TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS · 2016-08-30 · telecommunications companies. A major...
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TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Transcript of TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS · 2016-08-30 · telecommunications companies. A major...
TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
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Contents
04 OurFirm
05 OurFootprintinAfrica
06 OurTechnology,MediaandTelecommunicationsSector
08 OurSpecialistServices
09 OurSignatureMatters
12 Accolades
14 KeyContacts
Technology, Media and Telecommunications
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Our Firm
Bowmans is a leading Pan-African law firm. Our track record of providing specialist legal services, both domestic and cross-border, in the fields of corporate law, banking and finance law and dispute resolution, spans over a century.
WithsixofficesinfourAfricancountries
andover400specialisedlawyers,we
aredifferentiatedbyourgeographicalreach,
independenceandthequalityoflegalservices
weprovide.
Wedrawonouruniqueknowledgeofthe
Africanbusinessenvironmentandin-depth
understandingofthesocio-politicalclimateto
adviseclientsonawiderangeoflegalissues.
Ouraimistoassistourclientsinachievingtheir
objectivesassmoothlyandefficientlyaspossible
whileminimisingthelegalandregulatoryrisks.
Ourclientsincludecorporates,multinationals
andstate-ownedenterprisesacrossarangeof
industrysectorsaswellasfinancialinstitutions
andgovernments.
Ourexpertiseisfrequentlyrecognisedby
independentresearchorganisations.Wehavebeen
namedAfricaLegalAdviserbyDealMakersfor
thelasttwoconsecutiveyears(2014and2015).
MostrecentlyourSouthAfricanofficewasnamed
SouthAfricanLawFirmoftheYearfor2016bythe
Who’s Who Legal.WealsowontheCompetition
andRegulatoryTeamoftheYearandtheIPTeam
oftheYearAwardsattheprestigiousAfricanLegal
AwardshostedbyLegal WeekandtheCorporate
LawyersAssociationin2015.
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BOWMANS
Weprovideintegratedlegalservices
throughoutAfricafromsixoffices
(Antananarivo,CapeTown,Durban,Johannesburg,
KampalaandNairobi)infourcountries(Kenya,
Madagascar,SouthAfricaandUganda).
WeworkcloselywithleadingNigerianfirm,
UdoUdoma&Belo-Osagie,whichhasofficesin
Abuja,LagosandPortHarcourt,andhavestrong
relationshipswithotherleadinglawfirmsacross
therestofAfrica.
WeprovidecoverageoffrancophoneOHADA
jurisdictionsacrossthecontinent(includingBenin,
BurkinaFaso,Burundi,Cameroon,CentralAfrican
Republic,Chad,CongoRepublic,Democratic
RepublicofCongo,Gabon,Guinea,IvoryCoast,
Mali,Mauritania,Niger,Rwanda,SenegalandTogo)
fromourofficeinMadagascar.
WearerepresentativesofLexMundi,aglobal
association,withmorethan160independentlaw
firmsinallthemajorcentresacrosstheglobe.
Thisassociationgivesusaccesstothebestfirms
ineachjurisdictionrepresented.
Our Footprint in Africa
Bowmans offices
Relationship firm
Francophone Africa coverage
Significant transaction
or advisory experience
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Technology, Media and Telecommunications
Ourspecialistsintechnology,mediaand
telecommunicationslawadviseclientsin
thissectoroperatingorlookingtoenter
intotheAfricanmarket.
Withextensiveexperienceoftheregulatory
landscapeinmanyAfricanjurisdictions,we
assistourclientsgettomarketquicklywhile
avoidingmanyofthepitfallsofoperatingin
anewjurisdiction.
Weadviseonlicensingrequirementsand
policyandmarketdevelopmentsinthishighly
regulatedsector.
Wealsoassistinawidearrayofcorporate
mergersandacquisitionsandcommercial
agreementswhichtakeintoaccount
technology,mediaandtelecommunications
regulatoryrequirements.Theserangefromall
formsofinfrastructuresharingarrangements,
tofibreopticnetworkdeployments(onan
EPC,EPCM,BOTorsimpledesignbuild
basis),tosystemintegration,software
development,softwareorplatformlicensing,
ITservices(inallformsincludingoutsourcing)
toprovidingcomprehensiveadviceondata
protection,complianceanddatabreachand
incidentresponse.
Our Technology, Media and Telecommunications Sector
"An esteemed practice for
specialist telecommunications
and technology sector
advice. Represents regulators,
technology companies and
communications service
providers in major projects
and transactions."
