Penningtons heads SA speaking tour

UK FIRM Penningtons will lead a delegation of European lawyers next month on a speaking tour of South Africa.

Representatives from the European Law Group - which brings together firms in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK - will speak at a series of one-day seminars to be staged in the country from 16 to 20 October.

The Penningtons team, which includes South Africa unit head William Frankel, has worked with the Law Society of South Africa to organise the tour of Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.

"South Africa is now rejoining the world business community and is looking to invest outside the African region," said Penningtons managing partner David Stedman.

"Europe is an obvious choice, but businesses need to be aware of the different legal requirements in the European Union. Obviously we hope that the UK will benefit from the increase in commercial activity. That is why we have committed ourselves to this important venture."

Frankel worked for 25 years as legal adviser to the clandestine International Defence and Aid Fund which assisted and funded political trials in South Africa.

During the tour he will be speaking on tax matters affecting locals wanting to export from the country and colleague Jack Cohen will discuss transfer technology.

Penningtons' lawyer Henry Brown will provide an address on alternative dispute resolution and South African commercial specialist Pierre Labuchagne will also speak.