John W Ffooks & Co is led by two partners with over 30 years of experience between them. Individually and together they can advise on everything from broad strategy to detailed transactions. Our system of client care means there is always a second opinion available.
John Ffooks
John is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, who qualified with the leading international firm Clifford Chance. As a lawyer, he has particular experience in infrastructure, utility and natural resource investments in the developing world and the financial structures associated with them. John is currently advising the Ambatovy Nickel Project on its US$3.5bn nickel/cobalt mining and processing project which recently reached financial close on US$2.2bn of debt finance. John also acts for exchange listed natural resources companies in London, Toronto, New York and Australia and has considerable experience helping take companies to market.
He has been involved in acquisitions and disposals of assets in both the mining and oil and gas fields. John advised a Hong Kong based bidder on its bid for the Port of Toamasina Container Terminal and completed Madagascar’s first PPP (public private partnership) transaction. Before coming to Madagascar in 2001, John was the sole advisor on English law to a South African investment bank on its infrastructure portfolio in the sub-Saharan region. These included the Mozal Aluminium Smelter and the Maputo Port privatisation. John brings with him experience of a French-based legal system as well as an ability to communicate the issues that arise to English speaking clients. John speaks and writes fluent French.
Andrew Cooke
Andrew is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales who qualified at Bristows, a leading London firm in the field of intellectual property and related business law. In addition to full legal qualifications, Andrew holds Master’s Degrees from the universities of Cambridge (in Natural Sciences) and Newcastle (in Environmental Science). Andrew’s first specialisation was in intellectual property and was for 10 years a leading practitioner in patents and technology cases. He has since developed expertise in environmental law and practice, particularly in the areas of biodiversity law, natural resources management, environmental impact assessment and project evaluation.
Since arriving in Madagascar in 1992, Andrew has helped shape environmental policy in Madagascar from a regulatory perspective, whilst maintaining an active role in assisting commercial interests in navigating the regulatory environment. He has regularly worked on similar themes in other French and English speaking countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to his environmental portfolio, Andrew has experience acting for corporate clients including companies in the mining, oil & gas, fisheries, telecommunications and energy sectors. He speaks and writes fluent French.