The Clarence Team
Clarence has a vibrant multilingual team of dedicated and internationally qualified professionals with experience in a wide range of transactions in Hispanophone, Francophone, Anglophone and Lusophone countries.
Our professionals have tried and tested project management expertise on the continent and work closely with key stakeholders, including regulators, to achieve clients’ objectives.
Partners and Directors
Abraham Abia
Managing Partner
Abraham has a “straight to the point” approach, avoiding legalese when advising clients. He worked for a Fortune Global 500 as a regional in-house lawyer, winning the Europe & Africa Excellence Initiative Award for a project on Local Content. Abraham is particularly renowned for his ability to create and implement country and sector specific standards, policies and procedures.
Areas of Expertise
Energy & Natural Resources
Corporate & Commercial
Government Relations
Environmental Laws
Customs & Local Content
Risk Management & Compliance
Employment and Immigration
Aviation & Telecommunications
Experience
▪︎ Managing Partner, Clarence Abogados & Asociados
▪︎ Attorney, Sub-Saharan Africa, Schlumberger
▪︎ Associate Attorney, Centurion Law Group
Education
▪︎ LLB and Legal Practice Course College of Law of England & Wales (now University of Law)
▪︎ BA (Hons), History, SOAS, University of London
Membership
▪︎ Attorney-at-law, Equatorial Guinean Bar Association
▪︎ Member, Institute for Energy Law
▪︎ Member, Joint-Venture Petroleum Association
Languages
Gabrielle Talon
Executive Director
Gabrielle Talon is a medical doctor and audiologist by profession and an Executive Director of Clarence Abogados & Asociados.
While she does not advise clients, she is involved in the strategy and business development side of the company.
Experience
▪︎ Executive Director, Clarence Abogados & Asociados
▪︎ F1 Doctor, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
▪︎ Paediatric Audiologist, Hounslow & Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust
Education
▪︎ Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery, St. George’s, University of London (United Kingdom)
▪︎ BSc, Audiology, University College London
Membership
▪︎ Member, British Medical Association (BMA)
▪︎ Member, British Academy of Audiology
Languages
Associates and Consultants
Bartolome Peña Guisado
Managing Associate
Areas of Expertise
Labour & Employment matters
Government Procurement and Contracts
Corporate Law
Litigation support
Local Content Regulations
Recruiting and Employee development
Employee relations
Experience
▪︎ Managing Associate, Clarence Abogados
▪︎ Legal, Icubefarm
▪︎ HR Lead & Internal Legal Advisor, Ceiba Handling, S.A.
▪︎ Associate Attorney, Centurion Law Group
▪︎ Head of EG Office, L&S Abogados
Education
▪︎ LLB, University of Córdoba (Spain)
▪︎ LLM in International Commercial Law, University of Córdoba (Spain)
▪︎ LLM in Legal Practice, University of Granada (Spain)
Membership
▪︎ Member of Lucena (Spain) Bar Association
▪︎ Certificate of Professional Aptitude (CAP) – Spain General Bar Association
Languages
Spanish and English
Ibrahim De Carvalho
Senior Legal Consultant
Areas of Expertise
Energy and Natural Resources
Employment and Immigration
Joint Ventures
Risk Management and Compliance
Corporate & Commercial
Government Relations
Experience
▪︎ Senior Legal Consultant, Clarence Abogados & Asociados (Angola)
▪︎ Legal Counsel, Schlumberger (Angola)
▪︎ Head of Legal, Angola LNG
Education
▪︎ Diploma in Global Business, Oxford University
▪︎ Executive Education, Harvard University
▪︎ LLB, Western Michigan University
Membership
▪︎ Attorney-At-Law, Angolan Bar Association
Languages
English and Portuguese
Souany Lyne Adamo
Senior Associate
A multilingual Gabonese lawyer that has assisted a number of clients in Gabon with registration, visa & immigration, due diligence and other matters. Souany is an expert in oil and gas contracts and used to work as a legal and tax consultant for EY before joining a Fortune Global 500 company where she managed the supply chain contracts department.
