Africa’s strategic advantage: GC Forum Extractives 2027 set to enrich collaborative pan-African community

Africa has extraordinary opportunities, but attracting investment is only the beginning, with the bigger question being how we protect that investment, unlock greater value for African economies, and build the partnerships needed to sustain growth, says Scott Cowan, the co-founder and CEO of Africa Legal. 

“That's the conversation we want to have,” adds Cowan, as Africa Legal today announced an expanded programme, new theme, and first group of partners for the next GC Forum Extractives. It will be held at the UCT Graduate School of Business in Cape Town on 10 February 2027, under the theme “Africa’s Strategic Advantage | Protecting Investment. Unlocking Value. Sustaining Growth.”

For Africa Legal, the 2027 Forum represents another step in its commitment to building a connected, collaborative, pan-African extractives community. 

In that vein, it is delighted to welcome back several longstanding partners whose continued support and commitment has helped shape the development of GC Forum Extractives over several years. A&O Shearman, Three Crowns, Baker McKenzie, Beech Incorporated, Grant Thornton, Lewis Silkin and Keidan Harrison will return for 2027, bringing valuable continuity alongside fresh perspectives on the opportunities and challenges facing Africa's extractives sector. 

The upcoming GC Forum in February will also welcome several new partners, adding further international expertise, and expanding the scope of the programme.

Steptoe and Burford Capital join as headline partners, bringing complementary perspectives on geopolitical risk, sanctions, investment protection, disputes, and the financing of complex commercial claims. Schillings also joins as an associate partner, bringing together new fresh perspectives. 

Since it was founded in 2018, Africa Legal has sought to create opportunities for legal and business leaders to share expertise, build relationships and engage in conversations that extend beyond individual events. The continued development of the GC Forum Extractives, first held alongside Mining Indaba in 2020, reflects that ambition. Last month, a Zambia edition was also successfully introduced. 

"When we originally launched GC Forum Extractives, our goal was to create something more than another industry conference,” says Cowan. “We wanted to build a community that brings together the people making the decisions, managing the risks, and shaping the future of Africa's mining and energy sectors.”

The response to both of this year’s GC Forum Extractives, held in Cape Town in February and more recently in Zambia in September, has reinforced just how valuable such conversations and connections are, adds Cowan. “We’ve seen longstanding relationships deepen, new partnerships develop, and a real willingness to collaborate across organisations, sectors and jurisdictions.”

Africa Legal is committed to keep growing that community, bringing in new voices and perspectives while building on the trust and relationships that make the GC Forums special, says Cowan and Africa Legal co-founder and COO Wendy Bampton. “For 2027, we’re moving the conversation forward.”

The continued support of the returning partners, alongside the expertise and perspectives of those joining for the first time, is an exciting reflection of the GC Forum’s evolution over the years. They help develop new conversations that respond to the changing realities of African investment and business, and their participation reflects the GC Forum’s growing focus on the full investment lifecycle, including risks that emerge after capital has been committed, and strategies available to businesses when investments are challenged.

Building on the theme of last February’s GC Forum Extractives, “Africa’s Critical Core | Minerals, Markets & Global Collaboration”, which examined Africa's growing strategic importance in global minerals and energy markets, the next GC Forum will shift the conversation towards what happens after investment is attracted. 

Under the theme “Africa’s Strategic Advantage | Protecting Investment. Unlocking Value. Sustaining Growth.”, the 2027 GC Forum will bring together senior leaders from Africa's mining, energy, legal, investment, and business communities to explore the next phase of the continent's extractives investment story.

How can businesses protect capital once it is committed? How can Africa capture more value from its natural resources? And what legal, commercial, and institutional frameworks are needed to build confidence, strengthen resilience, and deliver sustainable growth?

Such questions underpin a programme designed to move beyond identifying opportunity to the practical decisions, partnerships, and strategies needed to turn investment into lasting economic value.

Together, the growing network of partners reflect an expanded programme spanning financing, development, industrialisation, geopolitical exposure, governance, dispute prevention, enforcement, and long-term value creation.

Along with a continued commitment to meaningful collaboration, GC Forum Extractives 2027 promises another opportunity to bring together the people and perspectives shaping Africa's investment future. Registration is now open. 

The GC Forum Extractives is designed for senior decision-makers working across Africa's mining, energy, investment, legal and regulatory communities. Complimentary attendance is available to:

• General Counsel and in-house legal teams in the mining and energy sectors

• Mining and energy professionals in senior leadership, governance, risk and compliance roles

• Government relations, policy and regulatory professionals

• Investors and financiers active in mining and energy

• Representatives from NGOs and academia

All registrations are subject to approval to ensure the Forum maintains its intended audience and senior-level focus. Law firm attendance is available exclusively through sponsorship. Register your interest to attend

Speaker enquiries: scott@africa-legal.com