Combination with former Eversheds ally sees Hogan Lovells secure first African office 

Hogan Lovells will merge with South African firm Routledge Modise, with the combination set to go live on 1 December.

Routledge will take on Hogan Lovells' name following the combination, rebranding from early 2014.

With no presence on the ground, Hogan Lovells' Africa practice is co-ordinated through regional leaders in Asia, Europe, London and the Americas. It also works with local law firms in the region.

Hogan Lovells has about 40 lawyers around the world focusing on Africa; however, management believes a presence on the continent has now become necessary given that the majority of the firm's top 200 clients have African operations.

Routledge Modise became a formal ally of Eversheds in April 2008, but split from the Johannesburg-based practice in October last year owing to issues over client conflicts.

The South African firm elected to change its name to Eversheds in July 2009. However, a long-running legal battle ensued, with The Law Society of the Northern Provinces claiming that the name change was in contravention of its own rules, as well as section 23 of the Attorneys Act.

Following its split with Eversheds, Routledge returned to trading under its former name, although a South African court subsequently ruled in February last year that Routledge had not broken local law by changing its name to Eversheds.

David Harris, global co-CEO of Hogan Lovells, said: "Africa is an extremely important market for our clients and to us as a firm. A significant number of our clients have an interest or a presence on the continent and, with Africa's substantial natural resources, expanding economies and growing consumer base, this interest will continue to increase rapidly."

The combined firm's Johannesburg office will house 120 lawyers, including 41 partners. 

Lavery Modise, chairman of Routledge Modise, said: "Both firms have proven track records, and this is a merger of expertise and knowledge to ensure that we continue to offer our clients the very best legal services.

"We have found that we share the same values and approach as Hogan Lovells – providing creative legal and business solutions for our clients with the highest professional standards."