Baker McKenzie is in the running to retain the prestigious International Law Firm of the Year title at the African Legal Awards after the 2018 finalists were revealed.

To retain the 2017 award, which was collected by Johannesburg managing partner Morne van der Merwe (pictured), Bakers must see off competition from Hogan Lovells, DLA Piper and White & Case to be named as the global firm making the biggest impact on Africa's burgeoning legal landscape.

Hosted by Legal Week and the Corporate Counsel Association of South Africa (CCASA), the awards seek to recognise outstanding achievement across Africa's legal community as the continent's economic potential unleashes a wealth of opportunities and challenges for local and international lawyers alike.