Stephane is the head of our energy and infrastructure team in Paris and he also leads our Africa practice. He has over 20 years' experience in a wide range of international projects and their financings in Francophone Africa. He also advises companies, banks and States on the legal and tax aspects of their African activities, particularly in the oil, gas, mining, electricity and infrastructure sectors. His experience in this field has been varied, ranging from drafting and negotiating international project agreements (PSCs, JOAs, concessions, BOTs, JVs, farm-ins/outs, securities/guarantees, loans etc) to advising on pre-contentious or contentious matters.
Of French mother tongue, Stéphane speaks fluent English.
Credentials
- MagIndustries group in relation to its major electricity and mining projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo respectively
- the Government of Senegal on BOTs, concessions and other major investments in relation to mining, rail, airport and harbour projects
- a group of banks including Standard Chartered, KBC and Rand Merchant on a US$210m. pre-financing of crude petroleum exports in Congo-Brazzaville
- SEMOS, controlled by Anglogold, Iamgold and the IFC, in an arbitration proceeding initiated by it before the ICSID
- a syndicate of banks led by N M Rothschild & Sons on a US$90m. financing of the Morila gold mine in Mali
- a number of oil companies (including Woodside, British Gas, Mitsubishi, Chevron, Sasol, PetroSA, Dana Petroleum, Premier Oil, Tullow Oil, Baraka Petroleum, Roc Oil etc) on the negotiation of PSCs, JOAs and other documents in relation to investments in Africa
Accolades
"Stéphane Brabant has a first-class reputation amongst clients and peers because 'he has worked in the [African] continent for many years and knows it inside out.' One source comments that Brabant 'knows the legal frameworks of all the different African countries and is able to work in any one of them' "
Chambers Global 2008
"Stéphane Brabant of Herbert Smith LLP is said to be 'one of the main actors in the African mining scene' - especially in Francophone countries - as well as 'the most talented French mining lawyer', a view reflected by the research, from which he emerges with more votes than any other lawyer in his home country"
International Who's Who of Business Lawyers 2007