Leading Pan-African law firm, Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group, has appointed a team of high-profile specialists in a strategic move to bolster its existing multi-skilled private equity offering.

John Bellew and James Westgate will join Bowman Gilfillan African Group as partners and Timothy McDougall as a senior associate, with effect from 1 October. Bellew will head the firm’s Private Equity Sector Group.

Chairman and senior partner, Robert Legh, says, “We are delighted to welcome lawyers of this calibre to Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group. They will significantly enhance our existing private equity offering in South Africa and across Africa, where private equity is a major driver of inbound investment.”

Bellew is widely regarded as the doyen of private equity in South African law. He specialises in all aspects of private equity, including fund formation, mergers and acquisitions, management arrangements and acquisition finance. He has advised on some of the largest private equity transactions undertaken in the South African market to date. His expertise has been recognised by various international research organisations including Chambers Global, IFLR1000, Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal.

Westgate is experienced in a number of legal areas with a focus on corporate transactions, including private equity transactions, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, due diligence and acquisition and structured finance. His expertise has been recognised by IFLR1000.

McDougall has worked closely with Bellew and Westgate and is experienced in company formation; compliance with South African company law; sale of shares, sale of business, partnership and joint venture agreements; due diligence; and shareholder relations.

“These appointments form part of an Africa-wide plan to strengthen our capacity in sectors that are focus areas for our clients,” says Ezra Davids, chairman of Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group’s Corporate/ M&A Practice.

They follow the recent appointment of David Forfar to head the firm’s Oil & Gas Sector Group, another area of growing client interest.

Legh concludes, “Our aim is to be the leading independent Pan-African law firm in Africa. We are already differentiated by our footprint and the quality of our legal advice. These appointments will strengthen our value proposition in identified growth sectors helping us to consistently meet our clients’ increasingly complex requirements across the continent.”