our expertise
DLG is a trusted adviser to leading mining and energy companies, on complex, large-scale projects across Botswana and the region. With a long-standing presence in the sector, we continue to advise on some of the country’s most significant mining and energy developments, combining deep industry knowledge with sophisticated transactional, regulatory and project expertise.
We regularly engage with the Ministry of Minerals and Energy and government related departments across various sectors and are widely recognised for our ability to successfully navigate the complex regulatory environment in this sector for our clients.
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Energy and mining work remains one of the firm’s core platforms, with involvement in landmark resource developments across Botswana. Managing Partner Rizwan Desai is currently lead legal advisor to the Government of Botswana on the proposed Anglo-American Plc divestiture of Debeers Group.
DLG acts as legal adviser to Jindal Energy Botswana on the Mmamabula Energy Project, including the negotiation of Power Purchase Agreements with Botswana Power Corporation for one of the largest private sector energy investments in Botswana.
Our experience spans a broad range of mining and energy mandates, Minerals Development Company Botswana on its acquisition of an increased shareholding in Botala Energy, and JCHX Mining Management Co. Ltd in relation to the Zone 5 deposit at the Khoemacau Copper Mine in Botswana. As well including advising Naqaa Sustainable Energy LLC on large-scale solar energy investments.
As one of Botswana’s leading corporate and finance practices, DLG acts for major domestic and international banks, financial institutions, development finance institutions and regulators, from Bank of Botswana, BDC, CEDA and NBFIRA to Absa Bank and Access Bank on complex financing, restructuring and cross-border transactions.
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The team regularly advises on sophisticated financing structures spanning multiple jurisdictions and asset classes, often involving complex regulatory engagement with financial institutions and regulators.
The team’s work extends across acquisition and leveraged finance, project and infrastructure funding, syndicated lending, structured finance, fund finance and regulatory matters, including bespoke arrangements design
The practice is led by Managing Partner Rizwan Desai, former Chairman of the Botswana Stock Exchange and Barclays Bank Botswana and current Chairman of Botswana Development Cororation, bringing rare dual insight from both market governance and banking leadership. This experience gives the team a deep understanding of how capital markets function in practice, particularly where regulatory requirements, issuer strategy and investor expectations must be brought into alignment on complex transactions.
DLG has been at the forefront of Botswana’s capital markets, advising on many of the most significant and formative listings, capital raisings and debt issuances in the country’s listed environment. The firm’s experience includes advising on the listing of Choppies Enterprises, the largest IPO on the Botswana Stock Exchange, and acting as lead legal adviser to NewGold Issuer Limited in the listing of the first platinum exchange-traded funds on the Botswana Stock Exchange. The firm is regularly instructed by issuers, listed companies and market participants on transactions that shape market practice and regulatory development.
The Firm’s experience spans IPOs, secondary and inward listings, delistings, medium-term note programmes, sovereign and corporate debt issuances, convertible instruments and exchange-traded products. The team also provides ongoing advice on securities regulation, exchange requirements, disclosure obligations and listed company compliance.
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DLG has been involved in a number of defining transactions in Botswana’s listed environment and debt capital markets, as well as the development of regulatory frameworks governing issuers and listed entities.
We continue to advise on pioneering listings and debt issuances, alongside ongoing listed company advisory work and complex regulatory engagements.
Trusted by leading corporates, financial institutions and regulators, including the Bank of Botswana and the Competition and Consumer Authority, DLG operates at the intersection of regulation, licensing and enforcement, advising on regulatory frameworks
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The practice operates at the intersection of regulation, licensing and enforcement, advising on regulatory frameworks, compliance obligations and supervisory engagement across a wide range of industries, including financial services, property, competition, and the mining and energy sectors.
Our mandates frequently arises in the context of transactions, restructurings and market entry, requiring coordination with multiple regulatory bodies and the development of practical, implementable compliance solutions. DLG also advises on confidential and strategic mandates, including work with the Special Economic Empowerment Zone, and regularly engages with regulators on licensing, governance and regulatory approvals.
As a trusted adviser to both regulated entities and regulators, we provide strategic regulatory and compliance guidance across a broad range of sectors and industries.
We advise on regulatory strategy, licensing frameworks, governance systems, enforcement processes and ongoing supervisory engagement, all delivered with a focus on practical implementation.
DLG advises government, state-owned entities and international institutions, including Botswana Power Corporation, Botswana Oil, Water Utilities Corporation and the International Finance Corporation, on matters of national and strategic importance. The work is closely tied to national development priorities, particularly large-scale reform and infrastructure investment, and includes privatisation processes and public sector restructuring, with Rizwan Desai having led the privatisation of Botswana Telecommunications Corporation – Botswana’s first transaction of its kind.
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Our public sector work is closely tied to national development priorities and includes large-scale reform programmes, privatisation processes and infrastructure investment initiatives.
We advise governments, state-owned entities, development finance institutions and multilateral organisations on complex, high-impact mandates of national and strategic importance, often requiring coordination across multiple stakeholders.
