Dentons announced today that it has joined with associate firm KapdiTwala to launch Dentons in South Africa, with an office in Cape Town and plans to open in Johannesburg later this year. The firm will also open an additional office in Francophone Africa in 2014, further strengthening Dentons' unrivalled position on the continent.

KapdiTwala, South Africa's leading oil and gas law firm, has been associated with Dentons since 2012. It will now operate as Dentons in South Africa. A global leader in energy with a presence in most of the world's major oil and gas hubs, Dentons is well positioned to support clients to maximise the opportunities offered by South Africa's fast developing energy sector. KapdiTwala partners serve clients daily across the Natural Resources and Infrastructure sectors as well. The Dentons South Africa offices will also connect clients to highly regarded global practices in Commercial, Finance, Infrastructure, Mining, Project Development and Transportation law.

Dentons has an extensive network of offices and associated offices located in 20 countries, spanning the African continent's Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone regions. It was the first major international law firm to develop such a presence in Africa; this year the firm is celebrating 50 years in Africa, dating from the opening of its Cairo office by legacy firm Fox & Gibbons in 1964.

The new Dentons offices in South Africa will also be the first time a global law firm has joined with a Level 1 Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) law firm. KapdiTwala will continue to be a Level 1 status firm, 100% owned by local partners and will continue to be led by Noor Kapdi, its Managing Partner.

Commenting on the announcement Elliott Portnoy, Global Chief Executive Officer, said: "With some of the most dynamic economies in the world today, Africa is a priority region for Dentons. Our goal is to connect clients in Africa to our strong practices around the globe and to connect clients from around the world to top-tier lawyers in Africa. Formalizing what has been a very successful association with KapdiTwala under the Dentons name and opening additional Dentons offices in Johannesburg and Francophone Africa later this year is yet another way we can serve clients in a seamless fashion across all of our regions."

"As a polycentric law firm that embraces multiple legal traditions and cultural diversity we are eager to offer our clients the advantages created by being the first global firm to partner with a BEE law firm in South Africa,” said Joe Andrew, Global Chairman. "It is yet another way we are meeting our commitment to providing clients access to the best lawyers with deep knowledge of the local law wherever our clients operate."

Noor Kapdi, Managing Partner of KapdiTwala added: "We have quickly built a strong relationship with Dentons since we formed our association in 2012. Today's announcement is a significant development in our close collaboration and we are pleased that our clients will now benefit from our fully integrated offering of global reach combined with local expertise. We look forward to further developing our practice in both Cape Town and, in time, Johannesburg."

Note to editors

Dentons' new offices in Africa are yet another way in which the firm is fulfilling its mission to connect clients to talented lawyers around the world. Following are comments from Dentons' regional Chief Executive Officers describing the advantages the new offices hold for Dentons clients:

Chris Pinnington, Canada Chief Executive Officer
"Our new offices in Africa greatly enhance our ability to serve our clients globally in key sectors of economic growth and opportunity in Africa, including such areas of tremendous synergy for Canadian business as mining and natural resources, energy and infrastructure. From a Canadian perspective, with our recognized expertise in these areas and our ability to practice both common and civil law and in both English and French, and working in close collaboration with our new colleagues, we are well-positioned to support and assist Canadian clients in this key market."

Tomasz Dąbrowski, Europe Chief Executive Officer
"Many of our existing clients, virtually from all countries in Europe and Asia, are either already in Africa and they are expanding their operations or they are planning to enter the African continent. By expanding our direct presence in Africa, we will respond to our clients’ expectations and we will be able to extend our service offering on this increasingly important market. We have already been supporting a number of important clients and stakeholders in South Africa in the past year through the association with KapdiTwala, and we are pleased to welcome them as an integral part of Dentons."

Matthew Jones, UKMEA Chief Executive Officer
"Today's announcement represents the next exciting chapter in a relationship between Dentons and Africa that now spans 50 years. Our experience on the continent, built up over half a century, delivers to clients a depth of local knowledge, understanding and expertise that is largely unrivalled. Africa presents some of the most dynamic and fastest-growing markets in the world and is an increasingly important focus for many of our clients. As momentum builds in the markets across Africa, we are responding to the evolving needs of our clients by extending and deepening our African network, combining both local and global expertise in a pan-African offering that few can match."

Peter Wolfson, US Chief Executive Officer
"Emerging markets are impacting global growth and international commerce. Africa is particularly significant as it undergoes rapid transformation and continues to build its infrastructure and industrial base. This strategic initiative will further position Dentons to serve our clients as they engage in business in the more than 50 countries on the African continent, and as Africa drives business to the world."

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