Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has identified key areas for growth in Africa as the firm looks to second more lawyers to the region amid much interest in the continent's fast-growing legal markets.

The magic circle firm has identified Mauritania, Congo-Brazzaville and Zimbabwe as among those offering opportunities for growth, while Egypt and Morocco are also high on the firm's agenda. The firm has also seen an increase in projects work across Mozambique and Tanzania.

The firm, which has a network of 80-100 referral firms across Africa, has seen a rise in secondments into and out of the continent after identifying it as a key area of focus. 

Freshfields Africa group co-head Shawn der Kinderen said: "We are doing this to increasingly cross-pollinate with other firms – it's a good opportunity to team up with the best local law firms and offer a better service to clients."

The firm also recently completed a major research project on foreign investment into Africa, which found that the value of African inward investment has tripled in the last ten years to reach more than $182bn (£119bn).

Freshfields Africa group co-head Julian Makin said: "Larger and more mature economies like South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria are showing strong demand for a range of services, whereas countries in the early phases of their economic development offer opportunities that may be more weighted towards infrastructure and natural resources."

Freshfields' Africa group currently comprises around 30-40 partners and 50 associates around the world, focusing in particular on 18 African countries.