Stéphane Brabant leads our energy and infrastructure group in Paris. He is also the head of our Africa practice and global head of Herbert Smith's mining group. Stéphane lived and worked in Africa for seven years and has been involved for over 20 years in a wide range of international transactions, projects and project financings in Francophone Africa on behalf of corporations, governments, banks and lending institutions, focussing in particular on the energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors. In addition to advising on general legal and tax issues, Stéphane has experience in the drafting and negotiation of a wide range of international agreements and advising on pre-contentious or contentious matters, including before local African jurisdictions.
Stéphane's practice in recent years has focused more specifically on risk mitigation and crisis management, with demonstrated experience in handling crisis situations in Africa.
Stéphane gives lectures at the French School of Mines and at the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy of the University of Dundee, where he is an honorary lecturer.
Of French mother tongue, Stéphane speaks fluent English.
Credentials
- Rio Tinto on numerous aspects of its Simandou iron ore integrated mining and infrastructure project in Guinea, including the negotiation of a Settlement Agreement with the Government of Guinea
- MagMinerals on many aspects of the Kouilou greenfield potash and infrastructure project in Congo-Brazzaville (including in relation to the project financing)
- Avion Gold Corporation on its investments in the mining sector in Mali
- MagEnergy on the structuring and financing for the rehabilitation of electricity turbines at the INGA II hydroelectric facility in Congo-Kinshasa
- Addax Petroleum in relation to its contractual arrangements with the government of a country of Central Africa, and the settlement of certain contentious issues
- Chevron on the negotiation with the Government of Congo-Kinshasa of an agreement relating to the laying and operation of a 28km offshore gas pipeline
- various international oil and gas companies on contentious and non-contentious issues relating to their activities in the upstream oil and gas sector in Francophone Africa, often involving lengthy negotiations with the local authorities
- PIC Network on an integrated infrastructure project in Benin involving the financing, implementation and exploitation of a rail liaison between Benin and Niger, an international airport and a deepwater port
- an international listed company on its strategic withdrawal from Nigeria including advising on repatriation and employment strategy, dealings and communications with local stakeholders
Accolades
"Stéphane Brabant, head of the Africa practice, is commended for his wealth of experience and knowledge of the continent. Sources recognise him as 'a person who lives and breathes Africa and is superb as regards francophone Africa work'."
Chambers Global 2012
"Stéphane Brabant is head of the Africa practice, as well as the global mining practice. Sources commend him as 'a real player in Africa,' and observe that 'he knows Africa inside out'."
Chambers Global 2012
"Stéphane Brabant …. is cited by clients as 'unparalleled in francophone Africa,' due to his on-the-ground experience in oil and gas and mining-related matters"
Chambers Global 2011