The entry process for the seventh annual African Legal Awards has opened, with law firms and in-house teams encouraged to submit nominations to be recognised as a leader in their field.

The ceremony, which will be held on September 6 in Johannesburg, seeks to highlight the leading private practice and in-house lawyers working on the continent across 26 categories.

Coveted prizes include African Law Firm of the Year – Large Practice, which was taken home by  one of South Africa's 'big five' firms Bowmans last year, and International Law Firm of the Year, which was scooped for the second year running by Baker McKenzie.

Meanwhile, among the awards for in-house lawyers are General Counsel of the Year and Legal Department of the Year.

This year's ceremony, which is hosted by Legal Week and the Corporate Counsel Association of South Africa (CCASA), has expanded to include more categories.

New accolades include Rising Star, Most Promising Newcomer, and Alternative Service Provider of the Year.

Last year's CCASA Lifetime Achievement Award went to Justice Edwin Cameron, a former South African constitutional court judge and gay rights campaigner who was once described by Nelson Mandela as "one of South Africa's new heroes".

The deadline for entry submissions is May 31. Click here to enter the awards.

To reserve your table, book online here, or contact Jon Radley at [email protected]

For sponsorship enquiries, call James Woolf on +44 (0) 20 3875 0669 or email [email protected]