New members welcomed to DLA Piper Africa Group

The tremendous growth and development of the DLA Piper Africa Group, an alliance of independent law firms in Africa, was  celebrated at an event in Johannesburg on 18 October 2012.

The event, hosted by DLA Piper Africa Group member Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, was attended by more than 30 leading lawyers from within the Africa Group, DLA Piper lawyers from around the globe, as well as Sir Nigel Knowles, the joint CEO of DLA Piper.

 "Our specialist lawyers from across the world have worked extensively with DLA Piper Africa Group firms for many years and I am delighted that both the number of firms in the Africa Group, and our global team, have increased in the last 12 months.   

"With Foreign Direct Investment into Africa expected to grow significantly to US$150 billion by 2015, from countries as diverse as the UK; US; China; India and the Middle East, DLA Piper, with a global footprint of 77 offices, is uniquely placed to share know-how and work seamlessly together with our Africa Group colleagues to develop the leading business law practice across the continent," Sir Nigel said.

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Chairman, Chris Ewing said: "over the past decade, six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world have been in Africa and this rapid growth will continue.  DLA Piper Africa Group has been developed to meet the increasing demand for seamless legal services across Africa, combining national and regional knowledge and experience with top global expertise.  DLA Piper Africa Group firms have worked together on a number of the largest and most exacting transactions and projects in Africa." 

James Kamau, Managing Partner of Iseme, Kamau & Maema Advocates, DLA Piper Africa Group member in Kenya explains: "the complexity and size of legal assignments in Africa has increased considerably.  With an emphasis on sharing know-how and working and training together, the combination of strong national firms across Africa with the leading global expertise and resource of DLA Piper provides the perfect solution to the demands of a developing legal profession in Africa."

David Church, International Development Partner at DLA Piper commented: "the Africa Group's strategy involves the sharing of first hand in depth experience in Africa's key development sectors - mining, power, oil and gas, infrastructure, hospitality and tourism, technology and telecommunications, consumer products, financial services, transportation and arbitration.  I foresee continuing development of robust and strong economies in Africa with increasing demands for expert legal services."