Qualified as a French avocat and as an English and an Australian solicitor, Christophe Asselineau is recognized as one of the most experienced lawyers for African infrastructure projects and acquisitions, particularly in the energy, natural resources and water industries. He has advised investors on transactions in more than 20 countries in North and Sub-Saharan Africa, including in relation to many of the largest and most complex or politically sensitive investments made on the African continent in the past 20 years. He is also familiar with and regularly advises on matters governed by OHADA law, the common body of commercial and company laws applicable in 16 African countries.

Christophe also frequently advises energy companies seeking to operate, acquire or develop projects in France, where his comments on the French Electricity Act 2000 have been publicly acknowledged as having contributed to some of the changes subsequently made to the Act.

Christophe Asselineau is recommended as a leading energy and mining projects lawyer in Chambers, Legal 500, European Legal Experts and Who’s Who Legal. Clients interviewed by these publications have reported him to be an “impressive” and “very business-minded” lawyer and commented that he is “particularly good in negotiations,” describing him as “able to resolve complex situations in difficult jurisdictions” and someone who “keeps ideas very clear and is easy to work with.”

• Advising Newcrest on the acquisition of Lihir Gold in relation to Lihir’s African mining assets in Ivory Coast (USD 9 billion).
• Advising Areva on the sale to Kepco of interests in Areva’s Imouraren uranium project in Niger (USD 2.5 billion).
• Advising Sundance Resources on the Mbalam/Nabeba iron ore mine rail and port integrated project in Cameroon and Congo (USD 1 billion plus).
• Advising Mwana Africa PLC in its negotiation with various African governments.

• Advising AES on the development and project financing of two 216MW and 86MW gas and LFO powered plants in Cameroon (USD 470 million).
• Advising the international sponsor on the development and financing of the first Algerian IWPP (USD 300 million).
• Advising Gaz de France on the creation of its electricity trading company.

• Advising Singapore company Hyflux Ltd on the development and financing of the Magtaa desalination plant in Algeria, one of the world’s largest seawater desalination plants.
• Advising the Algerian water authorities in their negotiation with a major French utility of the City of Algiers operation and maintenance water contract.

• Advising a major African telecom company on the privatisations or acquisitions of fixed line and mobile licences in Cameroun, Mali, Burkina Faso, Gabon and Ivory Coast.

• Represented clients and acted as an expert witness on natural resources and corruption issues before Special Commissions of the United Nations, the OECD and the British Parliament.

• Lecturer on International Project Finance Law, Université Paris XI-Dauphine
• Co-chair, US Commission of the Conseil Français des Investisseurs en Afrique (CIAN, an organization representing the interests of corporations active in Africa), in charge of liaising with the Corporate Council on Africa, a comparable US body