Areas of Expertise
Employment & Immigration
Risk Management & Compliance
Energy & Natural Resources
Tax and Customs
Experience
▪︎ Senior Associate, Clarence Abogados & Asociados (Gabon)
▪︎ Sub-Sahara Africa Supply Chain Contracts Manager, Schlumberger
▪︎ Legal and Tax Consultant, Ernst & Young
Education
▪︎ LLM, INSEEC Business School
▪︎ LLB, INSEEC Business School
Membership
▪︎ Legal and Tax Advisor, Gabon
Languages
French and English
Vanessa Neyam
Senior Associate
Vanessa is a general business law attorney.
Her practice involves among others the creation of companies, providing legal advice to companies in their day to day activities as well as company secretariat, drafting and negotiations of contracts (commercial & employment) and assistance in litigation matters. Vanessa has been involved in project financing advising both sovereign and non-sovereign loans with security package.
Areas of Expertise
Project Financing
Corporate and Commercial
Aviation
Employment
Competition
Litigation
Experience
▪︎ Senior Associate, Clarence Abogados & Asociados
▪︎ Associate at Zangue & Partners – AVOCATS
Education
▪︎ Barrister at Law (B.L), Nigerian Law School, Abuja Campus, Federal Republic of Nigeria
▪︎ Masters 1 in Business Law (uncompleted), University of Yaoundé II, Soa, Yaoundé, Cameroon
▪︎ Bachelors of Laws (LL.B), University of Buea, Cameroon
Membership
▪︎ Member, Cameroonian Bar Association
▪︎ Member, Nigerian Bar Association
Languages
English and French
Paris Zamora
Senior Associate
Areas of Expertise
Real Estate
Construction
Corporate and Commercial
Dispute Resolution and Litigation
Employment and Immigration
Experience
▪︎ Senior Associate, Clarence Abogados & Asociados
▪︎ Lecturer in Law, National University of Equatorial Guinea
▪︎ Consultant, Oko Ebobo & Asociaciados
Education
▪︎ Trading Course, Madrid Stock Exchange (Spain)
▪︎ LLB, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)
Membership
▪︎ Member, Equatorial Guinean Bar Association
Languages
Spanish and French
Jose Mariano Nsuga
Junior Associate
Areas of Expertise
Aviation
Customs
Employment
Experience
▪︎ Junior Associate, Clarence Abogados & Asociados
▪︎
Trainee, LEGESA
Education
▪︎ LLB, National University of Equatorial Guinea
Membership
▪︎ Member, Equatorial Guinea Bar Association
Languages
Spanish
Beatriz Silochi
Junior Associate
Beatriz is an excellent communicator that has been able to impress the team with her organisational skills and driven approach. Beatriz is very good at Aviation and Labour Laws.
She has helped a number of foreign investors and charities with registration formalities.
Areas of Expertise
Aviation
Corporate and Commercial
Employment & Immigration
Experience
▪︎ Junior Associate, Clarence Abogados & Asociados
▪︎ Teacher, Centro Profesional Vitae
Education
▪︎ LLB, National University of Equatorial Guinea
Languages
Spanish
Serafina Sialo
Trainee Associate
Serafina won a number of prizes while doing law at the National University of Equatorial Guinea. She is currently learning Chinese at the Confucius Institute of Equatorial Guinea where she has also participated in and won multiple awards. She is eager to learn and explore new areas of practice.
