Recently viewed firm profiles
Recently viewed lawyer profiles
Overview
The last three years have seen an unprecedented transformation of South Africa’s legal market. As global law firms complete mergers with local practices ( Eversheds LLP with Routledge Modise Eversheds; and DLA Piper UK LLP with Cliffe Dekker Inc), South African firms are themselves looking to consolidate and merge in order to compete both locally and on the larger international stage.
Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Inc attacked the status quo several years ago with its merger, and has broken new ground in 2008 by acquiring black-controlled MNMR, which brings its total of black lawyers to nearly one third of the entire firm.
Cliffe Dekker Inc’s merger with Hofmeyr Herbstein & Gihwala Inc gives access to the legacy Hofmeyr Cape Town base, and the critical mass necessary to compete with the top Johannesburg transactional firms. Webber Wentzel Bowens was also relatively light in Cape Town, and therefore acquired Mallinicks (and re-branded as Webber Wentzel).
Expect more of the same in 2009: black-controlled firms will be increasingly courted by the major players, several UK firms continue to court local liaison partners; and Johannesburg’s elite corporate and finance outfits will look to win more work throughout Africa. Bowman Gilfillan’s new referral association with Kenyan firm Coulson Harney Advocates could presage similar relationships.



