Leading African law firm, Bowmans, secured a range of prestigious honours at the IFLR Africa Awards ceremony held in Johannesburg last night (11 April 2024). The awards celebrate, the ‘most legally innovative cross-border deals closed in region in 2023 and the teams and individuals behind them’.
The firm garnered accolades across various categories, including the coveted titles of Africa Law Firm of the Year and National Law Firm of the Year: Tanzania.
Bowmans also clinched two Team of the Year Awards – for Private Equity and Restructuring. The firm also advised on the transaction named M&A Deal of the Year; where it was the African legal advisor to one of the world’s leading insurers and asset managers Allianz which entered into a joint venture with Sanlam to create a premier non-banking financial services entity operating in 27 African countries.
Chairman and senior partner, Ezra Davids, says, ‘This recognition is testament to the hard work and commitment of our superbly talented lawyers, who always place our clients top-of-mind with our solutions-oriented approach. We would like to thank our clients from across the globe for placing their confidence in our firm to handle their largest and most complex transactions and other legal matters in multiple jurisdictions on the African continent.’
Newly appointed managing partner in Tanzania, Michael Strain, says, ‘This award is fantastic recognition of the work that we’re doing for clients in the region. After seven years, we are now starting to be seen as the formidable group that we are, all thanks to the hard work of our founding partners and the rest of the Bowmans team.’
Partner in Bowmans’ Private Equity Practice, James Westgate, says, ’Private equity transactions are key to unlocking value and stimulating growth in the African context and we are honoured to be able to help our clients in this exciting sector.’
Head of Restructuring, Juliette de Hutton, says ‘I’m delighted with this award, which demonstrates our compelling offering in a specialist area of law. Being able to assist our clients to work their way out of challenging circumstances is extremely satisfying, particularly because it’s so beneficial to the economy.’
Bowmans has reconfirmed its intention to build the pre-eminent African law firm having recently established Bowmans Namibia, welcomed a team of restructuring and insolvency lawyers and a team of M&A lawyers to its Johannesburg office, and announced 13 partner promotions and a new management structure.
Davids concludes, ‘Being recognised for our innovative legal advice at the IFLR Awards, which is a well-respected publication in the legal industry with an extensive research methodology, cements our globally renowned reputation as a leading African law firm that provides world-class legal services.’