Our expertises
Public law
Public ligitation
At UGGC Africa, our expertise in the various fields of public law allows our teams to use a cross-disciplinary approach to public litigation, which is one of their primary areas of activity.
Drawing on the expertise of other teams within the firm, we provide our clients with comprehensive litigation strategies, which could involve bringing legal action before all national and European courts, including constitutional courts (for matters of constitutional justice), and administrative or ordinary courts.
The team has developed a particularly strong track record in three key litigation areas:
Litigation related to public contracts, encompassing all phases from procurement~] (pre-contractual interlocutory procedures, annulment actions, damages claims), to issues arising during the execution of contracts (performance disputes, penalties, contract termination, contractual liabilities).
Litigation regarding economic regulations (appeals and challenges to regulatory decisions made by supervisory and regulatory authorities)
Liability litigations, covering the liabilities of public entities (contractual liability, economic regulatory matters, damages linked to public infrastructure works), and private parties, particularly regarding compensation arising from anti-competitive practices
Professional ethics, deontology, compliance, disciplinary litigation, and criminal law
Additionally, our team has significant expertise in ethics, deontology, compliance, disciplinary litigation, and public criminal law. Over the years, we have developed tailored solutions addressing criminal, ethical, disciplinary, and compliance issues specific to public management and interactions between public entities and private sector operators.
Utilizing our recognized expertise in financial disciplinary law and public criminal law, the lawyers in our Public Business Law department counsel both public and private sector clients on preventive measures designed to ensure legal compliance and safeguard their executive teams from criminal liability risks (criminal risk assessments, drafting codes of ethics and conduct, compliance audits).
The team regularly represents legal entities and individuals, including senior officials involved in disciplinary proceedings (notably before the Court of Budgetary and Financial Discipline – Cour de Discipline Budgétaire et Financière), criminal cases, and clients subject to budgetary, financial, and accounting audits.
Public property and Real estate
Our team has established a highly esteemed expertise in public property law.
We regularly represent private-sector operators and public entities in transactions involving public property acquisition, recovery (occupation, assignment, transfer, leasing), and management (including outsourced asset management)
We collaborate frequently with our specialized real estate and urban planning teams to offer a holistic service that addresses every aspect of managing and enhancing public real estate assets
The team is also renowned for its specialized knowledge in the immaterial property rights of public entities and in the open access and management of public data.
Governance and public sector
UGGC Africa is widely recognized for its expertise in advising public entities on major investment and diversification projects and assisting with organizational restructuring and governance optimization. Our services cover subsidiary establishment, service outsourcing and pooling, and institutional cooperation.
We offer comprehensive support throughout every phase:
Selecting the most suitable legal structures for projects (public institutions, corporations, public interest groups, economic interest consortiums).
Defining governance rules and operational regulations.
Preparing legislative and regulatory documentation.
Drafting statutes and prudential guidelines to mitigate criminal risks.
Executing all necessary legal formalities.
Structuring contractual arrangements.
Our multi-disciplinary team integrates expertise from across the firm, including tax law, corporate law, employment law, and criminal law, to ensure seamless and effective project delivery.
Public procurement
Since its establishment, UGGC Africa has accumulated extensive expertise in public procurement law, encompassing public concessions, procurement processes, partnership agreements, and complex contractual frameworks. Today, this expertise is recognized throughout Africa, positioning UGGC Africa among the continent’s leading law firms in this field.
We provide comprehensive services to private corporations, SMEs, civil engineering firms, and public utilities, assisting them with strategic advice on public-sector business opportunities, particularly in tender processes. Our support covers tender response preparation, contract management, and dispute resolution (including formal complaints, negotiation of amendments).
Additionally, our Public Business Law department advises major national public operators on structuring and executing complex contracts, ensuring robust contracting practices, procurement procedures, and dispute management related to performance and renegotiation.
Our team possesses substantial experience in contractual litigation related to public procurement awards (pre-contractual interlocutory procedures, annulment actions, claims for damages) and contract execution. We have developed recognized capabilities in alternative dispute resolution (transactions, conciliations, mediations, arbitrations), particularly involving complex contracts.
Economic regulation
UGGC Africa is the counsel of choice for public and private-sector operators, with expertise in highly regulated sectors such as ground transportation, telecommunications, energy, healthcare, gambling, and data governance.
Our Public Business Law department combines in-depth knowledge of major sectoral regulations with familiarity with the decision-making practices of regulatory bodies. This allows us to provide tailored legal advice that supports our clients’ strategic growth while ensuring full compliance.
Our litigation practice is widely respected for its proficiency in commercial disputes before national and European courts, as well as sectoral regulatory authorities such as ARAFER. We also assist our clients with criminal and disciplinary aspects of public procurement, including charges of favouritism and unlawful interest acquisition.
