Linklaters is to enter a collaborative alliance with South Africa’s premier full-service law firm, Webber Wentzel. The alliance, which launches on 1 February 2013, will provide clients with a unique advantage in Africa through the firms’ combined experience, know-how, and international and on-the-ground resources.
Linklaters is consistently ranked in the top tier for international legal advisers in Africa by independent benchmarking publications and currently has over 200 live matters relating to Africa and experience in over 45 countries. Its alliance with Webber Wentzel will both complement and strengthen Linklaters’ current pan-African offering, enabling the firm to provide clients with a powerful combination of international and local experience, know-how and on-the-ground resource in South Africa.
Webber Wentzel’s clients will benefit from access to Linklaters (and its relationship firms’) lawyers located in Africa’s key trading partners in Asia-Pacific (specifically China, India, Korea, Japan and Australia), Europe, the Americas and the Middle East, as well as specialist Africa-focussed resource in Linklaters’ London, Paris and Lisbon offices.
Simon Davies, firmwide managing partner of Linklaters, said: “Our alliance with Webber Wentzel, South Africa’s premier legal firm, is an exciting development. Our strategy is to meet our clients’ needs in markets across the world by focusing on delivering an excellent quality client experience whether through our own offices as we build out our network or working in partnership with the very best firms in particular markets such as Webber Wentzel. We are confident that this collaborative alliance will further enable us to build lasting relationships with clients in Africa and those outside looking to invest in this dynamic market.”
Robert Elliott, senior partner of Linklaters, said: “Linklaters has a proven track record of supporting clients in achieving their Africa-focused strategies, having worked on many of the landmark deals on the continent over many years. Our alliance with Webber Wentzel further strengthens our market-leading service through an enhanced on-the-ground presence and the combining of teams of the best local and international lawyers, and underlines our long-term commitment to clients doing business across the African continent.”
David Lancaster, senior partner of Webber Wentzel, said: “Demand for cross-border legal services continues to grow strongly. This arrangement is consistent with our strategy of helping clients whenever they do business in Africa. There is huge potential for Africa growth – and therefore legal work – in a large and complex market. We have worked closely with lawyers from Linklaters on many occasions and have always been impressed with their knowledge, experience and unwavering client-focus. The firms are a good fit culturally, with complementary practice areas, many shared clients and strength of brand in our respective markets.”
