Rive & Co appoints David Mestres Ridge as partner in Tanzania office

Rive & Co, a Tanzania-based member firm of Alliott Global Alliance, has appointed David Mestres Ridge as a partner.

David Mestres Ridge brings a rare blend of scientific and legal expertise to Rive & Co, holding degrees in Applied Geology, Mining Geology, Chemical Engineering, and a postgraduate qualification in the disposal of offshore platforms.

He began his career with Total Energies before working as an independent M&A and business development consultant for oil companies in the North Sea and North Africa. After working as a Vice President in the Equity Research teams of the Royal Bank of Canada, he assisted Black Marlin Energy on its IPO on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

In 2010, he founded Swala Oil & Gas, an oil & gas exploration company headquartered in Dar es Salaam. In recent years, Mestres Ridge has been active in corporate finance and energy development projects across Africa, Europe, and Australia, while also advising on complex legal matters across multiple jurisdictions.

At Rive & Co, a 30-person law firm and member of Alliott Global Alliance, Mestres Ridge has been named a partner and leader of the Energy, Mining, Renewable & Natural Resources practice.

“With deep sector expertise and strategic vision, David strengthens our commitment to powering sustainable growth across Tanzania and beyond,” stated Rive & Co in a post on LinkedIn. “We are excited to welcome him.”

Outside of Tanzania, Rive & Co also has an office in Zanzibar. The company was founded in 2023 through the merger of two Tanzanian law firms, ABC Attorneys and Stallion Attorneys.