New Africa heads for Clifford Chance

Jennifer Chimanga and Mustapha Mourahib will take over as co-heads of Clifford Chance’s Africa Group as of 1 October.

In the statement announcing the appointment, Charles Adams, Clifford Chance Global Managing Partner, noted that, “Jennifer and Mustapha are widely respected leaders who together bring combined years of high quality, commercially focused insight in a dynamic market. I have no doubt their experience will continue to develop our strong position across the African continent. I also want to thank Tony Giustini (outgoing Head of Africa) for his work and dedication to the group.”

For the past six years Chimanga has been the Co-Head of East Africa. She is a corporate, M&A partner based in London and advises leading telecoms and technology companies across the world on cross-border acquisitions, disposals and investments. Mustapha is Managing Partner of the firm's Casablanca office and has extensive experience in strategic M&A, private equity, and finance transactions in Africa.

“Clifford Chance has been my professional home since moving from my home country, Kenya, in 2011,” Chimanga said. It is an honour to be taking on the leadership of our market-leading Africa Group alongside Mustapha and working with some of the brightest legal minds to support our clients in pursuing opportunities and navigating risk in Africa.”

“Despite the global macroeconomic changes of the last years, we continue to do complex, high profile and innovative work with our international and local clients in Africa,” Mourahib added. “It’s an exciting time to do business in this part of the world and I look forward to working with Jennifer to build on our world-class service.”

Giustini gave the new appointees his full support. “I congratulate Jennifer and Mustapha. I cannot imagine a better duo to succeed me at the head of our fantastic Africa Group. Over the years, both have shown a deep commitment to developing not only our practice, but also, via the work we do for our clients, the development of the continent. They will continue to have my full support as they lead us to even bigger and better things.”

Clifford Chance covers 40 countries in Africa, with 70% international clients and 30% clients of African origin. Since the group’s start in 2006, the firm has built a strong bench of Africa specialists, with experience spanning all major jurisdictions in Africa.

Clifford Chance is ranked Band 1 by Chambers Global for Projects/Energy, Corporate/M&A and Dispute Resolution. Other awards include the Private Equity Africa Overall Legal Advisor of the Year for ten years in a row, as well as International Law Firm of the Year at the 2023 Law.com Africa Legal Awards.


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