TL 31 March 2014

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Overview: The business case

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 […]

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South Africa: Down and clout

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 […]

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East Africa: Eastern time

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 […]

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Lusophone Africa: Sweet talk

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, […]

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Southern Africa: Neighbourhood watch

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 […]

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West Africa: West win

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 […]

silverbird

Silverbird Group legal chief: Media wave

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 […]

DWF Manchester

DWF’s ever-changing moods

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 […]

China

Red giant

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 […]

Cat Griffiths index

Limber up for the Africa play-offs

When The Lawyer was researching The Africa Elite, one of the questions we asked the continent’s top independent practices was which international firms they worked with or they would like to work with. The magic circle and Wall Street giants such as Latham and Sherman got plenty of respect, but what came out very clearly […]

case

Overview: The business case

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 […]

suitcase shaped like Africa continent

South Africa: Down and clout

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 […]