Avril Cole named among "Most Influential People of African Descent"

Avril Cole, Gowling WLG partner and co-leader of the firm’s Africa country desk, has been named one of the “Most Influential People of African Descent” (MIPAD) in MIPAD’s 2017 “Global Top 100 Under 40” listing.

Established in recognition of the International Decade for People of African Descent as proclaimed by the United Nations’ General Assembly, MIPAD 100 distinguishes 200 high achievers of African descent under the age of 40 — 100 inside Africa, and 100 outside Africa in the Diaspora.

MIPAD’s list comprises important influencers and leaders from around the world and across four distinct categories: Politics & Governance, Business & Entrepreneurship, Media & Culture, and Religion & Humanitarian.

Based in Toronto, Cole specializes in advising Canadian and international clients on various complex commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and financings — with an emphasis on the natural resource sector. Her practice also encompasses all aspects of project development and related commercial mining agreements, including contract negotiations and regulatory matters.

Highly regarded for her rich international experience and deep insight into the cultural and legal complexities of doing business in Africa and other emerging markets, Cole writes and speaks frequently on Africa’s mining sector and comments regularly in the media on developments in the global mining industry.

Gowling WLG’s legal professionals have been doing business in Africa for over twenty years, and in that time have earned recognition for their extensive industry knowledge and in-depth understanding of the continent’s unique legal, regulatory, commercial and cultural landscape.