Anglo-French oil company Perenco has been active in Cameroon since 1993, acting in conjunction with state hydrocarbon producer SNH. Perenco’s Cameroon-based legal function is led by head of legal Alexandra Bembatoum and is known as one of the best in the oil and gas sector in Africa.

Nominators pointed in particular to the team’s skill in handling large-scale projects and for its ability to maintain vitally important commercial relationships in the region. In 2015, Perenco negotiated a final investment decision to construct a Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) production plant off the coast of Cameroon, alongside Gazprom, SNH and subsidiaries of Golar LNG.

The signing of this accord required the legal team to balance the respective wants and needs of the partner companies, expertly apply their knowledge of oil and gas law and successfully navigate the state’s regulatory environment.