– Chambers & Partners 2015
"They have one of the
largest teams, and the
greatest resources, and have
been focusing on IT and
telecommunications
for a long time."
– Chambers & Partners 2016
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BOWMANS
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Technology, Media and Telecommunications
Media
Weadvisevariousmediaclientsinthecontext
oftheircommercialoperationsinSouthAfrica
andwithregardtotheirregulatoryobligations.
Wealsoregularlyadvisetheregulator,ICASA.
Technology
Ourlawyershaveagoodunderstandingofthe
legal,businessandtechnicalconsiderations
oftechnologymattersasaresultofserving
technologycompaniesinSouthAfrica,elsewhere
inAfricaandintheUnitedKingdomovera
numberofyears.
Ourexpertisecoverssoftwaredevelopment
andsystemsintegration,aswellashosting
andindirectdistributionmodelssuchasreselling
andwhitelabelling.Weoffertailoredadviceand
alwaysprovideaholisticperspectiveonhowto
mitigaterisksinherentinparticularcircumstances.
Telecommunications
Ourcloserelationshipswithgovernment
agenciesandindustryregulatorsarea
significantfactorinourabilitytoprovide
exceptionaladvicetoourtelecommunications
clientsregardingtheenvironmentsinwhich
theyoperate.
Wehaveextensiveexperienceadvising
onregulatoryrequirements,particularlyin
relationtolicensingaswellascompliance.
Wehavealsoassistedourclientstorespond
topolicyandmarketdevelopmentsinthe
sectorinKenya,SouthAfrica,Tanzaniaand
elsewhereinAfrica.
Inrecenttimes,therehasbeenamarked
increaseindealactivityinthissectoracross
Africa.InSouthAfrica,thishasincludedthe
conclusionofanumberofblackeconomic
empowermenttransactions.
Wehaveactedforvariousclientsinthese
transactionsandhavewide-rangingexpertise
regardingthetypesofissueswhichmayarise
includingownershipandcontrolrestrictions
andtheimplicationsfordealstructure,
financingandregulatoryapprovals.
Theliberalisationofthecommunications
sectorinSouthAfricahasalsoresulted
inanumberofnewsmallandmedium-
sizedentrantsaswellastheincorporation
oflocallicensedentitiesbymultinational
telecommunicationscompanies.
Amajortrendinthemarketatpresent
isamovetowardsgreatersharingof
networkinfrastructure.Wehavebeen
involvedinarangeoftransactionsto
giveeffecttosharingarrangements.
Our technology, media and
telecommunications expertise
has been ranked in the top
band by Chambers & Partners
since 2008.
Our Specialist Services
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BOWMANS
Wehaveactedfor:
• Amultinationalcompanyregardingthe
deploymentofsatelliteservicesacrossAfrica.
• CityofJohannesburgwithdrafting
ofmunicipalby-lawsontheinstallation
ofelectroniccommunicationsfacilities.
• EatonTowersLtdonthefinancingofits
acquisitionofthetowerassets/infrastructure
ofBhartiAirtelbyIFCandStandardBank.
ThetransactionwasvaluedatoverUSD100
millionandinvolvedsixAfricancountries
(Ghana,Kenya,Rwanda,Tanzania,Uganda
andZambia)aswellasIndia.
• Ericssoninrelationtonumerousnetwork
constructionandmanagementprojectsin
variousAfricancountries,includingtheDRC,
RwandaandSwaziland.
• FacebookInc.insettingupitsfirstAfrican
officeinJohannesburg.Itisenvisagedthat
theSouthAfricanofficewillservebusinesses
acrossthecontinent.
• Googleongeneralaspectsofdataprotection
andprivacyinKenyanlawandonthestateof
legislationandregulationgoverningproducts
thatutiliseNearFieldCommunication(NFC),
RadioFrequencyIdentification(RFID)and
paymentsystemtechnologiesinKenya.
• ICASAinareviewapplicationbyCellCto
setasidecallterminationrates.Thislitigation
aroseoutofthelitigationbroughtbyMTN
andVodacomfollowingwhichICASAmade
newregulationssettingcostcontrols.The
teamassistedICASAtodraftreasonsforthe
newregulationsandwithitspreparations
forthereviewapplication.Thematteris
importantbecausecallterminationratesare
akeypro-competitiveintervention,
particularlyinthemobilespace.CellC’s
withdrawalofitsreviewapplicationsupports
ICASA’spositionthattheregulationswere
bothlawfulandprocedurallyfair.
