White & Case is to relocate a number of London-based lawyers to Africa as part of a push into the continent.

Western Europe regional head David Barwise and Europe, the Middle East and Africa project finance group co-head Philip Stopford ­visited the firm’s Johannesburg office last week to consolidate plans to enhance the firm’s projects and finance practice in the region.

London capital markets partner Tim Jeveons said: “White & Case’s specialism is emerging markets and Africa has a lot of potential for us. We’ve had an office in Johannesburg, which focuses on projects, for 15 years. We now want to build a finance practice that serves Sub-Saharan Africa and Northern Africa.”

As part of the push the US firm will be developing informal ties with local African firms as well as operating the practice out of the Johannesburg and London offices.

Although the firm hopes to win work across Africa the main focus will be Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Uganda.