Baker McKenzie has hired a five-lawyer banking and finance team from Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) in Johannesburg as part of the firm's expansion plan.

Lerisha Naidu, Baker McKenzie Johannesburg managing partner, said the new joiners have an impeccable track record of leading in banking and finance transactions in Africa. The team hire is the firm's latest lateral move in Johannesburg after Baker McKenzie added three transactional partners to its corporate M&A team in 2023.

"These appointments form part of our plan to grow our team and solidify our position as the transactional law firm of choice in Africa," Naidu told Law.com International.