South Africa's ENS expands into Uganda with local bolt-on

The announcement that Synergy is joining ENS follows the news last summer (8 August 2012) that ENS was opening in Burundi and Rwanda in a bid to become a major player across the sub-Saharan African region.

The Synergy team joining ENS is led by Donald Nyakairu, alongside partners Alexander Kibandama, Bernard Katureebe and Ronald Tusingwire. Synergy’s six associates are also joining ENS.

The firm now has over 550 lawyers across Africa.

“What differentiates our offering is that we provide our clients, including international law firms, with a level of quality and skill that is not always easy to find across Africa, and our services are cost-effective,” said ENS chairman Michael Katz in a statement, adding: “We operate in Africa for Africa.”

Katz said ENS was committed to providing localised expertise in Africa’s key geographic regions.

Nyakairu said Synergy was attracted to ENS by the chance to join an integrated African law firm and the opportunity to ensure that local talent can be developed.

ENS’s strategy is in contrast to that followed by other large South African firms. Norton Rose merged with Deneys Reitz in 2011 (15 November 2010) and Webber Wentzel signed up to an alliance with Linklaters in December (3 December 2012).