Dewey & LeBoeuf has dramatically expanded its Johannesburg arm with the hire of an eight-partner team from local law firm Werksmans.

The team is led by mining partner Morne van der Merwe and banking partner Wildu du Plessis, who will both take on management roles upon arriving at the top 25 US law firm. Van der Merwe will become co-chair of Dewey's natural resources practice, while du Plessis will become co-managing partner of the Johannesburg branch.

The other partners joining alongside the duo include Chris Moraitis, Astrid Berman, Esme Ferreira, Amelia Heeger, Muhammed Sader and Mike van Rensburg.

The team brings expertise covering banking, capital markets, corporate finance, project finance, private equity and securitization law and sectors including financial institutions, mining, infrastructure and energy.

The hire is a rare example of an international law firm making a large team hire from a major South African practice.

Dewey chairman Steven Davis commented: "The addition of this team of high quality, respected lawyers places us at the head of the market and presents exciting opportunities to grow our practice in Africa as the continent continues to become a more significant part of the global economy."

Dewey Africa practice group head Joseph Tato said: "The team's arrival is a major step for our Johannesburg office, and more broadly our practice across Africa. We are one of the few international law firms with an office in Africa and our strategy to date has largely been to target energy clients and project finance work across the continent."

Having first opened in 2000, the US firm's Johannesburg office specializes in energy, mining, power, telecommunications and infrastructure work.

Dewey's move comes amid a sustained global push from many international law firms in the natural resources sectors, including investing in countries like South Africa, Canada and Australia that are well established in related industries.

Norton Rose also this week unveiled the formal launch of its tie-up with Macleod Dixon, which became the second Canadian law firm to join the Norton Rose Group on 1 January. The deal is touted as heavily reinforcing the City firm's global energy and mining practices.

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