David Ziyambi is a member of the firm’s Finance Department and Africa Practice whose practice focuses primarily on project, structured, and leveraged financing in the energy and infrastructure sectors within both mature and developing markets, particularly throughout Africa. He represents sponsors, lenders, and governments on a range of matters, from project development and project finance deals to structured financing, prepayments, and reserve-based lending.

Thought Leadership

Africa Oil & Gas Report, 2018

Doing Business 2018: Reforming to Create Jobs

Taking Security in Africa: A Comparative Guide for Investors2017  

Doing Business 2017: Equal Opportunity for All 

Global Pro Bono Survey, 2016

Doing Business 2016: Measuring Regulatory Quality and Efficiency

“Africa’s funding alternative” International Financial Law Review, October 2015

Africa's Funding Alternative, 2015

Doing Business 2015: Going Beyond Efficiency

Doing Business 2014 - Understanding Regulations for Small and Medium-Size Enterprises

David’s representative matters include advising: 

Highlighted Experience

  • Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with respect to the financing and development of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline and Stations Project in Nigeria
  • Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with respect to the financing and rehabilitation of its refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna in Nigeria
  • Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation with respect to the gas supply arrangements for Nigeria NLNG
  • Chevron in connection with the sale of its North Sea assets to Ithaca Energy Limited
  • Chevron Nigeria Limited and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in relation to the settlement and restructuring in respect of the Escravos gas-to-liquids project
  • Glencore with respect to the financing of the prepayment of crude oil production from the Bualuang oil field in Thailand
  • Africa50 in relation to the purchase of indirect ownership in an independent power project in Nigeria
  • The lenders in relation to the amendment and restatement of Ineos’s borrowing base facility to include the Forties Pipeline System in the borrowing base
  • The lenders in relation to a reserve-based facility in respect of oil assets in Egypt
  • Schlumberger in relation to the settlement in respect of its financing of the development of the Anyala and Madu fields in Nigeria
  • The sponsors in connection with the development and project financing of the Area 1 LNG project in Mozambique, involving multi-source financing
  • Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and ExxonMobil as sponsors in the development of a 550-MW gas-fired independent power project in Qua Iboe
  • Eight export credit agencies from Japan, Australia, Korea, France, Germany, and The Netherlands, and a syndicate of 33 commercial lenders, on a US$20 billion project financing of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Australia sponsored by Inpex Corporation and Total SA. According to Inpex Corporation, the Ichthys project financing is the largest project financing ever arranged in the international finance market
  • Abraaj Credit BV in relation to a second lien facility to a Ghanaian IPP to finance the expansion of a portfolio of gas-fired power plants in Ghana with a total generation capacity of 205MW   

Other Experience

  • Helios Investment Partners in relation to a holding company facility in relation to its joint venture participation in oil fields in Nigeria
  • In relation to a term loan refinancing of a borrowing base acquisition financing facility connected with the Ithaca/Valiant transaction
  • Carlyle International Energy Partners as sponsor in respect of a reserve-based financing in relation to the acquisition of two oil assets in Gabon
  • A US private equity fund as sponsor in respect of a reserve-based financing in relation to the acquisition of UK oil assets
  • Chevron Nigeria Limited and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, as sponsors, in the financing of upstream crude oil developments in Nigeria
  • The project sponsors in connection with a crude oil reserves development project in Nigeria, the financing included debt provided by a syndicate of international banks, including Nigerian banks
  • The Lender’s agent in connection with a pre-export forward sale financing of a crude oil purchase from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
  • Mobil Producing Nigeria and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in connection with a crude oil reserves development project in Nigeria, the financing included debt provided by a syndicate of international and Nigerian banks
  • Helios Investment Partners as sponsor in relation to a capex facility in connection with the acquisition of the gas business of Oando Plc
  • The lenders in relation to the US$42 billion multi-sourced financing by Tengizchevroil of an oil field in Kazakhstan
  • Yamal LNG in connection with the financing of the Yamal LNG project in Russia sponsored by Novatek, Total, and CNODC
  • A major international financial institution in connection with the US$450 million loan and guarantee facility advanced to a Nigerian shipping group* 
  • A global tobacco company in connection with their bilateral loan facility for a multi-sector conglomerate in Zimbabwe, to finance its tobacco operations* 
  • A sovereign state in connection with the drafting of its oil legislation* 
  • The agent in respect of the €875 million term and revolving facility advanced to a leading producer of paper-based packaging

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham

Bar Qualification

  • England and Wales (Solicitor)

Education

  • LPC, BPP Law School, 2007
  • MA, University of Cambridge, 2006
  • BA (Law), University of Cambridge, 2005