from Tokyo
Law firms with an expertise in Africa energy and infrastructure have an excellent, instant opportunity to build a client base around a renewed robust interest in the region by the Japanese government and corporate sector. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe recently stated that Africa will be “an engine for world growth in the coming decades and [that] Japan has to invest more on the continent”. Indeed, a new $32 Billion US Dollars from Japan in both private and public funding is now being deployed with a focus on African development.
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Specific Africa opportunities outlined in Tokyo
I attended a very interesting briefing in Tokyo yesterday hosted by US law firm Orrick where those opportunities were outlined in great detail. The programme, headed up by Pascal Agboyibor, Partner in the Energy and Infrastructure Group and Office Leader of Orrick’s Paris office was entitled: “How to develop business in Africa for Japanese companies.” As Orrick outlined: “Japan will be signing an investment framework agreement with Mozambique later this week at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, and is expected to negotiate similar deals with additional African countries including Ghana to encourage investment in Africa.”
Importantly, Mr Agboyigor outlined how Japanese companies are well qualified to provide most of what’s needed to help in the continued expansion of the African energy and infrastructure sectors. He specifically mentioned how Japanese and other foreign companies can ameliorate risk and actively engage governmental leaders to identify, bid for and win new contracts related to Africa’s growth.
What your firm can do to build an Africa-focused Japanese client base
Law firms and lawyers within and without Africa who possess a capability to help Japanese companies enter or expand already existing operations in Africa would be wise to embark upon a proactive business development initiative aimed at the Japanese corporate market. Orrick’s effort in Tokyo is an example of one firm already doing so.
What other specific initiatives you can undertake
- Establish a blog focused exclusively on this opportunity. Call it “AfricaEnergyLawBlog” or a similar name. Or create a subsection on an already existing law blog. See China Law Blog for inspiration. Make yourself the go-to source for news and information about the emerging Africa energy opportunity for Japanese companies.
- Establish a Twitter account focused on this subject to distribute content you’ve written on your blog, and connect with and engage potential referral sources, potential clients and legal and trade media with an interest in the subject.
- Consider a series of similar seminars with a scientific approach to identification of potential clients. Fill the room with numerous executives with a pre-qualified interest in the opportunity. I outlined how corporate lawyers can do this in a previous post.
- Consider establishing a LinkedIn Group devoted to this topic. See again, China Law Blog LinkedIn Group for inspiration.
With the interest of the world’s third largest economy focused on Africa – lawyers who specialize in African energy and infrastructure ought to not just take notice – but act effectively to capture new business around this opportunity.
Filed under: Africa, AsiaLawPortal, Energy, Japan, Legal BD Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
