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.
Management
Abraham Abia
Managing Partner
Abraham Abia is widely recognised as one of the leading energy lawyers in Equatorial Guinea, speaking at events around the world. Abraham has a “straight to the point” approach, avoiding legalese when advising clients. He has participated in some of the largest transactions in the region and is 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
René Forkwa
Finance & Compliance Manager
René is an experienced finance professional with more than 12 years of experience that spans across the Oil & Gas, Aviation, Construction, Tech, HR, and the Legal Services sectors. He is highly skilled in accounting, labour and tax laws in the CEMAC region. Rene is also an avid landscape photographer.
Areas of Expertise
OHADA Accounting Systems
IFRS
Tax law
Local Content
Oil and Gas Law
Fraud Examination
Auditing
Payroll
Experience
▪︎ Finance & Compliance Manager, Clarence Abogados & Asociados
▪︎ Administrator, ICUBEFARM/Bioko Business Center
▪︎ Finance Consultant, Grupo Gartoll
▪︎ Financial Analyst, White Storm Capital
Education
▪︎ MSc, Finance & Accounting, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, India (Awaiting Award)
▪︎ Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
▪︎ BSc (Hons), Accountancy, University of Buea, Cameroon
Membership
▪︎ Student Member, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
▪︎ Member, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
Languages
English, French and Spanish
Vanesa Cristina Manga
Administrative & External Relations 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
Consultants
Ibrahim De Carvalho
Senior Managing 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
Adaku Ufere-Awoonor
Special Consultant
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
Jennifer Riveiro Ilende
Senior Consultant
Jennifer is a registered Spanish and Equatoguinean lawyer who has worked in public and private sector projects in Africa. Prior to joining Clarence, Jennifer advised the government of Equatorial Guinea on oil & gas and mining projects.
Areas of Expertise
Oil & Gas and Mining
Banking & Finance
Corporate Law
Aviation Law
Transportation & Construction
Oil & Gas
Environmental Law
Labor Law
Experience
▪︎ Senior Legal Consultant, Clarence Abogados & Asociados
▪︎ Associate Attorney, Centurion Law Firm
▪︎ In-House lawyer for Brainworks Capital Management. Private Consultant
Education
▪︎ LLB, Complutense University of Madrid
▪︎ LLM in Corporate Law and Finance, Delaware Law School
Membership
▪︎ Madrid Bar Association
▪︎ Equatorial Guinea Bar Association
Languages
Souany Lyne Adamo
Senior Consultant
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
Clement Okolie
Senior Consultant
Clement is an experienced lawyer with experience ranging from commercial advisory services to Oil and Gas Practice, especially in the upstream sector. He is a skilled negotiator and commercial analyst, and as a strong research professional with a keen eye for numerical detail, he thrives in Finance, Corporate and Commercial Law Practice.
Areas of Expertise
Corporate and Commercial Law
Intellectual Property Law
Cross-border legal Transactions
Oil and Gas Law
Experience
▪︎ Senior Associate, Clarence Abogados & Asociados
▪︎ Associate at M. Bassey & Associates
▪︎ Contracts Analyst at Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited
▪︎ Contracts Engineer at AA&R Investment Limited
Education
▪︎ LLB, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
▪︎ LLM, University of Lagos, Nigeria (ongoing)
▪︎ Certificate of Call to Bar
▪︎ Business Writing and Etiquette
Membership
▪︎ Member, Nigerian Bar Association
Languages
English, Igbo and Yoruba
Paris Zamora
Senior Consultant
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
Isabel Obono
Consultant
Isabel is a driven young lawyer who is passionate about reaching the depth of knowledge. Having studied law in Malaysia and at the University of the West of England has given her great understanding of law and people in different settings. She returned to EG with a LLM in International Economic Law, Justice and Development and is currently finalising a MA in legal practice.
Areas of Expertise
Aviation
Employment
Corporate and Commercial
Development within Financial Institutions
Experience
▪︎ Associate, Clarence Abogados & Asociados
▪︎ Legal Advisor, General Directorate of International Economic and Financial Organizations of the Ministry of Finance, Economy and Planning
▪︎ Legal Advisor, Ceiba Intercontinental
▪︎ Intern, Geproyectos Legal Department
Education
▪︎ LLB, University of the West of England (UWE)
▪︎ LLM International Economic Law, Justice and Development, Birkbeck, University of London
▪︎ Masters in Legal Practice, T&E Law and Business School Equatorial Guinea (ongoing)
Membership
▪︎ Member, Equatorial Guinean Bar Association
Languages
English and Spanish
Susana Mokuy Nsue
Junior Consultant
Areas of Expertise
Litigation
Aviation
NGOs
Employment
Corporate and Commercial
Local Content
Corporate Social Responsibility
Experience
▪︎ Junior Associate, Clarence Abogados & Asociados
▪︎ Intern, Ernst & Young Guinea
▪︎ Intern, Noble Energy – Social Projects Department
Education
▪︎ LLB, National University of Equatorial Guinea
Membership
▪︎ Member, Equatorial Guinean Bar Association
Languages
Spanish
Hilario Elá Asumu
Junior Consultant
Areas of Expertise
Litigation
Maritime Law
Employment Law
Corporate and Commercial Law
Civil Law
Spanish & EU Law
Experience
▪︎ Junior Consultant, Clarence Abogados & Asociados
▪︎ Intern, Clarence Abogados & Asociados
▪︎ Intern, Regional Economic Court of Oviedo, Spain
Education
▪︎ LLM, International Relations & Diplomacy
▪ LLM, Tax Law, ESNECA Business School
▪ LLB, University of Oviedo, Spain
Membership
▪︎ Member, Equatorial Guinean Bar Association
▪︎ Member, International Policy Debate Association, Asturias, Spain
Languages
Spanish
Mohamed Hassouba
Legal Intern
Areas of Expertise
General International Law
Experience
▪︎ Legal Intern, Clarence Abogados
▪︎ Banking Operator,ING Online Bank
Education
▪︎ LLB, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
▪︎ LLM, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
Languages
French, English, Arabic
Support Team
Enrique Miko Ndong
Visa and Admin Assistant
Enrique is a recent graduate in Economy and International Commerce and deals mainly in visa and immigration matters. He works well as part of a team, bringing positivity to the fore. He studied in China, so he has good command of Mandarin.
Areas of Expertise
Visas and Documentation
Experience
▪︎ Visa and Admin Assistant, Clarence Abogados
Education
▪︎ BSc, Economy and International Commerce, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology
Languages
Spanish, Mandarin and English
Odalis Sulu Mpesa
Administrative Assistant
Areas of Expertise
Time Management
Organization
Adept in Technology
Education
▪︎ BA, Business Administration Institut Universitaire du Golf de Guinee, Cameroon
▪︎ Diploma in Computerised Accounting
▪︎ Courses in Entrepreneurship and Communications
Experience
▪︎ Administrative Assistant at Clarence Abogados & Asociados
▪︎ Receptionist, Hotel Anda China
▪︎ Facilitator, Momo Communications
▪︎ Administrative Assistant at Mareco Atlantic
Languages
Spanish, English and French
Memberships
Latest Insights
Regulation on Inspections by Telecom Regulatory Body
The Ministry of Transport, Posts and Telecommunications (the “Ministry”) has approved Ministerial Order No. 4/2020, dated December 3rd, which approves the Regulation on inspections…
Regulation on Telecom Activities in Equatorial Guinea
Ministerial Order No. 3/2020, dated December 2nd, approving the regulation on Rights and Public Service Obligations to carry out Telecommunication Activities in EG.
