Linklaters has sealed an exclusive alliance with South African firm Webber Wentzel, on the back of the magic circle firm's link-up with Australia's Allens earlier this year.

The South African alliance, which is set to go live on 1 February next year, comes after several months of talks between the two firms.

Legal Week reported in July this year that Linklaters was drawing up plans to enter the sought-after African legal market, before revealing in August that it was in advanced talks with Webber Wentzel about an exclusive alliance.

The initiative has been overseen by emerging Europe, Middle East and Africa managing partner Sandeep Katwala, who led the negotiations with the South African firm, which has offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town and employs around 750 people.

The firm's global co-head of mining Andrew Jones and capital markets partner Patrick Sheil also participated in the negotiations.

The deal is set to follow the same formula as the magic circle firm's tie-up with Australia's Allens Arthur Robinson, which subsequently rebranded as Allens.

Allens, which today (3 December) elected long-time banking partner Ian Wallace to succeed Ewen Crouch as chairman, has seen an significant upturn in referrals from the magic circle firm since the alliance.

Linklaters managing partner Simon Davies said: "Our alliance with Webber Wentzel, South Africa's premier legal firm, is an exciting development. Our strategy is to meet our clients' needs in markets across the world by focusing on delivering an excellent quality client experience whether through our own offices as we build out our network or working in partnership with the very best firms in particular markets such as Webber Wentzel."

Webber Wentzel said that Linklaters' Africa practice is currently working on over 200 matters relating to Africa, having worked on numerous landmark transactions in almost every country on the continent over the past 20 years.

Webber Wentzel senior partner David Lancaster said: "The alliance is consistent with our strategy of helping clients wherever they do business in Africa. It is also vote of confidence in South Africa and Africa and a strong endorsement for the reputation Webber Wentzel has built over the years."

Linklaters Asia managing partner Stuart Salt said Africa was a "hugely important destination point", citing recent referral work for Asia-based clients in Libya, Algeria, Gabon and Tanzania.

"Africa is somewhere we feel we have a market leading presence, not just in the resources field, but across the practices in our firm," he said.

Linklaters will also benefit from the South African firm's membership of the Africa Legal Network (ALN), which Webber Wentzel joined last year.

ALN, which was founded eight years go by Kenyan law firm Anjarwalla & Khanna, currently has law firm members in Botswana, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Last month, ALN chairman John Miles told Legal Week he was unaware of the two firms' plans, but said that "ALN will not be affected whatever those two firms decide to do together, as we work closely with both firms on projects and matters as they arise".

The news comes after Canadian firm Fasken Martineau last month announced it was merging its Johannesburg office with 76-lawyer South African outfit Bell Dewar.