Chadbourne & Parke has become the latest firm to venture into Johannesburg with the hire of Bowman Gilfillan partner Lido Fontana to head the new office.

The New York-headquartered firm currently has 12 offices across the US, Latin America, Europe and Asia including London, Beijing and Sao Paulo.

The new Johannesburg base will open on 2 February as a single partner office, but with the expectation that it will grow. A number of London and Dubai-based partners, including Africa practice head Agnieszka Klich, will now spend a significant amount of their time in the office.

Fontana is a corporate partner who has significant experience in international oil and gas, mining and large infrastructure development transactions. He also worked as an associate in DLA Piper's London office before joining DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr in 2011. He moved to Bowman the following year.

Chadbourne's Africa practice focuses on energy and infrastructure transactions and has advised clients on matters in 42 of the 54 African countries.

"The Sub-Saharan region is experiencing a boom in energy and infrastructure projects – this new office will serve as a springboard to projects across the continent." said Fontana.

Fontana's exit from Bowman comes not long after a seven-lawyer team including four partners left the firm to launch a Johannesburg base for Allen & Overy. The team included star banking and finance partner Lionel Shawe.