The firm acts for developers, investors and property groups, including Phakalane Estates, Turnstar Holdings and PrimeTime Properties, on major real estate and infrastructure transactions, none of which is limited to local advice only.
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DLG covers significant built-environment projects across commercial, residential and mixed-use developments, often involving multi-party structuring and financing components. We act across the full lifecycle of projects, from acquisition through to development and asset management, including cross-border transactions in jurisdictions such as Tanzania and Dubai. The work regularly involves large-scale developments with regulatory complexity and significant capital deployment.
Built on decades of transactional experience, DLG advises corporates, investors and institutions, including Access Bank, Atlas Mara and Pepkor Group on complex domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, disposals and investments.
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M&A mandates frequently span multiple sectors and jurisdictions, requiring detailed structuring and negotiation across varied regulatory environments.
Built on a foundation of deep transactional expertise, DLG regularly advises corporates, investors and institutions on complex mergers, acquisitions, disposals and investments.
Transactions often involve cross-border execution, multi-party negotiations and regulatory approvals across different markets.
DLG’s corporate and commercial practice sits at the centre of the firm’s transactional work, acting for leading corporates, investors and entrepreneurs on complex and high-value matters across sectors, including joint ventures, restructurings, governance arrangements and cross-border investments, often forming part of larger strategic and cross-border transactions.
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We advise on commercial contracts, corporate structuring and investment arrangements across a wide range of sectors. The work regularly involves multi-jurisdictional restructurings, cross-border disposals and group reorganisations, as well as the design and alignment of shareholder and governance frameworks.
Led by Rizwan Desai, the practice is engaged on high-value and strategically significant matters across Botswana and the region. The firm was named Botswana Law Firm of the Year (2026) by Chambers and Partners Global and continues to be recognised with Band 1 rankings in these areas.
DLG advises leading international and local clients, including Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital and Wilderness Holdings, on complex employment and labour matters across sectors, with a strong presence in high-stakes disputes and workforce restructuring under the leadership of IFLR Rising Star Lesego Bolowe, who is regularly entrusted by major institutional clients such as Absa Bank on complex and high-value matters.
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We advise on employment and labour matters across a range of industries, including mining, banking and construction, covering workforce restructuring, executive transitions, workplace disputes, disciplinary processes, investigations and regulatory compliance. Our work spans both advisory and contentious mandates, including complex local and cross-border employment disputes, often arising alongside broader corporate transactions and organisational change.
DLG represents leading institutional clients, including Botswana Development Corporation and Debswana, in complex arbitration and litigation, with a strong presence in high-value local and cross-border disputes led by IFLR-ranked practitioner Lesego Bolowe.
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We act in high-value commercial arbitrations and litigation that frequently span multiple jurisdictions and legal forums, including shareholder disputes, contractual claims, regulatory enforcement matters and broader commercial disputes across a range of sectors.
Our experience spans strategic disputes advisory, risk management and representation in significant contentious matters before the courts and arbitral tribunals.
DLG advises on complex competition law matters across sectors, including merger control, regulatory engagement and transactional approvals, acting for clients such as Access Bank, Wilderness Holdings and PSG Capital on significant and cross-border transactions.
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We advise on all aspects of competition law, from day-to-day competition compliance and advisory work to merger filings and representation before the Botswana Competition and Consumer Authority. Our experience includes high-value and cross-border transactions in the banking, mining, education and other regulated sectors, as well as complex merger notifications and regulatory approvals.
DLG has also been engaged at a regulatory level, including advising the Competition Authority on the drafting of the current Competition Regulations and on amendments to the Competition Act. This experience provides us with a practical understanding of both the transactional and regulatory dimensions of competition law, enabling effective engagement with the Authority across a wide range of matters.
DLG advises leading tourism operators and investors, including Wilderness Holdings, on high-value transactions and regulatory matters across Botswana’s tourism and conservation sectors.
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We have developed a strong presence in Botswana’s tourism sector, advising on matters closely linked to conservation frameworks, tourism investment and the expansion of hospitality operations.
We advise on tourism investments, hospitality developments, joint ventures and regulatory frameworks, often within environmentally sensitive contexts requiring coordination between commercial objectives and conservation requirements. Our experience includes complex structuring, joint venture arrangements and long-term operational agreements for significant tourism and hospitality assets.
DLG acts for a diverse range of international and local clients, including Mascom Wireless Botswana and Glencore, with particular strength in specialist areas such as intellectual property, telecommunications and sector-specific regulatory mandates.
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The firm’s broader practice includes a number of specialised areas supporting its core transactional and disputes work, particularly in intellectual property, technology and sector-specific regulatory frameworks. A key component is the firm’s intellectual property practice, led by IFLR Rising Star Chikondi Banda, which covers both contentious and non-contentious matters including enforcement, protection and the commercialisation of intellectual property rights.
The work frequently involves complex local and cross-border mandates and includes advising on high-value commercial arrangements within regulated and evolving industries.