• KnowRoamingLtd,aCanadiancompany,
indraftingandnegotiatinganoriginal
equipmentmanufactureagreementwith
TCLCommunications(throughitsTCT
MobileInternationalLtdentityandthrough
theAlcatelandTCLbrands)withaviewto
procuringtheembeddingofKnowRoaming’s
softwareonTCLCommunication’sdevices.
KnowRoaming'ssoftwareenablessubscribers
toroamonforeignmobilenetworksandpay
substantiallycheaperratesthantraditional
roamingservices.
• LinkAfricainaprecedent-settingcasein
theHighCourt,SupremeCourtofAppeal
andConstitutionalCourtinanapplication
bytheCityofTshwaneregardingtheneed
toobtainpermissionfromlocalgovernment
fortheinstallationofelectronic
communicationsfacilitiesonmunicipal
property.LinkAfricawassuccessfulinthe
appealtotheConstitutionalCourtin2015.
• LiquidTelecomsinstructuringandpreparing
aframeworkagreementforthesaleand
maintenanceofductandfibreandthebuilt
tosuitoffibrelinks.
• MobileTelephoneNetworksPtyLtd(MTN)
inrelationtoitspurchasefromMultichoice
SouthAfricaPtyLtdof100%oftheissued
sharecapitalinSmartVillagePtyLtd,
afibre-to-the-homeinfrastructureand
servicescompany.
• MTNintheroll-outofitsradionetwork
acrossSouthAfricaandtheintegrationof
suchneworupgradedsitesintoitsexisting
corenetwork.
• NaspersGroupondataprotection
andprivacyissuesrelatingtoanonline
shoppingwebsite.
• NationalTreasuryregardingalllegalaspects
oftheIntegratedFinancialManagement
SystemProgramme,amulti-billionrand
projecttointegrateallgovernmentsystems.
Our Signature Matters
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Technology, Media and Telecommunications
Ourinvolvementincludesnegotiatingthe
frameworkagreementforthelicensingof
therelevantsolutionandtheattendance
maintenanceandsupportservices.
• OgerTelecominrespectofitsdisposal
ofsomeofitssharesinCellC.
• Orangeonthedisposalofallofitsshares
andshareholders’loans,comprising70%
ofTelkomKenya,toJamhuriHoldingsLtd,
ownedbyHeliosInvestmentPartners.
TheGovernmentofKenyaholdsthe
remaining30%.
• OrangeSA(formerlyFranceTelecom)
onthedisposaltoAfricell,ofitsmajority
shareholding(heldbyAtlasServicesBelgium)
initsUgandansubsidiary,OrangeUgandaLtd.
• SABMilleronthehivingoutoftheABI
BottlingdivisionofSABPtyLtdintoa
separatesubsidiary,andmorespecifically,
ontheimpactofthisonallITcontracts.
Ourworkextendedtodraftingthetransitional
serviceagreementstoensurebusiness
continuityposthiveout.
• Satelliteoperatorsonradiofrequency
spectrumlicensingrequirementsand
liaisingwithICASAandotherregulators
acrossAfrica.
• StandardCharteredBankondataprotection
inthecontextoftransitionalarrangements
fordataprocessingpursuanttothesaleof
anoperationaldivision,includingthedrafting
ofappropriatecontractualindemnities.
• SwiftNetworksLtdinconnectionwiththe
acquisitionofDirect-On-PCLtd’s
4Gwirelessbusiness.Weadvisedon
regulatoryandcomplianceissuesandassisted
SwiftNetworkstoobtainthenecessary
regulatoryapprovalsfromtheNigerian
CommunicationsCommission.
• TataCommunicationsinrespectofits
ZAR7.5billiondisposalofNeoteltoVodacom.
Ourworkincludedadvisingontheapplication
toICASAforchangeofcontrolofNeotel’s
spectrumlicences,proposedroaming
agreementsandfilingwiththecompetition
authorities.Itisoneofthelargestdeals
tobeundertakenintheSouthAfrican
telecommunicationssectortodate.Itwas
alsothefirsttransactionundertakenunder
thenewregulatoryrules.
• TEConnectivityLtdandCommscopeInc.
(Chinesewalls)inconnectionwiththe
SouthAfricanportionofthedisposalby
TEConnectivityLtdofitsbroadbandnetwork
solutionsbusinessunittoCommscopeInc.
