Our Principal

Today, Fana Fana Chambers continues the tradition established by its founder, the late Alhaji Fafa E. M'Bai, under the leadership of his son, Ousman F. M'Bai. The Chambers combines a legal tradition extending over almost five decades with a contemporary practice serving clients in The Gambia and in matters with international and cross-border dimensions.

Ousman F. M'Bai is a Solicitor Advocate of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, a Barrister of England and Wales and a Barrister-at-Law of The Gambia. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales by the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn and, following pupillage, practised as a barrister before subsequently qualifying as a Solicitor Advocate.

He holds an LL.M in Banking and Finance, reflecting a longstanding professional interest in credit, securities, financial transactions and the legal structures underpinning commercial finance.

For more than two decades, he held senior legal positions within the public sector in the United Kingdom, developing particular expertise in serious fraud, money laundering, proceeds of crime, civil recovery and the international enforcement of confiscation and asset recovery orders.

His work involved advising upon and coordinating complex investigations, litigation and enforcement proceedings with international and cross-border dimensions. These matters involved jurisdictions across Europe, North America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and included cooperation with foreign authorities, lawyers, financial institutions and regulatory bodies.

This experience has informed the development of a practice combining financial crime and asset recovery with commercial, banking and finance, natural resources, constitutional and public law, regulatory matters and international dispute resolution.

He advises and represents governments, public institutions, corporations, financial institutions and private clients in matters requiring strategic legal advice, advocacy and the management of complex domestic and international issues.

His practice also encompasses petroleum and natural resources law, environmental governance and constitutional accountability, including matters raising questions concerning the exercise of public power, regulatory decision-making and the protection of the public interest.

International Practice

In addition to his role as Principal of Fana Fana Chambers, Ousman F. M’Bai is the founder of F. Manous MCBAI Advisory, a London-based international advisory practice.

The London practice provides a platform for advisory work involving international financial crime, asset recovery, banking and finance, natural resources, regulatory matters and other cross-border issues, drawing upon his experience in the United Kingdom and The Gambia.

The two practices are independently structured and operate within their respective legal and professional frameworks, with the Chambers providing legal services in The Gambia and the London practice undertaking international strategic advisory work.

Professional Qualifications

• Solicitor Advocate, Senior Courts of England and Wales

• Barrister, England and Wales — Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn

• Barrister-at-Law, The Gambia

• LL.M, Banking and Finance

Languages

English · French · Spanish · Wolof · Mandinka

Areas of Particular Practice

• Banking, finance, credit and securities

• International asset tracing and recovery

• Financial crime and proceeds of crime

• Cryptocurrency and digital asset recovery

• Commercial transactions and disputes

• Oil, gas and natural resources

• Constitutional and administrative law

• Public-interest litigation

• International arbitration

• Regulatory and compliance matters

• Tax-related legal matters

• Environmental law

• Cross-border disputes

His combination of Gambian and English legal qualifications, extensive public-sector experience in the United Kingdom, specialist knowledge of financial crime and asset recovery, and academic training in banking and finance provides the Chambers with a distinctive capacity to advise and represent clients on complex legal and commercial matters extending beyond a single jurisdiction.