Practice Areas

Banking and Finance

Leading the Banking & Finance industry through today into the future

A&AA will provide legal facilities to banks and other financial institutions in the establishment and acquisition of other banks. We will assist in the structuring and preparation of loan documentation and in recovery of loans. We will advise on the legal effect of various acquisition methods whether stock or asset acquisitions or mergers; buy-outs versus strategic acquisitions, equity versus debt financing and secured and unsecured financing. We are also available to prepare and review the purchase and funding memoranda for acquisitions; and guarantees and security agreements. We will prepare due diligence memoranda for loan facilities and prepare all loan documentation.

Mortgage lenders, brokers, and institutions are subject to the industry’s constantly evolving regulations. A&AA’s attorneys are experienced in banking and finance law to ensure your compliance with the changing times, to keep you in business and out of court. Our clients include private & government lenders, mortgage brokers, commercial banks, credit unions, and bank holding companies.

Corporate Governance

A&AA has represented clients in virtually every area of general corporate, partnership and business law. The services provided to these clients have included advice regarding the type of business entity to establish, such as limited liability companies, corporations, C corporations and subchapter S corporations, as well as general and limited partnerships. These clients have been engaged in a diverse spectrum of industries.

A&AA prides itself on not being too narrowly focused in its representation of any one particular industry, so that the A&AA’s attorneys are able to provide valuable insight and learned counsel to businesses of almost any kind. Where A&AA is unable to provide services, it has a network of contacts with other law firms, which do provide such services A&AA does not. Notably, at the point in time when a business needs sufficiently large sums of outside capital, by way of a liquidity event such as a private placement memorandum, or initial public offering, A&AA generally directs these clients to law firms with whom it has close relationships, which are expert in the areas of both federal and state securities law compliance.

Corporate Transactions

Over the years, Andrews & Andrews Associates has assisted buyers, sellers, as well as merger partners in acquiring, selling, transferring, and reorganizing a variety of businesses, through either stock transactions or asset transactions. Additionally, A&AA has participated in many intellectual property transactions associated with the purchase and acquisition of a variety of businesses.

Petroleum & Gas

A&AA is well positioned to advise on the legal, regulatory and policy aspects of petroleum and gas exploration, development, investment and trading in Ghana. We are available to advice on all aspects of Ghana law relating to investment in the oil and gas sector and the structuring of transactions - including product sharing contracts and international joint ventures. We will assist in the incorporation of oil and gas companies and provide the necessary advisory service to facilitate commencement of business. We will also assist in the procurement of all required business certificates and licenses and immigration approvals for expatriate staff.

We are available for legal advice on all aspects of mergers and acquisitions in the oil and gas industry and will perform due diligence relating to financing contingencies. We will also represent oil and gas entities in the sale or disposal of their oil and gas assets.

Corporate and Securities Law

A&AA will advise on corporate governance standards required by the Ghana Companies Code, Act 179, and securities laws, including required shareholder approvals, officer certifications, responsibilities of board of directors and audit committees, and securities compliance issues. We will undertake legal due diligence on acquisition or takeover targets and provide reports and memoranda to acquirers and other international investors. We will also advise on securitizations, mergers and acquisitions, insolvency and reorganizations.

In addition, we will advise on the laws, regulations and procedures for issuing and listing securities on the Ghana Stock Exchange. We offer representation to issuers, traders and institutional investors before the Ghana Securities and Exchange Commission. We will advise on trading and settlement procedures for securities traded on the Ghana stock Exchange and act as local counsel to foreign law firms in international business transactions involving their clients in Ghana.

Taxation

A&AA is available to advise on the tax aspects of business transactions including corporate reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions and corporate financing schemes. We will provide advice for meaningful tax planning for all transactional matters. Ghana has enacted tax incentives for foreign investors including tax holidays in some cases. Our goal at A&AA is to help our clients find and utilize those incentives. We will assist with resolution of all tax disputes by initially conferencing the case with the Ghana Internal Revenue Service. If necessary, we will ask for and proceed to arbitration. In instances where we are not able to resolve tax issues outside the legal process, we are fully prepared to vindicate our clients’ rights through litigation.

