OUR EXPERTISE
CSR & impact project financing.
Financing (banking, corporate and projects)
DEMAIN is a legal practice with a strong experience in impact project funding, from structured financing to project financing with consideration for social, environmental and good governance issues.
We focus on bankability and risk assessment whether financing is for public projects, private projects or even public-private partnerships (PPP).
Due to our holistic practice in simple or complex financial transactions, we are involved at every key stage of your project :
• Due diligence and advice in the finance/refinance structuring
• Drawing up, review and negotiation of the financing documentation and related legal documents
• Selection of guarantees and security interest suitable for the funded project
• Assistance in the financial close, financial flow guidance and performance of conditions precedent
Our lawyers attach great importance to ensuring that any finance operation includes environmental and social safeguard provisions in its documentation.
We promote effective consideration in the financed project for people’s fundamental rights protection.
DEMAIN regularly assists multilateral development banks, national agencies and international organisations involved in sustainability and CSR standards, as well as human rights protection.
OUR EXPERTISE
African regional law CEDEAO • CEMAC • OHADA • UEMOA
Our team has an expert knowledge of regional legal systems such as CEDEAO, CEMAC, OHADA and UEMOA, thanks to our unmatched experience of business climate and infrastructure projects carried out with truly engaged clients in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The practice is made up of lawyers with special expertise in the African continent, and a particularly strong field experience in African supranational regulations alongside many actors from both the public and private sectors, on local and national scales.
Over the past few years, Sarah SAMEUR has assisted many States, multilateral development banks and private actors in the development and financing of projects in West Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea-Conakry, Mali, Senegal, Chad, Togo) and Central Africa (Cameroon, Gabon, Niger, Democratic Republic of the Congo). Sarah also dealt with financial transactions and guarantee programs (LC & SBLC) in East and Southern Africa (Kenya, Malawi, South Africa) on behalf of a French development finance institution.
Our team of lawyers’ working knowledge is perfectly complementary with the expertise of the local lawyers network we work with, totally independent and well-known for their excellence.
We work in close cooperation and our studies are always submitted to our African colleagues’ validation because of their unique knowledge and field experience of administrations and jurisdictions they work for on a daily basis : bound by the values we share and our mutual trust, it is paramount for us to work in synergy, on an equal footing and in a spirit of openness with all our colleagues.
OUR EXPERTISE
Capacity building.
Our capacity building working groups are specially adapted to our clients’ needs and level of expertise.
The practice has a strong experience in legal advice and capacity building for governments, public authorities (ministries, agencies, independent authorities), senior civil servants and government officials with regards to project development and financing as well as PPP.
Our capacity building working groups combine theory training and practical negotiation simulation exercises.
OUR EXPERTISE
Human rights
International human rights law.
Our team of lawyers has acquired a solid expertise regarding international human rights law, right to asylum, children’s rights and women’s rights. We regularly handle cases on behalf of NGOs and international organisations by preparing written legal consultations regarding human rights legislation.
DEMAIN regularly assists individuals, associations and NGOs in connection with the defence of fundamental rights and protection against discrimination.
We also provide assistance with proceedings brought before United Nations bodies and regional or international courts with jurisdiction on human rights matters.
Duty of care
France broke the path regarding the duty of care : since March 2017, a number of companies are compelled to respect information and reporting standards on environment and human rights. The European Union is currently passing a directive to this end.
These companies and company groups need to implement a duty of care plan to identify any risks and prevent serious violations of human rights, basic freedom, people’s health and safety, and environment. DEMAIN will help you build this plan and the associated risk mapping in order to incorporate prevention, precautionary and mitigation measures.
