APPOINTMENTS
DLA Piper taps Gouws for Africa push
The multinational megafirm has chosen Webber Wentzel corporate partner Johannes Gouws as the first managing partner of its new South Africa office.
Africa
COACHING
Coaching takes off in South African law firm
Leaders at Bowman Gilfillan are reaping the rewards of coaching as the firm puts its top lawyers through the paces.
GLOBAL JUSTICE
South Africa loses appeal over 'disgraceful' al-Bashir blunder
South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal has slammed the Pretoria government for unlawfully allowing Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir to exit the country while he was wanted by the International Criminal Court.
EMERGING MARKETS
African legal sector gets $22m boost
The African Development Bank (ADB) has allocated $22m to help nurture legal services on the continent and level the legal playing field between African countries and foreign investors.
IPO
Africa IPOs to push ahead, says Baker & McKenzie
A new forecast released today by global law firm Baker & McKenzie has predicted that listings on the African continent will hit a five-year-high over the next twelve months, defying shrunken commodity prices and capital flight from emerging markets.
FINANCE
Regulators to open door for Islamic finance in Kenya
Attorney General Githu Muigai has announced that Kenya will review the laws and regulations surrounding Islamic finance in the country to facilitate the issuance of the country's first ever Islamic-law compliant bond, known as a sukuk.
PROJECTS
King & Spalding advises on landmark Ghana LNG project
King & Spalding's London office is advising the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Ghana's national oil company, on its US$550 million pathfinder liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, the first such project to be implemented in the region.
EXPANSION
Herbert Smith Freehills to quadruple South Africa presence by December
The firm has announced that it will grow the number of lawyers it has on the ground in Johannesburg to 20 by the end of this year, pushing closer to 50 by the close of 2017.
CONDUCT
Nigerian judge slams attorney's 90-lawyer defence team
The judge accused prominent Nigerian lawyer Rickey Tarfa of 'harassment and intimidation' after he arrived to face criminal charges in a Lagos court with 90 lawyers.
LAW FIRM EXPANSION
DLA Piper expands in Africa
DLA Piper has announced that the number of firms in its group has risen to 15 with the addition of ADCA in Angola.