OneLegal is pleased to announce that two new law firms have joined the leading legal platform for the Portuguese speaking market. They are Brazilian law firm “Schmidt, Valois, Miranda, Ferreira & Agel” (“Schmidt Valois”) and Portuguese law firm “MC&A”.

Schmidt Valois (https://svmfa.com.br/) – Schmidt Valois is recognized in Brazil and internationally as a leading law firm in the area of natural resources and infrastructure, having a particular focus in the oil and gas, energy and mining industries. While Brazil is one of the world’s largest oil producers, Schmidt Valois is a trusted legal advisor to oil companies, contractors, financing entities and investors in general, along with public sector entities. Several Schmidt Valois partners and associates are recognized as leading experts in the oil and gas and energy industry in Brazil by the leading international legal directories, including Chambers & Partners, Leaders League, Latin Lawyer, LACCA, Who’s Who Legal, Legal 500, among others.

Schmidt Valois has offices in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. It is comprised of 18 partners and a total of 50 lawyers and other professionals.

MC&A (https://legalmca.com/pt) – MC&A has a recognized expertise in business and corporate law, with a particular focus in the lusophone markets. It was founded by its managing partner Vitor Marques da Cruz who has more than 40 years’ experience advising on complex M&A and financing transactions in infrastructure, oil and gas, energy, banking and other industries. He is recognized by the international legal directories as one of the leading Portuguese lawyers in the African market.

By joining OneLegal, Schmidt Valois significantly expands its activity in the lusophone/African markets and further reinforces its strong international credentials. The OneLegal association will allow Schmidt Valois to offer to its Brazilian and international clients best of class legal services in Angola, Mozambique, Timor-Leste, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, as well as Portugal. Schmidt Valois can further support its clients in cross border projects and transactions in the lusophone markets and beyond.

As a OneLegal member MC&A will streghten its offering in the lusophone/African markets which is the focus of the firm and its founding partner Marques da Cruz.

OneLegal founder Rui Amendoeira stated that “By adding a Brasilian law firm to our list of partners, OneLegal now covers all lusophone countries, except for Guiné Bissau. This is a significant expansion of the OneLegal footprint and further reinforces our position as a leading source of legal services in the lusophone world.”

As advised earlier, Angola (through its petroleum regulator ANPG) is promoting a new licensing round for onshore blocks in the Lower Congo and Kwanza basis (the “2023 Licensing Round”). A total of 12 blocks will be awarded, designated as KON1, KON3, KON7, KON10, KON13, KON14, KON15, KON19, CON2, CON3, CON7 and CON8), and located as depicted below:

Yesterday (19 June 2023) ANPG made the first presentation session of the 2023 Licensing Round at a hotel in Luanda. The presentation was widely attended, both in person and online, by potential investors and other stakeholders of the Angolan oil industry.

The following schedule was announced by ANPG:

• 30 September 2023 – Terms of Reference and Tender Procedures will be announced.
• 9 November 2023 – Deadline for submission of bids.
• 10 November 2023 – Bids are opened by the Tender Committee.
• 25 December 2023 – Deadline to evaluate the bids by the Tender Committee.
• 15 January 2024 – Bid results are announced.
• 19 March 2024 – Deadline to conclude negotiation of the contracts (Production Sharing Contracts)

Additional information can be obtained in the ANPG website www.anpg.co.ao. 

For any questions, please contact Rui Amendoeira at rui.amendoeira@onelegal.pt

Rui Amendoeira – OneLegal Partner

As part of its strategy to stimulate investment in new exploration and in mature oil fields, the Angolan government has approved a package of tax incentives to oil blocks during the current year of 2023. The incentives have been extensive and applicable to multiple blocks. As it may be difficult to keep track of all incentives granted, we prepared the following table with summarizes the blocks concerned and the level of tax incentives extended to each block. We hope this is helpful!

Oil Blocks 2023 Tax Incentives:

Rui Amendoeira – OneLegal Partner