Telecommunications Law

We will advice telephone, cable and internet companies on the laws and regulations relating to investment in the telecommunications industry in Ghana. We will also represent such companies in their dealings with the regulatory authority, the National Communications Authority (NCA). We will provide representation in the acquisition of licenses and in negotiating and drafting technology transfer, software licensing and other business agreements. We will also advise on partnerships, joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions in the telecommunications industry.

Commercial Litigation

Our lawyers are admitted to practice in all the courts in Ghana, including the commercial courts and are highly skilled in advocacy. We first try to resolve disputes through informal processes up to and including arbitration. This is done in a bid to save our clients litigation costs. There are situations in which litigation cannot be avoided and we turn into tireless advocates in court. We have a strong litigation practice and are ready to represent banks, international business entities, international traders and foreign investors before the Ghanaian courts. Our litigation practice covers contract disputes, international trade, insolvency and restructuring, taxation, employment law, tax, maritime law, probate and trusts, aviation and product liability claims.

Aviation

A&AA is prepared to handle all legal matters relating to aircraft, air travel and related legal and business matters. We will provide representation in the negotiation and drafting of bilateral air services agreements and landing rights. We will also and litigate and resolve cases relating to liability for death and injuries to air passengers. We will assist in the negotiation and drafting of agreements relating to aircraft leases, fractional ownership of aircraft and aviation insurance

International Trade

A&AA is available to advise on all aspects of international trade relating to carriage by sea, insurance and ship- owner’s liability. We will assist with arbitration relating to maritime issues covering cargo and collision damage, demurrage claims and charges, charter-party claims, purchase, lease and sale of shipping vessels, arrests and releases of ships; and syndicated financing of ship acquisitions. We will also advise banks on the financing of ferries, boats, fishing vessels and container ships. We will arbitrate or litigate issues dealing with carriage of goods by sea and cargo claims, and salvage rights.

Ghana and US Immigration Law

A&AA will assist international business investors and foreign companies in securing visas and resident permits for their nationals to live and work in Ghana. We assist in the obtaining, renewal and extension of visas and offer general advice on Ghana immigration law. We will represent foreign visitors, tourists and investors before the Ghana Immigration Service.

With our expertise in US immigration law we will assist foreign and Ghanaian residents in the US to obtain immigrant and non-immigrant visas for their beneficiaries. These cover such visas as diversity (green card lottery) visas, relative visas, athletes and entertainers visas, and students and exchange visitors visas. We assist both with the visa application and representation before the US Consulate in Ghana.

Real Property and Conveyance

Whether you are an individual buying or renting property in Ghana or a business leasing offices or entering into commercial real estate development or management, A&AA is equipped to service your legal needs. We will provide services relating to property acquisition, financing, development, and leasing. We will also advise on financing options, and the tax aspects of real estate transactions. We will negotiate and draft commercial leases and conduct due diligence in tracing the root of title to land and buildings to make sure that our clients take good title. We will also negotiate and draft documents relating to bridge and construction loans and prepare indentures.

Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution

At A&AA , we believe in the use of informal means of dispute resolution prior to the institution of any legal proceedings. We first make overtures to our client’s adversaries or their counsel to determine if issues can be resolved amicably. If no settlement is reached, we seek our client’s instructions to proceed to arbitration and conciliation. If the case is not resolved at this stage, we seek further instructions to litigate and vindicate our clients’ rights.

Mining and Natural Resources

A lot of interest has been generated in the mining sector in Ghana in recent times due to the current high value of gold. We are available to advise on all aspects of the laws and regulations relating to mining in Ghana and to represent foreign mining companies in procuring the appropriate exploration and mining licenses from the Ghana Minerals Commission.

We will advise on joint ventures and partnerships in the mining industry between foreign mining concerns and Ghanaian companies; and the legal and tax aspects of such arrangements. We are available to represent foreign investors in the acquisition of depositary shares in Ghanaian gold mining companies as wells as syndicated lending for gold exploration and mining.

Other Practice Areas

Andrews & Andrews Associates also provide representation in such other practice areas as Family Law and Divorce, Probate and Administration of Decedents estates, Criminal Defense, Employment Law, Constitutional and General Civil Litigation, Employment Law and Insurance Litigation and Defense.