Allen & Overy is set to become the first Magic Circle firm with its own office in South Africa.
A&O is understood to have raided Johannesburg firm Bowman Gilfillan and poached its head of banking, Lionel Shawe, for its rumoured new outpost. Shawe is thought to be taking up to seven partners with him, while A&O managing partner David Morley has recently paid a flying visit to the city.
Joburg has been targeted by a slew of major players in recent years. Baker & McKenzie launched there in 2012, Linklaters formed an alliance with local firm Webber Wentzel in the same year and last month Simmons & Simmons allied with Fasken Martineau and its 80 something Joburg-based lawyers. Norton Rose Fulbright trainees certainly seem to love it there.
However the launch is yet to be voted through by the Magic Circle firm's partners and A&O wasn't keen to talk, saying it was "regularly approached by interested parties across the continent" but had "nothing to announce at this time". Bowman Gilfillan said that Shawe had left the firm “by mutual agreement" and that "we do not know his plans". Although it probably does now.
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A&O is understood to have raided Johannesburg firm Bowman Gilfillan and poached its head of banking, Lionel Shawe, for its rumoured new outpost. Shawe is thought to be taking up to seven partners with him, while A&O managing partner David Morley has recently paid a flying visit to the city.
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Bowman's office yesterday |
Joburg has been targeted by a slew of major players in recent years. Baker & McKenzie launched there in 2012, Linklaters formed an alliance with local firm Webber Wentzel in the same year and last month Simmons & Simmons allied with Fasken Martineau and its 80 something Joburg-based lawyers. Norton Rose Fulbright trainees certainly seem to love it there.
However the launch is yet to be voted through by the Magic Circle firm's partners and A&O wasn't keen to talk, saying it was "regularly approached by interested parties across the continent" but had "nothing to announce at this time". Bowman Gilfillan said that Shawe had left the firm “by mutual agreement" and that "we do not know his plans". Although it probably does now.
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