Kenya could be the next big target for international firms wanting to grow in Africa. A common complaint of law firms wishing to grow their international presence is that local regulations prevent them from doing so. Equally, a common refrain from some independent firms in developing markets is that a cohort of their peers are […]
East Africa is a buoyant and increasingly integrated region, with oil and gas driving its future. Meanwhile, a liberalised legal market is emerging There are many synergies between East Africa’s three largest economies – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda – not least their strong independent law firms. While each has its own geopolitical issues to grapple […]
Kenya’s notoriously closed legal market is taking the first steps towards liberalisation with confirmation that a committee has been established to review its Advocates Act. The review could pave the way for foreign firms to open their own offices in the jurisdiction. Currently, independent firms associated with foreign outfits are not permitted to use the […]
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom and Linklaters have scooped key roles advising on industrial conglomerate Mota-Engil Africa’s proposed IPO on the London Stock Exchange. It is the second time Linklaters has advised an African company on a flotation in the UK in the last three months. In April, capital markets partner Ben Dulieu advised on the […]
Former Clyde & Co partner Krista Bates van Winkelhof, who claimed she was dismissed from the firm for blowing the whistle on a colleague, is joining African airline FastJet as group general counsel. Bates van Winkelhof is one of three senior appointments at the budget airline and is expected to join with immediate effect. She […]
Clyde & Co has entered South Africa with a five-lawyer raid on Linkaters’ ally Webber Wentzel’s insurance and legal liability group. The firm has launched with two partners in Cape Town today (16 May) and will launch a second office in Johannesburg as soon as departure dates for a further two partners and one consultant […]
Eversheds has today secured its eighth office in Africa through an affiliation with Durban-based Knight Turner, which is now known as Eversheds KZN. It is the latest move to follow the launch of Eversheds’ pan-African strategy in October (1 October 2013), which saw the firm re-enter South Africa via a deal with Mahons Attorneys in December gifting […]
Dentons is tying up with South African associate firm KapdiTwala to launch its own offices in South Africa. KapdiTwala, which focuses on oil and gas, has been associated with Dentons since 2012. The merger gives Dentons an office in Cape Town, with the firm planning to open in Johannesburg later this year. The merger is […]
In-house counsel in African companies are quickly gaining prominence and control over their businesses’ legal function, The Lawyer research has shown. General counsel at major African organisations believe that like their counterparts in the UK and US, they are increasingly able to control their legal spend and bring work in-house. ”Across the board, in-house teams […]
The largest global business firms, such as Baker & McKenzie, Dentons, DLA Piper, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Norton Rose Fulbright, have the deepest relationships with African independents, research by The Lawyer has indicated. Leading independent firms interviewed for The Lawyer Africa Elite 2014, published on Monday (31 March) named those international firms adopting a […]
Portuguese firm Vieira de Almeida (VdA) has forged a new alliance in Mozambique, teaming up with local firm SCAN – Advogados e Consultores. The new alliance replaces a previous relationship with Silva Garcia Advogados. Foreign firms are not allowed to practise in Mozambique, forcing international players to forge local alliances to gain a foothold in […]
When The Lawyer was researching The Africa Elite, one of the questions we asked the continent’s top independent practices was which international firms they worked with or they would like to work with. The magic circle and Wall Street giants such as Latham and Sherman got plenty of respect, but what came out very clearly […]