For law students interested in commercial and corporate law, this list might interest you. Last week, the African Legal Awards 2013 awarded in-house legal teams and law firms in Africa. The judging panel is made up of senior in-house lawyers and other legal and business figures from across Africa.
Anjarwalla & Khanna (Kenya)
The Africa Legal Awards named Kenyan corporate firm Anjarwalla and Khana as the continent’s top corporate law firm. The firm’s meteoric rise has been exceptional over the past decade clinching major corporate accounts including Citi Bank, Standard Chartered, SAB Miller, KLM Airlines, Altech, Bharti Airtel among many other corporations. A&K’s transformation from a Mombasa-based law firm to a top African firm started when Karim Anjarwalla took over from his father Saffudin Anjarwalla in the 90’s.
In addition to its experience within the African continent, most o the 57-strong legal A&K partners, consultants and management team were trained in London and practiced in London and Wall Street firms. The firm is the founding partner and part of the African Legal Network covering 13 countries networked through reputable firms.
Bowman Gilfillan (South Africa)
The pan-African law firm has offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town (HQ), Nairobi, Kampala, Dar es Salam and Gaborone, with 310 specialized lawyers. In Kenya, respected law firm Coulson Harney is part of the Bowman Gilfillan Africa group. Bowman Gilfillan has an extensive client list in banking and finance, construction, capital markets, energy, maritime and transport, oil and gas and real estate. The firm has a 100-year track record of providing legal services.
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (South Africa)
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr is one of South Africa’s largest full service corporate and commercial law firms, specialising in competition law, dispute resolution, employment law, finance and banking, intellectual property, real estate and tax law. Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr has its African foot print through partnerships with reputable law firms in 13 African countries including Kenya’s Iseme, Kamau and Maema (IKM). IKM is ranked among the best commercial firms in Kenya, with Chambers Global Guide consistently ranking the firm highly in corporate/commercial and dispute resolution.
Daly & Figgis (Kenya)
Founded in 1899, Daly & Figgis is Kenya’s oldest legal practice and leading full service law firm based in Nairobi. The firm has close working partnerships with other law firms in the region and Africa. The Legal 500 EMEA 2013 publication released on March 2013 ranked the firm first in Kenya for Dispute Resolution and second in Kenya for Corporate and Commercial and Privatisation and Projects, reaffirming the firm’s reputation as a leading law firm.
Oxford & Beaumont (Ghana)
Unlike most law firms who have a long history, Oxford & Beaumont was started in 2006 but has quickly become the most respected corporate and commercial law firm in Ghana. With an experienced and talented team of lawyers, the firm has managed to advise top multinational and local companies. The IFLR 1000 and The Legal 500 – EMEA has ranked O&B highly in several editions.