Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) is continuing to expand its offering in Africa and has agreed a strategic alliance with both Ugandan firm Shonubi Musoke & Co Advocates and Zimbabwean firm Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans.
Announced today (24 February), the firms will ‘collaborate on selected client matters’ to provide legal support, particularly in the areas of energy and infrastructure. The alliances will extend the firm’s African coverage which currently comprises offices in Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Casablanca.
Established in Kampala in 1987, Shonubi Musoke & Co Advocates specialises in energy and mining, public private partnerships, and in the oil and gas sector, as well as in its traditional strongholds of M&A, project finance, banking and finance (including Islamic banking), telecommunications and real estate. Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans is one of the largest corporate and commercial law firms in Zimbabwe.
Rob Otty, managing director of Norton Rose Fulbright in South Africa, said: ‘Our alliance with Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans and Shonubi Musoke & Co Advocates reflects the strategic importance of Africa to our global business. [Both] bring an unparalleled breadth of experience in their respective countries, which will now be available to our clients.’
Global chief executive Peter Martyr (pictured) said: ‘Africa is a key hub for our clients, and expanding across the region is of great importance to us. We see immediate opportunities in Africa in particular across energy and infrastructure, mining and commodities. Investment into other sectors is also gaining pace, particularly in financial institutions, technology and agriculture. These alliances mark a significant step forward in the development of our African practice, and will further enhance our global offering.’
Other firms recently bolstering their presence on the continent include Dentons which in early February announced the addition of a new South African office in Johannesburg to complement its already established presence in Cape Town.
sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk
