Strategic alliance counsel Gilbert Nyatanyi focuses on the practical and legal aspects of developing and doing business in Africa and with Africa. He advises companies, financial institutions, and governments on a wide range of legal matters in Europe and Africa (particularly the United Republic of Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, the Central African Republic, Rwanda and Burundi).

A Belgian lawyer of Rwandan origin, Mr. Nyatanyi’s many accomplishments include organizing jointly with the Embassy of the Republic of Congo in Brussels the first Flemish business mission to the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) in 1998; participating in several economic missions and business development missions to the Democratic Republic of Congo, The Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya between 2000 and 2006; and organizing in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in Brussels, the Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA), a conference on investment opportunities in Rwanda at the offices of White & Case LLP, Law Firm, Brussels, in September 2004. He was a member of the Brussels Bar from 1995-2006.

In addition, he advises several international clients in connection with assets financing, credit transactions, IPOs and securities offerings, private placements, and secured transactions. Clients include Citibank, International Finance Corporation, the Government of the Central African Republic, Constella Group LLC, South African Airways, and China Development Bank.

Mr. Nyatanyi obtained his Master’s degree in Law from the Universiteit Gent, one of the major universities in the Dutch-speaking region.  He concentrates on corporate transactions, banking and finance, and capital markets transactions, with particular experience in acquisition and corporate finance, syndicated loans, public and private placements of securities.  He is highly experienced with transactions in several African countries such as Burundi, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Zambia, Kenya, Malawi and Cameroon.

He was previously a banking attorney at Euroclear SA/NV, Brussels (2005-2006); a Senior Associate at White & Case LLP, Law Firm, Brussels (2000-2005); and a Legal Adviser at Regional Integration Center Foyer, Brussels (1995-2000).

His language skills include Dutch, English, French, German, Kinyarwanda and Swahili.

Publications include:

NYATANYI, G., Symfonie van zwart in wit. Zwarte Afrikanen in België  / Symphonie du noir en blanc. Noirs Africains en Belgique, Regionaal Integratiecentrum Foyer Brussel vzw, 2007.

BOSLY, T., LOHEST, T., NYATANYI, G., MOHY, V., “Secured Transactions in Belgium” in International Secured Transactions, Ocean Publication, Inc., Dobbs Ferry, New York, Issued May 2005.

 NYATANYI, G., "Specifieke juridische problemen bij Afrikanen" in Recht en Praktijk inzake Afrikaanse migratie, Matthias NIYONZIMA (ed.), Aflenet Boek n°1, Brussel, EPO, p.60-67.

Papers and presentations include:

 “Banking in Africa: Pinpointing Key Legal Issues”, The Africa World Business Congress, 19 November 2004, Dakar - Senegal.

 “A New Legal Framework for a Successful Capital Market in Rwanda” presented before the Rwandan Stock Exchange Committee, 3 November 2004, Kigali - Rwanda.

 “Law Reforms For The Future of Rwanda’s Economy, Financial Sector and Capital Markets”, Rwanda: A New Frontier of Opportunity - Investment Conference, 13 September 2004, Brussels- Belgium.

 “A New Legal Framework For a New Capital Market and Successful Stock Exchange in Rwanda”, The Second Rwanda Investment Conference, 14 May 2004, Kigali - Rwanda.