Pre-eminent African law firm Bowmans today welcomed most of the former members of A&O Shearman South Africa (AOS) to its Cape Town and Johannesburg offices.

Bowmans’ chairman and senior partner, Ezra Davids, says, ‘We are thrilled to welcome such an accomplished team to our firm. Their expertise will complement that of our existing highly regarded talent pool and should enhance our ability to provide top-tier legal services across Africa.’

The move aligns with Bowmans’ strategic objective of being the ‘go-to’ African law firm advising clients on their most complex legal challenges and opportunities across the continent.

Former managing partner of AOS, Gerhard Rudolph, says ‘Moving to Bowmans will provide a platform for the smooth transition of our practice and assure our clients of the certainty, continuity and enhanced support offered by Bowmans’ reach and capability across Africa.’

The new team will boost Bowmans’ bench strength in energy, natural resources and infrastructure (projects), debt finance, dispute resolution and corporate law.

The members of the projects team from AOS have a wealth of experience and a proven track record. Their expertise complements and enhances that of the Bowmans’ projects team, not only in South Africa but across Africa.

Head of Banking and Finance at Bowmans, Allen Leuta, says, ‘Our current projects team is highly regarded. This development massively expands our bench strength and positions us to take full advantage of the opportunities in this burgeoning regional market.’

Allied with opportunities in the projects space is the urgent need for development finance to fund growth and unlock potential in the region. Integrating the debt finance lawyers from AOS into the Bowmans team will enhance the profile and reputation of the combined team, increasing its depth and breadth and extending its capacity and capability.

Leuta says, ‘The two teams have a complementary client base, which will mean that Bowmans will be able to increase its market share in an important area of client need. We see the integration of the two projects and debt finance teams as a strategic move to capitalise on a dynamic market, enhance our regional footprint, and solidify our position as the leading player.’

The Bowmans dispute resolution team has been on a sustained growth path for some time, most recently establishing a restructuring practice in Johannesburg to complement its Cape Town-based restructuring practice.

Head of Dispute Resolution at Bowmans, Lusanda Raphulu, says, ‘The AOS dispute resolution team offers excellent credentials and a proven track record of advising on high-profile disputes. Their expertise in banking disputes, corporate investigations, international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution will further enhance ours in these key areas.’

In the corporate space, the team from AOS joining Bowmans comprises both M&A lawyers and a tax expert.

Head of Corporate at Bowmans, Tholinhlanhla Gcabashe, says, ‘Integrating the team from AOS with ours represents a good opportunity for us to continue to grow our M&A and Tax practices. In particular, the team brings complementary clients in financial services and mining, two key sectors for Bowmans.’

Davids concludes, ‘Since announcing our intention to bring on board the team from AOS, we have received overwhelming, positive feedback from clients, including the leading international law firms from all continents that we regularly work with. This development marks a significant milestone in achieving our vision to be undoubtedly Africa’s premier law firm. Our commitment to delivering innovative, client-centric solutions is stronger than ever, and we are excited to be able to expand in this way.’