Valerie Bisasur

Valerie Bisasur

Managing Partner | ALN Mauritius | BLC Robert & Associates Top Law Firm in Mauritius

Physical Address:

2nd Floor, The Axis, 26 Bank Street, Cybercity, Ebene 72201, Mauritius

Telephone:

+230 403 2400

Email Address:

  1. Background

    Valerie Bisasur currently holds the position of Managing Partner at BLC Robert & Associates. Valerie joined the firm in 2008, she was made Partner in 2018 before being appointed as Managing Partner in January 2024. She routinely acts for domestic and international banks, DFIs, project sponsors and financial institutions on various forms of debt financing transactions locally and internationally. She has developed specific expertise in funds’ financing, sustainability finance and she regularly advises on banking regulatory matters.

    Valerie is a respected banking and finance lawyer who is particularly distinguished for her experience representing banks in financing transactions and restructurings. She is the firm’s coordinator for
    pro-bono activities notably through Trust Law Connect (a member of the Thomson Reuters Foundation).

    She is ranked on the Chambers & Partners “Spotlight Table” for Banking and Finance and is recognised as a ‘Highly Regarded Lawyer’ by IFLR1000 and is named as a ‘IFLR1000 Women Leader’. Valerie is also ranked as a Band 1 banking & finance lawyer by Chambers Global.

  2. Professional Membership
    • Mauritius Law Society
  3. Professional Qualifications

    2008: Sworn in as Attorney at Law (Solicitor) at the Supreme Court of Mauritius

    2006-2007: Council of Legal Education, Attorney at Law Vocational Course, Mauritius

    2005: Maitrise En Droit, Mention Droit Des Affaires, Universite Des Sciences Sociales Toulouse I, France

    1999-2001: Diplôme universitaire technique – Buisness Administration, Universite Paul Sabitier, Toulouse III, France

  4. Publications
    • The firm’s newsletter, ‘Banking & Finance Insights’
  5. Accolades
    • Valerie is ranked by Chambers Global 2024 in the Banking & Finance practice area. She is one of 3 lawyers ranked in Band 1 in Mauritius.
    • Chambers Global 2024 further notes that ‘Valerie Bisasur is a respected banking and finance lawyer who is particularly distinguished for her experience representing banks in financing transactions, bond issuances and restructurings’.
    • Valerie is a ‘Highly Regarded’ lawyer by IFLR1000 2024 in the Banking practice areas.
    • Valerie is also rated under ‘Women Leaders’ by IFLR.

    “Valerie Bisasur is a real pleasure to work with. She is one of the best lawyers in banking and capital markets transactions in Mauritius and always delivers the highest quality of service to her clients. She strives to make complex legal concepts look relatively simple.” – Chambers Global 2024

    “[Valerie] is a hard worker and a good legal mind” – Chambers Global 2024

    ‘Valerie Bisasur is fantastic, responsive and knowledgeable.’ – Legal 500 2024

  6. Career Summary

    Jan 2024 – Date Managing Partner, BLC Robert & Associates

    2019 – Dec 2023 Partner, BLC Robert & Associates

    2008 – 2018 Senior Associate, BLC Robert & Associates

    2005 – 2007 Legal Assistant and Article, Etude Guy Rivalland

  7. Top Matters

    Banking & Finance

    • Advising Agence Francaise de Developpement in a sovereign loan to the State of Mauritius to support to budget implementation program of the Mauritian government, including to provide support linked to the impact of Covid19 in the jurisdiction.
    • Advising on a USD 2.7 Billion bond structuring, including regulatory implications relating to issue/dealing in securities under Mauritius law and putting in place the security package.
    • Advising Cape Biologix Technologies and Cape Bio Pharms in connection with the structuring of financing from European Investment Bank for the construction of a production unit in Mauritius to produce company the plant protein used as reagent in quick detection kits for Covid-19 and endemic diseases in Africa (in particular HIV, Ebola, dengue and yellow fever).
    • Advising Société de Promotion et de Participation pour la Cooperation Economique S.A. (PROPARCO) and DEG – Deutsche Investitions – Und Entwicklungsgesellschaft Mbh (DEG) in connection with a USD 65 million loan to the Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited to finance its support program to support Mauritian businesses, especially SMEs, affected by the Covid-19 crisis.
    • Advising a major international bank on the sale of its entire shareholding in a local bank.
    • Advising on secured bonds (including listed bonds and other debt instruments.
    • Advising various institutional investors, development banks and internatinal organisations on the financing of development projects in Africa.deregistration as a bank in Mauritius.
    • Advising a leading African energy company and independent power producer on a USD 550 million financing structured by a syndication of international banks
    • Advising a consortium of international banks on the financing of pipelines and fuel storage facilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
    • Advising one of the major European insurance brokerage companies in connection with the setting up of their local branch.
    • Acting for a major conglomerate in connection with the financing of the acquisition of a major stake in one of the leading chain of hospital operators in India.
    • Acting for a leading international private and investment bank in connection with the regulatory implications of its activities in Mauritius.
    • Acting for a multinational petroleum company in connection with the financing of the acquisition of companies in various African countries, including Mauritius, to the value of USD 1 billion.
    • Acting for a major French development bank in connection with the structuring of three “green” financing lines with local banks.
    • Acting for international and local syndicated lenders in connection with the financing of the first wind farm project in Mauritius.
    • Acting for major South African banks in connection with the financing of real estate and mining projects across Africa.
    • Acting for a major international North American bank in connection with the acquisition of an equity stake in a local bank.
    • Acting for a major financial services holding company in connection with its holdings in various banking structures in sub-Saharan African countries.
    • Acting for a leading local bank in connection with the financing of activities of a major African telecommunication group of companies.
    • Acting for a European development bank in connection with its various credit lines to Mauritian public authorities.
    • Acting for a major international bank in connection with taking security interests over shares of an entity listed both on the Mauritius Stock Exchange and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
    • Acting for a major South African group in connection with the debt funding for the acquisition of a floating dock and the construction of a docking quay in Durban harbour.

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