- Overview
Bowmans specialises in complex domestic and cross-border finance transactions and is recognised as a leading adviser on banking and finance law in Sub-Saharan Africa.
We advise leading African and international capital providers, including sponsors, alternative capital providers, corporate and investment banks, financial institutions, funds, venture capital providers, corporate borrowers, state-owned entities, regulatory bodies, governments and insolvency and business rescue practitioners on the full spectrum of financial products.
The members of our team have extensive knowledge of leveraged and acquisition finance, structured finance, capital markets, projects and infrastructure, real estate finance, trade and export finance, commodities finance, derivatives, securitisation, preference share finance, subordinated debt and insolvency and restructuring. Their expertise extends to development finance, alternative lending, private capital and blended finance
We are actively present in key African jurisdictions and have deep relationships across the continent. This means that we have an unrivalled understanding of the requirements of local and cross-border funding transactions and can offer seamless cross-border solutions. We also have English law qualified lawyers in our team.
Related Expertise
African Legal Awards
Banking and Finance Team of the Year, 2024
Banking and Finance Team of the Year, 2022
IFLR Africa Awards
Advised on Loans Deal of the Year, 2025
Loans Firm of the Year: South Africa, 2022
Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Market Africa Awards
ESG Loan Deal of the Year, 2023
ESG Bond Deal of the Year, 2023
Metals & Mining Deal of the Year, 2023
Renewable Energy Finance Deal of the Year, 2023
Chambers
Bowmans provides deep advice relating to new ways of looking at financing frameworks, such as FinTech.
Bowmans has a stellar banking and finance practice in Kenya, with a strong track record of working on complex and high-value deals.
The team is well equipped to advise on the full gamut of transactional and regulatory mandates, including trade and project finance, debt restructuring and syndicated lending.
The firm has an excellent reputation in cross-border transactions both in Africa and beyond, supported by the Bowmans network of offices.
In South Africa, Bowmans is a well-known law firm that undertakes a wide range of financial mandates incorporating acquisition and leveraged finance, corporate loan agreements and debt restructurings, as well as offering regulatory advice.
The group represents a broad range of banking and financial clients across Africa and has experience featuring in complex deals involving numerous parties.
Legal500
The Bowmans team has a profound grasp of local and international laws & financing regulations and have wide Africa footprint which makes it very simple when engaging them on regional deals. The team is also uniquely placed in the market when advising on complex English law financing transactions.
Bowmans is frequently cited as a market leader in banking, finance and capital markets.
Its banking and finance practice advises high-profile clients, especially banks, blue chips, and state-owned enterprises, on complex cross-border matters, including capital and mezzanine debt facilities, hedging, and equity financing, with a particularly strong reputation in bond and bank funding packages.
In Kenya, the team is praised by clients for its ‘very creative solutions for client’s transactions’.
It benefits from the firm’s full-service offering, advising lenders and borrowers on the full spectrum of strategic finance matters, including debt restructuring, projects, real estate and commodities finance, acquisition finance, capital markets, leveraged and acquisition finance, and structured finance.
Recent work in Kenya has involved advising banks, lenders and bond issuers on bank securities, sovereign bonds, refinancing and syndicated loans.
The team is highly sought after for its international expertise, advising clients from the banking, energy, telecommunications, and other industries on local and cross-border transactions.
In South Africa, the team continues to handle a high volume of sustainability-linked funding transactions and large-scale restructurings.
Cross-border mandates are prominent in the ‘responsive and knowledgeable‘ team’s workload, and the group is well-versed in representing borrowers and lenders in complex matters.
Key Contacts
Ulrike Naumann
Head of Finance
Wilbert Kapinga
Senior Partner, Tanzania
Shamilah Grimwood-Norley
Partner
INVEST IN TANZANIA: Practical steps for protecting transactions and long-term investments
Webinar: In conversation with our regulators
Workshop: FATF Grey List: Impact and what’s next for Mauritius?
Infrastructure-related PPPs in South Africa – Part 3
Infrastructure-related PPPs in South Africa – Part 2
Infrastructure-related PPPs in South Africa – Part 1
Webinar: Economy, Business Restructure and Rescue in light of COVID-19



