Global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills is opening its first African office, in Johannesburg, to take advantage of the growing market on the continent, while delivering tailored offerings to sectors such as energy, infrastructure and mining.

"Africa is a core feature of our global strategy. With clients from across our international network looking at the tremendous growth opportunities, the opening of an office in Johannesburg is an important step in how we provide a Pan-African offering. 

“This is an exciting milestone for the firm and underlines our commitment to provide an end-to-end service for leading global businesses,” joint CEO Mark Rigotti said in a statement.

The firm believed the continent was an “exciting region”, which continued to attract the interest of many of its clients. The firm already had a long-established practice in Africa, having advised over the last three decades on matters in almost every jurisdiction.

In the last year, the law firm advised on some 200 matters across various industries and practice areas involving over 70 partners from its global network.

Recent deal highlights included advising food and beverage manufacturer Danone on its partnership with Abraaj Group on the acquisition of West African frozen dairy products and juices manufacturer Fan Milk International.

Another case saw Herbert Smith Freehills advising Vitol SA on the project finance and commercial aspects of a $7-billion oil and gas project in Ghana, with Eni supplying gas for power generation.

It had also advised Mitsui on the acquisition of an interest in the Moatize coal mine, in Mozambique, and in the related Nacala rail and port infrastructure from diversified miner Vale.

During a press conference call, Herbert Smith Freehills’ Africa practice co-head Nina Bowyer explained that the company’s decision to open an office in Johannesburg rested on the quality of the lawyers in South Africa, which would further enhance and grow the firm’s global offering.

“The interest that our clients have been expressing in South Africa and the broader region has been quite compelling and, as a service provider, we have to listen to our clients and ensure we are where they need us to be,” she added.

Joining the firm’s local office was global mining lawyer and now co-chair Peter Leon, as well energy and infrastructure finance lawyer and partner Brigette Baillie.

Leon was previously the mining regulation head at Webber Wentzel, while Baillie was the head of the energy and infrastructure sector group at the same company.

Speaking on the appointment, Leon noted that South Africa was still an important springboard into the rest of Africa and the key recipient of foreign direct investment on the continent.

“South African companies are moving outward into Africa and, despite the challenges in the resources sector, where the commodity prices are bottoming out, this is exactly the time where lawyers are needed,” he noted, adding that during challenging times, law firms would be particularly involved in disputes and crisis management.

Leon and Baillie would be joined in Johannesburg by partners from the Africa practice including the firm’s Moscow banking and finance practice head Ed Baring, Paris energy and infrastructure practice head Bertrand Montembault, and English and French qualified senior associate Yann Alix.

The company believed these additions would pave its way into francophone Africa.