Dentons will launch in Uganda through a tie-up with Kampala Associated Advocates.
Kampala, which has 12 partners and 26 lawyers in total, is led by managing partner David Mpanga. The firm offers banking and finance, communications, corporate, dispute resolution, energy, and infrastructure capabilities.
Kampala previously had relationships with Simmons & Simmons and Baker McKenzie, as well as Dentons.
The combination would go live later this year after a partner vote from both firms, which is expected to occur in the next few weeks.
Dentons global chairman Joe Andrew said: “With this combination we are truly poised to become one of the leading and fastest-growing firms in Africa. It’s our goal to be the first truly pan-African law firm, through a blend of full-firm combinations and our well known network.”
This merger comes after Dentons’ newly-appointed Africa CEO Noor Kapdi unveiled the firm’s plans to expand its footprint significantly in the region over the next two years. In an interview with The Lawyer, Kapdi said that the firm would focus on East Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa.
Nigeria, alongside Mauritius, Southern Africa and Tanzania, were highlighted as key locations for expansion.
The firm has its own offices in South Africa, Casablanca and Egypt. According to data compiled by The Lawyer’s Global 200 2017 report, the firm has a total of 11 partners in the region.
Aside from these offices, Dentons’ method in Africa over the last few decades has been to form associations with local firms. At present, Dentons has working relationship with a local firm in 18 different African jurisdictions.
