Finalists: Aluko & Oyebode, Nigeria • Anjarwalla & Khanna, Kenya • Bowman Gilfillan, South Africa • DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, South Africa • Hamilton Harrison & Mathews, Kenya

Webber Wentzel secured the African Law Firm of the Year award, winning commendations from the judges for several notable employee development and client care initiatives.

The firm runs a talent management programme, focusing on identifying future leaders and star performers, growing talent through individual career plans and avoiding losing strong performers by making leaders and managers accountable for engagement and retention.

Webber Wentzel also runs a mentoring programme for its junior lawyers, with 76% uptake across the group, including 80% of the junior black cohort. This comes in addition to a 'buddy' programme that launched in 2013, which pairs first year recruits with more experienced hands to help with the settling in process. Having a buddy provides the opportunity to approach another junior professional for guidance and advice relating to the firm, undertaking articles and practising law in general.

Working in alliance with UK magic circle firm Linklaters, this leading South African firm combined with its ally to top Mergermarket's league tables for advisers in the Middle East and Africa by both value and volume in H1 2014.

"Its substantial increase in turnover and size over the past eight years is indicative of its success," commented one of the judges.