Big winners at the African Legal Awards 2014
The cream of Africa’s legal community came out in force to celebrate the African Legal Awards on a night that saw Eversheds, Linklaters alliance firm Webber Wentzel and GE secure major prizes.
The awards took place at The Wanderers Club in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 31 October, when 250 lawyers gathered to celebrate the achievements of the continent’s business lawyers.
They were hosted by Legal Week in association with the Corporate Lawyers Association of South Africa (CLASA) and the proceedings were overseen by prominent South African businesswoman and model Jo-Ann Strauss.
Eversheds was named International Law Firm of the Year and completed a successful night by also securing the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Team award.
Webber Wentzel was handed the African Law Firm of the Year award, with the Linklaters alliance firm also walking away with two other gongs: the team awards for banking, finance and restructuring, and transportation and infrastructure. GE’s Africa legal team, led by GE Africa general counsel Bruce Campbell, won the Legal Department of the Year – large team category.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the CLASA Lifetime Achievement Award to leading South African human rights lawyer George Bizos, who spent much of his career campaigning against apartheid and was part of the legal team that represented former South African President Nelson Mandela at his 1964 trial.
Introducing the awards, CLASA chief executive Alison Lee praised Africa’s law firms and in-house teams for the role they were playing in developing Africa’s infrastructure and securing other economic and environmental benefits, such as clean energy.
She added: “In-house departments and law firms have recognised the power of their own people and have made inroads in the development of their legal teams, ensuring they are trained and skilled in a multitude of disciplines, and that this knowledge is shared and captured for prosperity.”
The following are the award categories and winners:
CLASA Lifetime Achievement Award
CLASA Lifetime Achievement Award went to Nelson Mandela’s former lawyer, George Bizos, one of South Africa’s most famous human rights lawyers.
International Law Firm of the Year
Eversheds took the award for International Law Firm of the Year after the eye-catching results of an overhaul of its Africa strategy during 2013.
African Law Firm of the Year
Finalists were, Aluko & Oyebode – Nigeria, Anjarwalla & Khanna – Kenya, Bowman Gilfillan – South Africa, DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr -South Africa, Hamilton Harrison & Mathews – Kenya.
Webber Wentzel secured the African Law Firm of the Year award, winning commendations from the judges for several notable employee development and client care initiatives. The firm runs a talent management programme, focusing on identifying future leaders and star performers, growing talent through individual career plans and avoiding losing strong performers by making leaders and managers accountable for engagement and retention.
General Counsel of the Year
Finalists were Bruce Campbell – GE Africa • Kevin Lester – Anglo American • Luche Joubert – British American Tobacco • Madeleine Truter – Growthpoint Properties • Mark Stafford – Life Healthcare Group
Kurt Drieselmann was awarded the General Counsel of the Year accolade for his role overseeing the expansion of a company now selling products in more than 150 countries worldwide.
Legal Department of the Year – large team
Finalists were, Anglo American • Aspen Pharmacare • First National Bank • MultiChoice Africa – regulatory affairs team • Siemens
GE’s Africa legal team emerged as Legal Department of the Year (Large Team). The department has grown from one lawyer in 2010 to 15 lawyers today. Historically, GE’s Africa transactions were handled by lawyers in the US, Europe or Dubai. Headquartered in Nairobi since 2011, GE Africa has grown to generate more than $3bn (£1.9bn) in revenues in 2013, with an annual growth rate in excess of 20%.
Legal Department of the Year – small team
Finalists include, Absa Corporate and Investment Banking – Africa and regulatory legal team • Eskom – construction team • Life Healthcare Group. AFGRI emerged as Legal Department of the Year – small team.
Employing 4,000 people across 14 African countries, AFGRI is a leading diversified agricultural solutions and industrial food processing company. Based in South Africa, the three-person legal team has assisted the company in several key transactions, including advising on the largest foreign direct investment into a South African agriculture company to date.
Legal Counsel of the Year
Gabriela Palacios-Flusk, Eskom Holdings • Grace Muthoni Mwenda, County Assembly of Laikipia, Kenya • Vickie Govender, Eskom Holdings • Winilie Madonsela, Eskom Holdings. Bridget van der Bijl of Anglo America was the Legal Counsel of the Year.
