Eversheds Sutherland's mining and natural resources practice team has broken away from the firm and set up their own boutique, people close to the firm have said.

Warren Beech, who headed the team, and fellow partner Nicholas Veldman, set up the boutique, and they are joined by fellow Eversheds lawyers Refiloe Vengeni and Eben Van Zyl, who were both promoted to partner in March, together with a further lawyer and a trainee, Beech confirmed.

The new boutique, opened on 1 July and is operating under the banner of Beech Veltman Incorporated, headed by Beech as CEO, who said the plan is to have a team of eight on board by mid-August.

On the question of timing, Beech told Law.com International: "The move puts us in a better position to be reactive to clients' needs in the face of the challenges of the post-COVID landscape."

He added: "It's actually perfect timing, because the legal industry is entering an eight to 10-year boutique cycle, because clients are looking to cut costs and for value add and are tired of paying the high prices charged by the big firms."

Having worked in mining for more than 20 years, Beech believes the industry still has a strong future in Africa.

"Mining is still the life-blood of South Africa and the rest of Africa and we are also looking to medium term opportunities in natural resources and renewable energy."

He said, in South Africa, the bigger mining companies were already committed to the use of renewable energy, because of the instability of the power supply provided by the government utility Eskom.

The departure of Beech and his team from Eversheds occurs little more than a year after the firm launched its mining practice with the hire of Beech and his team, having wooed them away from Hogan Lovells.

With the team moving on, Eversheds South Africa managing partner Peter van Niekerk has said the firm will not be continuing with a mining practice.

Before joining Hogan Lovells in 2012, Beech and Veltman both worked together at South Africa major Webber Wentzel.

Van Niekerk added in a statement: "The reason for their departure is that they wanted to establish a firm that will focus on the natural resources and infrastructure sectors. We do not intend continuing with a mining practice. We will however continue working together as there are a number of opportunities where our complementary expertise is aligned.

"The South African office has an excellent client base which we will continue to service in numerous sectors and disciplines."

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