Thistransactioninvolvedarestructuringof
theTEentitiesinSouthAfricaandthesale
oftheSouthAfricanbroadbandnetwork
solutionsbusinessunittoCommscopeInc.
• TheNLDProjectundertakenbyMTN,
NeotelandVodacom,thelargestfibre
roll-outinSouthAfricanhistory.
• Twoindependenttowercompaniesonthe
roll-outofpassiveinfrastructure,licensing
requirementsandothernecessaryaviation,
buildingandenvironmentalapprovals.
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BOWMANS
The Value of Knowing We know Africa. We acknowledge our vast potential. We understand that diversity is our strength. We embrace a collective future. We strive for the highest standards. Because, we have walked the path of experience, We can leverage what we have learnt: To discover what lies obscure, To unlock unknown potential, To lay the path towards true prosperity. We believe that in Africa, true value lies in knowing.
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Technology, Media and Telecommunications
Accolades
AFRICAN LEGAL AWARDS 2015
WereceivedtheawardsforCompetitionandRegulatoryTeamof
theYearandIPTeamoftheYear.
DEALMAKERS AWARDS 2016
WehavebeenidentifiedastheleadinglegaladviserinAfricaby
bothdealvalueandnumberoftransactions.Wewerealsoranked
thirdinSouthAfricaformergersandacquisitionsbydealvalue.
INTERNATIONAL LAW OFFICE CLIENT CHOICE AWARDS
WewontheawardforSouthAfricafor2005,2006,2008,2011
andagainin2015.
WHO’S WHO LEGAL AWARDS 2016
WewerenamedSouthAfricanLawFirmoftheYear.
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BOWMANS
49 Recognised Lawyers30 Recognised
Lawyers57 Recognised Lawyers
BAND 1
KENYABanking&Finance
Commercial,Corporate&M&A
RealEstate&Construction
SOUTH AFRICACommercial,Corporate&M&A
Competition
Construction
Labour&Employment
Projects&Infrastructure
Shipping&Transport
BAND 2
KENYADisputeResolution
Projects&Energy
SOUTH AFRICABanking&Finance
DisputeResolution
InvestmentFunds
RealEstate
Tax
TIER 1
KENYAMining
MADAGASCAREnergy&Infrastructure
SOUTH AFRICACapitalMarkets
Competition
Energy
Mergers&Acquisitions
UGANDAFinancial&Corporate
TIER 2
KENYAEnergy
Financial&Corporate
Infrastructure
SOUTH AFRICABanking
Infrastructure
Mining
Oil&Gas
ProjectFinance
BAND 1
KENYABanking&Finance
Corporate/Commercial
SOUTH AFRICACapitalMarkets:Debt
CapitalMarkets:Equity
Competition
Construction
CorporateInvestigations
Corporate/M&A
Employment
Environment
IT/Telecommunications
Projects&Energy
UGANDAGeneralBusinessLaw
BAND 2
MADAGASCAR GeneralBusinessLaw
SOUTH AFRICABanking&Finance
DisputeResolution
Media&Broadcasting
Tax
THE LEGAL 500 EMEA 2016 RANKED US IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS
CHAMBERS & PARTNERS 2016 RANKED US IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS
IFLR1000 2016 RANKED US IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS
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Technology, Media and Telecommunications
Key Contacts
JOHN W FFOOKSHeadofFrancophoneAfrica
Antananarivo,Madagascar
T:+261202243247
CRAIG KENNEDY Co-HeadofTechnology,MediaandTelecommunications
Johannesburg,SouthAfrica
T: +27116699349
LIVIA DYERCo-HeadofTechnology,MediaandTelecommunications
Johannesburg,SouthAfrica
T:+27116699334
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BOWMANS
To view profiles of our lawyers, please visit www.bowmanslaw.com
DAVID MPANGA Partner
Kampala,Uganda
T:+256414254540
ANGELA WAKIPartner
Nairobi,Kenya
T: +254202899275
JOHN SYEKEIPartner
Nairobi,Kenya
T:+254202899210
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Technology, Media and Telecommunications
AntananarivoT: +261202243247
Cape TownT +27214807800
DurbanT: +27312650651
JohannesburgT: +27116699000
KampalaT: +256414254540
NairobiT: +254202899000
Follow us on Twitter:@Bowmans_Law
www.bowmanslaw.com
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