Experience
▪︎ Trainee Associate, Clarence Abogados & Asociados
Education
▪︎ LLB, National University of Equatorial Guinea
Membership
▪︎ Confucius Institute – Equatorial Guinea
Languages
Spanish and Mandarin
Special Consultants and Counsels
Adaku Ufere-Awoonor
Special Counsel
Areas of Expertise
Special Projects: Energy, Gender & Development
Experience
▪︎ Special Counsel, Clarence Abogados & Asociados
▪︎ Energy Practice Leader, Centurion Law Group
▪︎
Legal Counsel, GE Oil & Gas
Education
▪︎ Certification in Gender & Sexuality – University of British Columbia, Canada
▪︎ Certification in Gender & Sexuality – University of British Columbia, Canada
▪︎ Certification in Energy Sector Leadership – University of South Africa Graduate School of Business Leadership
▪︎ Certification in Public Management – University of California, Davis, USA
▪︎ LL.M. (Oil and Gas) – University of Aberdeen, UK
▪︎ B.L. (Hons) – Nigerian Law School, Abuja, Nigeria
▪︎ L.B. (Hons) – University of Nigeria
Membership
▪︎ Association of International Petroleum Negotiators
▪︎ Nigerian Bar Association
▪︎ International Bar Association
▪︎ International Lawyers for Africa
▪︎ Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK
▪︎ Institute for Energy Security, Ghana
▪︎ Women in African Power – a Power Africa/USAID initiative
Languages
English and Igbo
Apolonio Senobua
Special Consultant
Apolonio is a registered European lawyer and a member of the Almeria Bar Association in Spain. He is an expert in Energy and Natural Resources and has worked at the Energy Charter Secretariat.
Areas of Expertise
Energy and Natural Resources
Dispute and Litigation
Joint Ventures
Experience
▪︎ Special Consultant, Clarence Abogados & Asociados
▪︎ Partner, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Bufete casa de ley Abogados
▪︎ Attorney, Investments, Lucas & Asociados
▪︎ Associate, Energy Charter Secretariat
Education
▪︎ Contract and Civil and Commercial Litigation, University of Westminster (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives)
▪︎ Treaties Law UE (Jean Monnet)
▪︎ LLB, Universidad de Almería
Membership
▪︎ Attorney-at-law, Almeria Bar Association, Spain
▪︎ Registered European Lawyer
▪︎ Member, British Institute of International and Comparative Law
Languages
English and Spanish
Management & Business Support Team
Cristina Manga Obono
Accounting & HR Manager
Cristina has more than 7 years of experience
combined in Accounting and HR. With a bachelor in business administration and a major in Accounting, her knowledge and background provides a strong foundation that allows for accurate and thorough work.
Areas of Expertise
Payroll
Staff recruitment
Financial statements
Accounts payable
Accounts receivable and billing
Financial management
Experience
▪︎ Accountant & HR, Clarence Abogados
▪︎ HR Manager, KITEA G.E S.A
▪︎ Accountant II, Atlantic Methanol Production Company
▪︎ Accountant Intern, AMPCO
Education
▪︎ Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), University of the District of Columbia
▪︎ DDI Program (Business Knowledge)
Languages
Spanish and English
Michaela Hall
Web & Brand Manager
Michaela started
as a photographer and video/tv producer before discovering a passion for designing for print. Progressing to the web was a natural evolution. As an UI and UX evangelist, she looks after Clarence’s online and offline presence, the brand as well as ensuring cyber security. Michaela joined Clarence in early 2019.
Areas of Expertise
Web Design/Development
Print Design
Marketing
Brand Identity
User Experience Design
SEO
Experience
▪︎ In-house on/offline presence and brand consultant, Clarence Abogados
▪︎ Director of Ocho.Works, London, UK
Education
▪︎ Photography (BA Hons), University of the Arts London
▪︎ C&G TV & Video Production, College of North East London
Languages
English and German
Memberships
Latest Insights
Visa, Immigration and Employment Requirements
Visa, immigration and employment compliance is paramount, and our clients’ success largely depends on getting it right. Visa and immigration issues can have a serious impact on a company’s freedom to operate
Decree on Types of Entry Visas
The Government of Equatorial Guinea has been reviewing its development policy, with the aim of attracting foreign investors;
As a result, entry visas have been reviewed and four new types of visas are to be issued. There was also a need to regulate the entry visas contemplated under article 21, subsection…
© 2019 Clarence Abogados & Asociados is a business name of Clarence International Holding S.L. All rights reserved.