South Africa’s Legal Practice Council (LPC) plans to oppose Norton Rose Fulbright’s bid to invalidate the country’s legal sector code, part of the black economic empowerment policy aimed at addressing racial inequalities in the profession.

Norton Rose argues the code imposes unreasonable targets, potentially lowering its B-BBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) rating and limiting its ability to compete for state work. But the regulatory body said the policy aims to reverse the effects of apartheid and address the structural challenges faced by black practitioners, especially black women.