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West African business and natural resources firm Tilan Law Group launched by Daye Kaba
Highly experienced M&A, project finance, and mining lawyer Daye Kaba has announced the launch of Tilan Law Group, an independent law firm dedicated to business and natural resources law, specializing in the mining sector, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and project finance in West Africa.
New Abidjan-based firm Tilan Law Group embodies a vision of legal advisory work grounded in technical excellence, intellectual rigor, and commercial pragmatism, with its value lying in the ability to translate complex international legal frameworks into actionable, robust, and tailored solution, says founder Daye Kaba.
A trilingual and triple-qualified (New York, Ontario, Cote d’Ivoire) corporate lawyer with a history of working on complex transactions in the natural resources industry, Kaba has been a partner at international law firm Fasken, leading Canadian-based firm McCarthy Tétrault, and most recently at pan-African law firm Asafo & Co.
After leaving Asafo & Co this year to establish his own boutique business law firm, with a strong mining focus, Kaba said Tilan Law Group was looking to combine deep knowledge of the local and regional landscape with its international know-how and standards acquired through years of experience at leading international law firms.
“We aim to be the trusted legal advisor for businesses and investors operating in West Africa, including in the dynamic natural resources sector. This new chapter is both exciting and humbling. I look forward to collaborating with clients, colleagues, and partners who are shaping the future of business on the continent.”
The word "Tilan", explained Kaba, refers to the concepts of ‘Fairness’, ‘Trust’, ‘Confidence’ - values that the new firm espouses and endeavors to embody. They aim to set a new benchmark in business and natural resources law in West Africa.
Tilan Law Group assists local and international companies, investment funds, and financial institutions in structuring investments, setting up joint ventures, executing strategic cross-border transactions, as well as navigating the complex legal and regulatory frameworks governing projects in West Africa. The firm is particularly sought after for its ability to structure, document, and execute complex transactions, integrating regulatory, financial, and operational considerations, and ensuring a seamless interface between international standards and local implementation.
The firm advises Newmont Corporation in connection with its strategic partnership with Canadian company Awalé Resources Limited for the development of the Odienné gold project in Côte d’Ivoire, has also acted for Royal Gold on Ivorian law aspects related to its acquisition of Sandstorm Gold Royalties, a transaction with an aggregate value of USD 5 billion, Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations de Côte d’Ivoire (CDC-CI Capital) on several financings for innovative start-ups and SMEs, and the Côte d’Ivoire government on the ongoing reform of the Ivorian Mining Code.
With 25 years experience, Daye Kaba began his career in 2000 at the Paris office of US law firm Coudert Brothers. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Paris-Pantheon-Assas University, and Binghamton University in New York.
Last year he was made a member of the latter’s Hall of Fame for his achievements as an NCAA student athlete, in athletics and basketball. Daye Kaba founded Tilan Law Group to offer a specialised, agile platform to effectively execute client transactions.