White & Case has expanded its South Africa offering with the hire of three new partners in its Johannesburg office, including Linklater alliance firm Webber Wentzel's head of banking and finance.

The firm has also announced the office is to become the firm's hub for project finance and bank finance activity in sub-Saharan Africa, and is relocating a further two London-based lawyers to boost the US-headquartered firm's Johannesburg offering.

Early next year, the firm will welcome Webber Wentzel banking and finance department head Johan De Lange, alongside Bowman Gilfillan partners Joz Coetzer and Craig Whitley.

The announcement of De Lange's hire comes less than a week after White & Case's recruitment of London private equity stars Ian Bagshaw and Richard Youle from Linklaters.

"The addition of three senior lawyers of such high calibre represents an important landmark in the development of the Firm's practice in Africa," commented EMEA energy, infrastructure, project and asset finance group head Philip Stopford.

Also joining the trio is London project finance partner and partnership committee member Christopher Utting, who will head the Johannesburg office when he relocates in January 2014.

Dual qualified in New York and English law, Utting advises lenders, borrowers and investors on cross-border project financings. He will relocate alongside London is project finance senior associate Mukund Dhar.

"South Africa is a natural target for expansion, given marketplace growth and the attractiveness of Johannesburg to both local and international financial institutions," said EMEA bank finance group head Lee Cullinane.

"The redeployment of Chris and Mukund from London will be invaluable in strengthening ties throughout the Firm."

White & Case claims to be the first international law firm to establish an office in South Africa post-apartheid when it opened in Johannesburg in 1995.