Innovation Award
The legal team at AFGRI secured the Innovation Award for its work providing the legal advice needed for the establishment of the East African Commodities Exchange, the first venture of its kind in Africa outside South Africa.
CSR Award
AFGRI • Clifford Chance • Gabinete Legal de Mocambique/PLMJ • Hogan Lovells • Miranda Correia Amendoeira/Solege • Webber Wentzel • Werksmans
Bowman Gilfillan stood out in the judges’ eyes for establishing a network of like-minded groups dedicated to helping fledgling businesses and black entrepreneurships.
Diversity Initiative of the Year
Finalists were Ride-Africa Legal Aid Services Department Project, Van Rensburg Attorneys and The LEX Africa Exchange Programme. The LEX Africa Exchange Programme, submitted by Werksmans, took the award for Diversity Initiative of the Year.
M&A Team of the Year
Finalists were Allen & Overy • Aluko & Oyebode • DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr • Fasken Martineau • Gabinete Legal Mocambique/PLMJ • Norton Rose Fulbright • Webber Wentzel
Bowman Gilfillan’s role advising hotel chain Marriott International on its acquisition of the Protea Hospitality Group in a deal worth 2bn rand (£115m) secured the award for M&A Team of the Year. The transaction makes Marriott the largest hotel chain in South Africa.
Banking, Finance and Restructuring Team of the Year
Finalists include, Allen & Overy • Aluko & Oyebode • Bowman Gilfillan • Herbert Smith Freehills • Linklaters • Norton Rose Fulbright • Werksmans.
The Banking, Finance and Restructuring Team of the Year was awarded to Webber Wentzel in recognition of its role advising on Peermont Global’s 16bn rand (£0.9bn) restructuring.
Transportation and Infrastructure Team of the Year
Finalists include, Eversheds • Herbert Smith Freehills • Norton Rose Fulbright.
Webber Wentzel was presented with the Transportation and Infrastructure Team of the Year award for its role advising the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) on its vast rolling stock fleet renewal and expansion procurement programme – one of the largest procurement projects of its type in the world to date. Because of a lack of investment in South Africa’s rail infrastructure over the last 40 years, there is a shortage of legal expertise in this area.
Competition and Regulatory Team of the Year
Finalists: Aluko & Oyebode • Baker & McKenzie • Webber Wentzel • White & Case
It was Bowman Gilfillan’s victory in the high-profile case against manufacturer Cape Gate by South Africa’s Competition Commission that handed Bowman Gilfillan the prize for Competition and Regulatory Team of the Year.
Litigation and Dispute Resolution Team of the Year
Finalists were Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld • Allen & Overy • DLA Piper • Hogan Lovells • Norton Rose Fulbright • Webber Wentzel • White & Case.
The Litigation and Dispute Resolution Team of the Year award was handed to Eversheds for its role advising longstanding client Eskom on a dispute relating to a hydro power plant supplying electricity to millions of Africans across three countries.
Energy and Natural Resources Team of the Year
Finalists: Allen & Overy • Baker & McKenzie • DLA Piper • Herbert Smith Freehills • Norton Rose Fulbright • Webber Wentzel • Winston & Strawn
Winning the Energy and Natural Resources Team of the Year award, Bracewell & Giuliani took a key role on a project supplying low-cost onshore wind power to the Kenyan national grid.
TMT Team of the Year
Finalists: Allen & Overy • Bowman Gilfillan • Mayer Brown • Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe • Webber Wentzel • Werksmans
The TMT Team of the Year prize was awarded to ENSafrica for its role advising on a confidential transaction involving a high degree of project management and coordination across various jurisdictions.
Commercial Team of the Year
Finalists: Bowman Gilfillan • Gabinete Legal Mocambique/PLMJ • Slaughter and May • Webber Wentzel • Werksmans
The Commercial Team of the Year was awarded to Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) in recognition of its work advising Danone on its ground-breaking co-investment with a private equity fund to purchase one of West Africa’s largest distributors of milk products and juices.
Property and Construction Team of the Year
Finalists: Bowman Gilfillan • ENSafrica • Hogan Lovells • White & Case. DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr emerged Property and Construction Team of the Year.
DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr’s leading role on a rare South African leasehold property ownership development was key to the firm winning Property and Construction Team of the Year.
—Culled from LEGALWEEK