A dynamic new generation of sub-Saharan lawyers is helping to guide the continent towards economic expansion There are two things everyone tells you about Africa: first, it is not one country, but 54; and second, that they are working there. The aim of The Lawyer’s first-ever Africa Elite report is to shine a spotlight on […]
South Africa’s status as the biggest and most developed legal market in the continent means it is still the destination of choice for foreign tie-ups South Africa is by far the most developed legal market in sub-Saharan Africa. Although the local economy has slowed recently, the country’s leading position means there are already plenty of […]
East Africa is one of the more developed legal markets in the continent, with a significant amount of work flowing between jurisdictions. Kenya leads the way, with several large and well-established firms which are now embroiled in a war for talent. Mauritius is distinguished by being a popular offshore market. Three offshore firms have a […]
Despite restrictions on foreign lawyers setting up shop in Mozambique, the region’s historical and linguistic links with Portugal offer a host of international benefits In some ways, Angola and Mozambique are two of the most international-facing jurisdictions in Africa, with firms in both jurisdictions maintaining solid and long-standing relationships with Portuguese outfits. Of the two, […]
Often overshadowed by their bigger and more affluent neighbour South Africa, the southern states of the continent are starting to show their mettle Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe have often been overlooked by investors favouring their larger neighbour, South Africa. But although the economies remain small, all have enormous potential and law firms are gearing […]
Dominated by the energy and natural resources sector, West African firms are being courted by the world’s top players. But the locals are keeping their options open with loose networks of referral firms Led by the booming Nigeria, West Africa is doing well and its lawyers are benefiting. The region is split along cultural and […]
Nigeria’s middle class boom is driving the entertainment sector and its legal development, says Adefunke Adeyeye, legal boss at media group Silverbird Setting up a legal team from scratch is always a challenge, but it is even tougher when the sector you are in is at the start of a potentially infinite growth curve. Such […]
White & Case offered Linklaters private equity (PE) associates up to £40,000 in ’golden hellos’ to join star PE partners Richard Youle and Ian Bagshaw when they quit the magic circle firm. The US firm attempted to lure away up to 10 associates with hefty sign-up fees in a bid to build up its London […]
Pinsent Masons partners are warming up for the firm’s first contested leadership elections since incumbent managing partner David Ryan was elected in 1999. It will also be the first election since Pinsent Masons merged with McGrigors in May 2012 (6 February 2012). Both managing partner and senior partner elections had been due to take place […]
Eversheds is formalising a three-year cooperation agreement to launch two offices in Morocco. The firm is opening in Casablanca and Tangier through a tie-up with associated firm CWA, run by former Eversheds associate Mohamed Oulkhouir. The offices will be known as Eversheds CWA Morocco and will be led by Oulkhouir as managing partner. The firm will […]
Now it is a bigshot firm, the nature of DWF’s trainees has to change When law firms merge, two assurances are always trotted out – the first is that there will be better service for clients, the second that the cultures were similar anyway and the ethos of both will remain. But when a firm […]
If merger goes ahead, this Chinese superfirm will be a global game-changer In China the proposed merger of Jun He and Zhong Lun is a deal the like of which has never been seen before. Previous mergers between Chinese firms have been mostly among mid-tier firms, such as that between Shanghai’s Boss & Young and […]