Webber Wentzel To Form Alliance With Leading Global Law Firm

Johannesburg, South Africa - Leading South African law firm Webber Wentzel announced today that it is to enter a collaborative alliance with Linklaters, a leading global law firm.

Linklaters is one of the world's most successful law firms, supporting its clients' strategies around the globe from 28 offices and with over 4,500 people. It is consistently ranked in the top tier for legal advisers both globally and in Africa by independent benchmarking publications; and currently has over 200 live matters relating to Africa, with experience in over 45 African countries.

The alliance, which launches on 1 February 2013, offers clients a unique advantage in Africa through the firms' combined experience, know-how and international and on-the-ground resources.

Webber Wentzel's clients will benefit from access to Linklaters (and its alliance 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-focused resources in Linklaters' London, Paris and Lisbon offices.

David Lancaster, senior partner of Webber Wentzel, said: "Our alliance with Linklaters is a vote of confidence in South Africa and Africa. It's also a strong endorsement for Webber Wentzel. With the demand for cross-border legal services continuing to grow, Webber Wentzel and Linklaters will be working together for the benefit of clients across Africa. This arrangement is consistent with our strategy of helping clients wherever they do business in Africa."

Lancaster noted that Africa's fast-growing economy was attracting record investment and subsequently international law firms: "There is huge potential for African 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 have similar values with complementary practice areas, many shared clients and strength of brand in our respective markets. We have been working with Linklaters for 20 years, often advising the same clients. It makes sense to enter into a more formal arrangement."

Simon Davies, firm wide 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."


About Webber Wentzel
Webber Wentzel is one of the leading corporate law firms in Africa. The firm far outstrips the local competition being consistently ranked at the top by a diversity of international ratings agencies and has achieved a number of legal accolades in 2012.

From offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town, the firm provides high-quality legal services to meet the multiple and varying needs of a powerful client base that includes many of South Africa's Top 100 companies in mining, insurance, technology, media and telecommunications and intellectual property and property.

Webber Wentzel is a full service corporate law firm offering expertise in legal areas including Dispute Resolution , Banking and Finance , Mergers & Acquisitions , Tax and Project Finance.

Webber Wentzel has a staff complement of 750 people and a Level Four B-BBEE rating. Its 21 practice groups cover virtually the entire spectrum of legal endeavour.

Work on the African continent represents a growing area of Webber Wentzel's business and the firm is associated with ALN, an established group of Africa's 12 foremost law firms.

For more information visit www.webberwentzel.com. Follow Webber Wentzel on Twitter: @WebberWentzel.