clients' success as they continue to execute groundbreaking transactions that drive growth in trade and infrastructure development across the continent," commented Michael Foundethakis, Africa Steering Committee Chair and Global Head of Trade & Export Finance of Baker McKenzie.
Just last month, the Firm was also named EMEA Finance's African Banking Awards Best Pan-African Law Firm 2024, for the fourth consecutive year, and the team has recently been ranked Band 1 for Africa-wide Banking & Finance, celebrated for its strong track record in trade and development finance, advising blue-chip commercial lenders and multilaterals.
Baker McKenzie is a transactional powerhouse, with more than 2,500 deal practitioners in 45 countries offering leading expertise in the areas most critical to its clients. The Firm excels in complex transactions and cross-border deals; over 65% of its deals are multijurisdictional. The Firm is global and local, combining money-market sophistication with local excellence across the African continent.
In addition to this remarkable achievement, the Firm has also been recognised for its advisory roles in two "Deal of the Year" transactions: the Infrastructure Finance Deal of the Year and the North Africa Deal of the Year.
Infrastructure Finance Deal of the Year – Michael Foundethakis (Partner, Paris) and his dedicated team advised the African Export-Import Bank on a USD 153 million facility agreement with African Medical Centre of Excellence Limited. This financing will support the construction of a state-of-the-art hospital in Abuja, Nigeria, in partnership with King's College London. A further team led by Ben McLaughlin (Of Counsel, Sydney) played a pivotal role in negotiating the hospital management agreement with KCH and the host government agreement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The AMCE will revolutionise intra-African trade medical tourism by offering comprehensive services in oncology, haematology, cardiology, and general healthcare, as well as training, research, and development skills. It will also serve as the headquarters for other AMCEs to be launched across Africa.
North Africa Deal of the Year – The Baker McKenzie team, led by Mostafa Lotayef (Counsel, Cairo), advised Banque Misr and a consortium of seven participating banks on a significant real estate financing deal with Palm Hills Developments, one of Cairo's largest real estate developers. The consortium includes National Bank of Egypt (NBE), Banque du Caire, Emirates NBD, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Ahli United Bank, Al Baraka Bank Egypt, and Industrial Development Bank. The banks signed a loan agreement valued at EGP 10.3 billion (USD 212.3 million) on 2 October 2024, marking the largest real estate finance deal to date in the Egyptian market. This financing will support the development of the 'Badya' project, one of Egypt’s largest real estate projects and a groundbreaking smart city.
"We are thrilled that our team has once again been recognised as the leading African Banking & Finance legal adviser. This recognition underscores our unwavering commitment to our clients' success as they continue to execute groundbreaking transactions that drive growth in trade and infrastructure development across the continent," commented Michael Foundethakis, Africa Steering Committee Chair and Global Head of Trade & Export Finance of Baker McKenzie.
Just last month, the Firm was also named EMEA Finance's African Banking Awards Best Pan-African Law Firm 2024, for the fourth consecutive year, and the team has recently been ranked Band 1 for Africa-wide Banking & Finance, celebrated for its strong track record in trade and development finance, advising blue-chip commercial lenders and multilaterals.
Baker McKenzie is a transactional powerhouse, with more than 2,500 deal practitioners in 45 countries offering leading expertise in the areas most critical to its clients. The Firm excels in complex transactions and cross-border deals; over 65% of its deals are multijurisdictional. The Firm is global and local, combining money-market sophistication with local excellence across the African continent.
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