Dentons has launched a previously announced combination with leading Angolan law firm, LEAD Advogados, to further its strategy to scale across Africa. In 2020, Dentons has announced 23 new offices around the world in an environment where other law firms are standing still, contracting or withdrawing from key markets. 

On a continent scarred by the legacy of colonial domination and in a market where the operations of every leading law firm are hierarchical, Dentons’ unique polycentric and anti-colonial approach has been a stark differentiator, disrupting the traditional model for providing legal services in Africa.

The combination with LEAD Advogados advances Dentons’ strategy to become the leading Pan-African law firm owned and controlled by Africans. Dentons is now the largest global law firm to have a presence in Angola, helping clients to navigate the New Dynamic in 14 locations in Africa and 189 locations across 77 countries around the world. 

“Our launch in Angola further builds upon our strategy to become the leading Pan-African law firm owned and controlled by Africans," said Elliott Portnoy, Global CEO of Dentons. “Angola is a priority market for our clients given its strategic importance in Southern Africa and we can now connect clients to our leading talent in Angola and around the globe."

"In the New Dynamic our clients are confronted with constant, accelerated change and want to work with a law firm that has the experience and confidence to help them navigate it wherever they are located," said Joe Andrew, Global Chairman of Dentons. "Having spent considerable time with the leadership of Dentons LEAD, I know that our talented new colleagues are well-equipped to help clients around the globe thrive in the unknown."

The new firm, to be branded as Dentons LEAD, is recognized as an independent, full service law firm with strengths in Corporate and Private Investment, Banking and Finance, Litigation & Arbitration, Employment and Labor, Real Estate, Natural Resources and Tax Law. Lawyers at Dentons LEAD are regarded for their deep understanding not only of local regulation, but also of the local culture and key decision makers.

"Dentons' strategy is focused on finding combination firms who have the proven ability to offer sophisticated, high-quality legal services and business solutions in their home markets," said Noor Kapdi, CEO of Dentons’ Africa Region. "Dentons LEAD is an elite Angolan law firm and our launch today, once again, enables Dentons to maintain and improve its quality as it grows."

''As part of Dentons, we can now offer our clients access to leading global talent to deliver high-quality solutions in Angola and around the world," said Djamila Pinto de Andrade, Managing Partner of Dentons LEAD.

In Africa, Dentons now has offices in:

In 2020 to date, Dentons has announced 23 offices. Dentons' partners approved a combination with leading Tanzanian law firm, East African Law Chambers (EALC) as part of its strategy to become the leading Pan-African law firm owned and controlled by Africans. Dentons also announced a future combination with Salt Lake City-based Durham Jones & Pinegar - which also has offices in Lehi, St. George and Ogden. In addition, Dentons has launched six combinations:

• Dentons Bingham Greenebaum and Dentons Cohen & Grigsby, the inaugural member firms with Dentons US;
• Dentons Kensington Swan in New Zealand;
• Dentons Lee in South Korea;
• Dentons Jiménez de Aréchaga in Uruguay; and
• Dentons Rattagan Arocena (formerly Dentons Rattagan Macchiavello Arocena) in Argentina. 

Dentons has also opened offices in the British Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, Ireland and Colombia.

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