Internationalisation of South Africa’s legal market is continuing apace as firms seek to exploit opportunities throughout the region At the beginning of 2014 there were nine international firms with offices or exclusive associations in South Africa. Less than 12 months later there are 13. By this time next year most lawyers expect that number will […]
North Africa is swiftly becoming a hub for investment into the rest of the continent. Algeria and Morocco are ripe for financial investment and market growth. Local independent firms such as Bennani & Associés have found profitable opportunities in both countries. And since 2011 global firms including Allen & Overy, Norton Rose Fulbright and Baker […]
US firm Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe has opened its first affiliated office in Africa’s Ivory Coast, operating under the name Orrick RCI. This announcement comes after the firm hired Heenan Paris’ former head of banking and finance group Jean-Jacques Essombé as part of its Africa expansion strategy earlier this month (9 October 2014). The firm […]
Linklaters’ South African ally Webber Wentzel has split its senior partner role into two as incumbent David Lancaster steps down after nine years in the position. Lancaster is retiring on 1 March next year. Corporate partner Christo Els will take over as senior partner, while fellow corporate partner Sally Hutton will be the firm’s first-ever […]
Orrick Rambaud Martel has strengthened its Paris banking group and Africa expertise with the hire of a partner from Heenan Paris, the French successor firm to collapsed Canadian outfit Heenan Blaikie. Jean-Jacques Essombè was formerly head of the French banking and finance group at Heenan Blaikie, having joined the firm in September 2011 from Brandford-Griffiths […]
Allen & Overy has become the latest firm to move into South Africa, hiring a finance team from Bowman Gilfillan – but just how significant is the move? Allen & Overy (A&O) has a tendency to be a little coy when rumours start circulating that it is opening a new office, with a standard line […]
Angola and Mozambique both benefit from oil and gas exploration but their by-product of needing modern and extensive infrastructure is creating new investment sources The energy-rich, Portuguese-speaking nations of Angola and Mozambique have consistently shown their potential over the past years. GDP growth in both countries has outstripped both the global average and also the […]
Allen & Overy (A&O) is understood to be preparing for a launch in South Africa, with the hire of a team from local firm Bowman Gilfillan led by banking head Lionel Shawe. Shawe, whose last day at Bowman Gilfillan is today (29 August), is thought to be taking a team of up to seven partners […]
Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group members Coulson Harney and East African Law Chambers (EALC) have expanded their teams with a total of five lateral partner hires. Kenyan firm Coulson Harney has picked up four partners from rival Daly & Figgis, while EALC has appointed tax consultant Brian Kangetta as head of tax. The team joining Coulson […]
Simmons & Simmons has gained a South African presence by allying with Canadian firm Fasken Martineau’s recently-acquired Johannesburg operation. Fasken Martineau merged with the 76-lawyer Johannesburg-based Bell Dewar in February 2013, which brought in expertise in mining, infrastructure, energy, project finance, capital markets and M&A (22 October 2012). The new alliance, which takes effect today […]
Arnold & Porter, Linklaters and Kenyan firms Anjarwalla & Khanna and Kaplan & Stratton have taken the lead roles on Kenya’s $2bn (£1.2bn) Eurobond, the largest debut sovereign bond issuance from Africa. Arnold & Porter worked alongside Anjarwalla for the Kenyan government on the bond issuance, while Linklaters and Kaplan & Stratton provided advice to joint […]
Kenyan firms Hamilton Harrison & Matthews (HHM) and Oraro & Company have announced they are to merge, pending regulatory approval. The combined firm, HHM Oraro, will be one of Kenya’s largest with 17 partners and another 34 associates. HHM managing partner Adil Khawaja will be the managing partner of HHM Oraro. HHM is Dentons’ associated […]