TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS · • Eaton Towers Ltd on the financing of its...
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TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Transcript of TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS · • Eaton Towers Ltd on the financing of its...
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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CONTENTS PAGE
Our Firm
WithsixofficesinfourAfricancountries
andover400specialisedlawyers,we
aredifferentiatedbyourindependenceand
thequalityoflegalservicesweprovide.
WedrawonouruniqueknowledgeoftheAfrican
businessenvironmentandin-depthunderstanding
ofthesocio-politicalclimatetoadviseclientsona
widerangeoflegalissues.Ouraimistoassistour
clientsinachievingtheirobjectivesassmoothly
andefficientlyaspossiblewhileminimisingthe
legalandregulatoryrisks.
Ourclientsincludecorporates,multinationals
andstate-ownedenterprisesacrossarangeof
industrysectorsaswellasfinancialinstitutions
andgovernments.
Ourexpertiseisfrequentlyrecognisedby
independentresearchorganisations.Wehave
beennamedAfricanLegalAdviseroftheYear
byDealMakersforthelastfourconsecutiveyears
andSouthAfricanLawFirmoftheYearfor2018
intheChambersAfricaAwardsforExcellence
andtheSouthAfricanProfessionalServices
Awards.Wewerealsotheonlyfirmthatwas
‘highlycommended’intheAfricanLawFirmof
theYear–LargePracticecategoryattheAfrican
LegalAwardshostedbyLegal Weekandthe
CorporateCounselAssociationofSouthAfrica
in2017andwontheTechnology,Mediaand
TelecommunicationsTeamoftheYearAward.
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.
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Our Footprint in Africa
Bowmans offices
Relationship firm
Significant transaction or advisory experience
Bowmans offices
Relationship firm
Significant transaction or advisory experience
SOUTH AFRICA MOZAMBIQUE
NIGERIA
KENYA
TANZANIA
UGANDA
Bowmans offices
Relationship firm
Significant transaction or advisory experience
SOUTH AFRICA MOZAMBIQUE
NIGERIA
KENYA
TANZANIA
UGANDA
Bowmans offices
Relationship firm
Significant transaction or advisory experience
SOUTH AFRICA MOZAMBIQUE
NIGERIA
KENYA
TANZANIA
UGANDA
Bowmans offices
Relationship firm
Significant transaction or advisory experience
SOUTH AFRICA MOZAMBIQUE
NIGERIA
KENYA
TANZANIA
UGANDA
Bowmans offices
Relationship firm
Significant transaction or advisory experience
SOUTH AFRICA MOZAMBIQUE
NIGERIA
KENYA
TANZANIA
UGANDA
Weprovideintegratedlegalservices
throughoutAfricafromsixoffices(Cape
Town,DaresSalaam,Durban,Johannesburg,
KampalaandNairobi)infourcountries
(Kenya,SouthAfrica,TanzaniaandUganda).
WeworkcloselywithleadingNigerianfirm,
UdoUdoma&Belo-Osagie,andMozambique-
basedboutiquefirm,TacianaPeãoLopes&
AdvogadosAssociados.Wealsohavestrong
relationshipswithotherleadinglawfirms
acrosstherestofAfrica.
WearerepresentativesofLexMundi,aglobal
associationwithmorethan160independentlaw
firmsinallthemajorcentresacrosstheglobe.
Thisassociationgivesusaccesstothebest
firmsineachjurisdictionrepresented.
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Technology, Media and Telecommunications
CONTENTS PAGE
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
"Leading practice with
expertise across a wide range
of IT and telecommunications
issues. Well recognised
for its work with major
telecommunications providers,
internet service providers and
financial institutions. Noted
for its considerable experience
in the regulatory space and
excellent track record in
related litigation."
– Chambers & Partners 2017
"Best known for its expertise
in broadcasting regulatory
matters, where it benefits from
its long-standing experience
acting for the national
regulator. Active on behalf of
both private and public sector
clients on contentious and
advisory matters."
– Chambers & Partners 2017
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Technology, Media and Telecommunications
CONTENTS PAGE
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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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
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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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Accolades
AFRICAN LEGAL AWARDS 2017
WewontheTechnology,MediaandTelecommunicationsTeamof
theYearAward.Wewerealso‘highlycommended’intheAfrican
LawFirmoftheYear–LargePracticeandLitigationandDispute
ResolutionTeamoftheYearcategories.
DEALMAKERS AWARDS 2018
WehavebeenidentifiedastheleadinglegaladviserinAfrica
byvolume.Thisisthefourthconsecutiveyearwehavebeen
recongnisedthisway.
INTERNATIONAL LAW OFFICE CLIENT CHOICE AWARDS
WewontheawardforSouthAfricafor2005,2006,2008,2011
andagainin2015.
INDIA BUSINESS LAW JOURNAL 2017
Wewerenamedasoneoftheleadinginternationallawfirms
forIndiawork.
WHO’S WHO LEGAL AWARDS 2016
WewerenamedSouthAfricanLawFirmoftheYear.
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36 Recognised Lawyers67 Recognised
Lawyers
TIER 1
KENYAFinancial&Corporate
Mining
SOUTH AFRICACapitalMarkets
Competition
Energy
M&A
UGANDAFinancial&Corporate
ProjectDevelopment
TIER 2
KENYAEnergy
Infrastructure
SOUTH AFRICABanking
Infrastructure
Mining
Oil&Gas
ProjectFinance
BAND 1
KENYABanking&Finance
Corporate/Commercial
Employment
SOUTH AFRICACapitalMarkets:Debt
CapitalMarkets:Equity
Competition
CorporateInvestigations
M&A
Employment
Environment
IT/Telecommunications
Projects&Energy
Shipping
Tax
UGANDAGeneralBusinessLaw
BAND 2
SOUTH AFRICABanking&Finance
DisputeResolution
Media&Broadcasting
Restructuring/Insolvency
KENYAProjects&Energy
TANZANIAGeneralBusinessLaw
IFLR1000 2018 RANKED US IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS
CHAMBERS & PARTNERS 2018 RANKED US IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS
32 Recognised Lawyers
TIER 1
KENYABanking,Finance&
CapitalMarkets
Commercial,Corporate&M&A
Employment
RealEstate&Construction
SOUTH AFRICACommercial,Corporate&M&A
Competition
Employment
Projects&Infrastructure
Shipping
UGANDALegalMarketsOverview
TIER 2
KENYADisputeResolution
Projects&Energy
SOUTH AFRICABanking&Finance
Construction
DisputeResolution
InvestmentFunds
Tax
TANZANIALegalMarketsOverview
THE LEGAL 500 EMEA 2018 RANKED US IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS
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Key Contacts
CRAIG KENNEDY Co-HeadofTechnology,MediaandTelecommunications
Johannesburg,SouthAfrica
T: +27116699349
LIVIA DYERCo-HeadofTechnology,MediaandTelecommunications
Johannesburg,SouthAfrica
T:+27116699334
RICHARD HARNEYManagingPartner,Kenya
Nairobi,Kenya
T: +254202899000
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CONTENTS PAGE
To view profiles of our lawyers, please visit www.bowmanslaw.com
DAVID MPANGA Partner
Kampala,Uganda T:+256414254540
JOHN SYEKEIPartner
Nairobi,Kenya
T:+254202899000
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Technology, Media and Telecommunications
Cape TownT: +27214807800
Dar es SalaamT: +255768988640
DurbanT: +27312650651
JohannesburgT: +27116699000
KampalaT: +256414254540
NairobiT: +254202899000
Follow us on Twitter:@Bowmans_Law
www.bowmanslaw.com
