NEXT
Sign in to follow

International Edition

Power shortage drives South African firms

South Africa's leading law firms are being protected from some of the worst effects of the global credit crunch, with the country's power crisis and consolidation in the mining sector translating into a stream of long-running mandates for those with energy and utilities experience. State-owned electricity firm Eskom ran out of power in 2006. The country's power shortage peaked early this year.With power shortages leading to forced blackouts affecting multinational giants such as BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, Eskom has committed some R300bn (£20.6bn) to building new power plants across the country, a project expected to last 20 years, to deal with the problem.
2 minute read

International Edition

Africa: Good company

In June 2008 the long-awaited new Companies Bill was tabled in the South African Parliament, with the intention that it be adopted in 2008 and become effective in 2010. The Bill seeks to re-write South African company law completely. It will have far-reaching effects, with changes to the rights of shareholders and directors' duties, and innovations in the area of 'fundamental transactions'.It is apparent that there has been an American influence on the Bill, although South African company law will retain its English roots.
7 minute read

International Edition

Africa: Roaring opportunity

The African telecoms industry is booming. Mergers and acquisitions are producing record-breaking valuations as foreign investors try to exploit the massive growth potential. The influx of capital is creating new infrastructure, as well as innovation in services. Investment in African telecoms is a political issue and the development of high-speed communications is an explicit priority for most of the 54 countries on the continent. The Global Mobile Tax Review 2006-2007, produced by the GSM Association & Deloitte, suggested that a 10% increase in mobile penetration in the East Africa region can lead to a 1.2% increase in annual gross domestic product.
7 minute read

International Edition

Latham makes Middle East counsel additions

Latham & Watkins has added two counsel to its Middle East practice and one in Asia. Mark Godfrey has joined the Abu Dhabi corporate team from Allen & Overy while Craig Stoehr has joined in Doha. Stoehr previously worked in the firm's New York office before taking on a range of roles outside law. In Asia, Latham has hired Louis Rabinowitz from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. Rabinowitz will initially be based in the firm's Hong Kong office but will also spend significant time working with the firm's Tokyo lawyers.
1 minute read

International Edition

Dentons puts Tanzanian alliance under spotlight

Denton Wilde Sapte is reviewing its association with Tanzanian law firm Mkono & Co after the firm last month signed a rival agreement with US practice Hunton & Williams.Huntons plans to go ahead with its first African alliance - aiming to cooperate on energy and infrastructure work with cross-referrals between Asia, Africa and the US. Huntons maintains that it believed Mkono's relationship with Dentons was also non-exclusive and that the African firm had cleared the agreement with Dentons. Emerging markets partner John Beardsworth told Legal Week: "Tanzania is an investment destination and we have been working here for about 15 years... people will look for the best combination of a local and an international firm for legal transactions." Dentons told Legal Week it would monitor the situation to see if the firm's relationship with Huntons impacted on service levels for clients. The firm said: "The association with Mkono has been in place for over eight years and is still in operation... Having operated in East Africa for many years, and worked with other firms in Tanzania... if necessary, Denton Wilde Sapte will enter into an association elsewhere."Dentons has eight associations in Africa: in Algeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda, Ghana, Mauritius and Botswana. The firm denied reports that Kenyan ally Hamilton Harrison & Matthews is set to join the association this year.
2 minute read

International Edition

DLA Piper boosts Middle East with partner promotions

DLA Piper made its first ever mid-year partner promotions last month, making up seven lawyers in Dubai. The promotions take the number of partners in the United Arab Emirates office to 23, with each of its key practice areas represented in the latest round. The appointments come as the firm moves to bulk up in the Middle East through lateral hires and partner relocations. This month it sends London real estate partner Duncan Pickering to Abu Dhabi, with a corporate partner set to follow in October. Middle East managing partner David Church said: "Our Dubai practice has consolidated its position as a leading provider of business-led legal services and these promotions have been made in recognition of the huge contribution that each person has made to our achievements."
1 minute read

International Edition

Latham signs up Linklaters Dubai banking partner

Latham & Watkins has secured a major boost in Dubai, as the firm's Middle East drive gets underway in earnest, with the hire of a magic circle partner. Linklaters banking partner Tim Ross, who joins the firm today (1 September), has been based in the region for several years establishing the magic circle firm's banking practice.Ross joined Linklaters in 2001 and has built up important relationships with banks and funds in the Middle East region, which Latham is hoping to capitalise on.
3 minute read

International Edition

DLA Piper ally completes South Africa merger

The merger between DLA Piper ally Cliffe Dekker and Hofmeyr Herbstein & Gihwala has gone live today (1 September), following regulatory clearance by South African authorities. The combined firm, which will practise as Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, has a total of 130 directors and 280 lawyers evenly spread between Johannesburg and Cape Town. The firm has also rebranded to incorporate the DLA Piper logo.The merger has created one of the country's largest firms and will compete against local leaders Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs and Webber Wentzel Mallinicks - also both combinations of recent mergers.
2 minute read

International Edition

Linklaters transfers partner duo to Dubai base

Linklaters' expansion drive in the Middle East is set to continue with the transfer of two London-based partners to the Dubai office. Banking partner James Martin and capital markets partner Richard O'Callaghan are both making the move following July's appointment of Sarosh Mewawalla as the new Dubai managing partner.
2 minute read

International Edition

Clydes builds in Dubai with Pinsents team hire

Clyde & Co has bolstered its Middle East construction capabilities with the hire of a team of lawyers from Pinsent Masons. Construction partner Mark Blanksby joins Clydes' Dubai arm, along with associates Anna Scannell and Elise Gillians, bringing the total number of fee earners in the firm's local construction practice to 10.Blanksby, who had been a partner at Pinsent Masons since 2001, will focus his practice on construction projects and development.
2 minute read

More from ALM

More from ALM

Legal Speak is a weekly podcast that makes sense of what’s happening in the legal industry.

Resources

  • Why Embracing Change Is Essential for Your Legal Department

    Brought to you by DiliTrust

    Download Now

  • International Export and Trade Assistance State Law Survey

    Brought to you by LexisNexis®

    Download Now

  • How This Personal Injury Firm Reduced Client Intake Time by 80%

    Brought to you by PracticePanther

    Download Now

  • The Hidden Cost of Bad Reviews: Why Law Firms & Attorneys Can't Afford a Damaged Online Reputation

    Brought to you by Erase.com

    Download Now