The Dentons team with awards judge Gary Berndt, Barloworld (far right)

Finalists: Anjarwalla & Khanna; Bowmans; ENSafrica; GLA – Gabinete Legal Angola (PLMJ Network); Norton Rose Fulbright; Simmons & Simmons; TTA – Sociedade de Advogados (PLMJ Network) (Highly Commended); White & Case.

Dentons claimed the Transportation and Infrastructure Team of the Year title for advising South African railway company Transnet on a complex cross-border transaction, which involved selling refurbished locomotives to Colombia via a UK-based entity and sending a team to Colombia to provide maintenance and support services.

The firm was instructed to carry out due diligence on the commercial and legal risks of performing maintenance services in Colombia (the first time Transnet has done business in the country), enlisting Dentons' Colombian office to assist with local insight and expertise on the country's laws, business practices and potential challenges. Dentons' African team also had to draft the agreements for the cross-border sale and provision of Transnet's maintenance services, ensuring the company is adequately protected from a financial and legal perspective in all related jurisdictions, including the UK.

While the deal has yet to be concluded, the breadth of Denton's advice on the transaction spans financing and regulatory considerations, health and safety, dispute resolution procedures, and visa, employment and pension fund implications for Transnet employees posted to Colombia. The deal is part of Transnet's wider efforts to expand its operations outside of Africa.

"Innovative use of legal acumen covering different geographic and legal jurisdictions," applauded a judge.

To return to the full list of winners, click here.