We help our clients manage legal complexity in Africa and are widely regarded as the pre-eminent African law firm.
With nine offices in six African countries and over 650 specialist lawyers, we join our clients as partners, weaving together legal expertise, local market acumen, and an intuitive grasp of their businesses.
We have an enviable track record of providing legal services to the highest professional standards on corporate, finance, competition, taxation, employment, technology, and dispute resolution matters.
We aim to support our clients and our people, as they seek to unlock opportunity, overcome challenges and realise the hopes that will shape the future of Africa.
FIND A LAWYER
Search for a lawyer by name or use one of the filters.
INSIGHTS BY SERVICE
Dealmakers Awards, 2025
We were recognised as the top advisor by deal flow in the Unlisted M&A Transactions Category and the second by deal value in the Listed Transactions Category. In the General Corporate Finance Category, we were second by transaction value and flow. We also advised on the deal named Brunswick Deal of the Year.
Chambers Africa Awards, 2025
Our practice in Kenya was named Kenya Full-Service Law Firm of the Year: Transactional, our practice in South Africa was named South Africa Full-Service Law Firm of the Year: Transactional and our Tanzanian practice was named Tanzania Law Firm of the Year.
DEALMAKERS EAST AFRICA AWARDS, 2025
We were the top legal advisor by deal flow and second by deal value in the M&A Category; second by both transaction flow and value in the General Corporate Finance Category; and advised on the deal named Ansarada Private Equity Deal of the Year (East Africa). Founding and senior partner of Bowmans Kenya, Richard Harney, SC, was named the PSG Capital Individual DealMaker of the Year (East Africa).
AFRICAN LEGAL AWARDS, 2025
We won the Property and Construction Team of the Year Award.
IFLR AFRICA AWARDS, 2026
We won the prestigious African Firm of the Year Award and were named South African Law Firm of the Year. We also received the Team of the Year M&A: Regional Award and were recognised for advising on two M&A Deals of the Year, the Capital Markets: Equity and the Capital Markets: Debt Deals of the Year. Our chairman and senior partner won the Lawyer of the Year: South Africa Award.
OUR PAN AFRICAN EXPERIENCE
MEET THE TEAM
Alan Keep is our managing partner. He specialises in corporate and tax law and advises on the structuring and implementation of significant black economic empowerment transactions as well as joint ventures, asset disposals and acquisitions. He has BCom and LLB degrees from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Higher Diploma in Tax Law from the University of Johannesburg.
Alan Keep – Managing Partner
MEET THE TEAM
Ezra Davids is our chairman and senior partner. He specialises in both domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and securities law, and is the relationship partner for a number of our major clients. He has advised on some of the largest and most complex transactions on the African continent. He is the Chair of the Private Equity Sub-committee of the Corporate and M&A Committee of the International Bar Association. Ezra is a member of the Council of the University of Cape Town. He is also a board member of the Legal Resources Centre, Freedom Under Law and Social Justice Initiative. Ezra has BA and LLB degrees from the University of Cape Town, a Higher Diploma in Tax from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Certificate in Leadership in Law Firms from Harvard Law School.
Ezra Davids – Chairman and Senior Partner
MEET THE TEAM
Fazil Hossenkhan is the managing partner of our Mauritian practice. He is a corporate and funds lawyer who specialises in investment funds, private equity and corporate law. Fazil has an LLB (Hons) from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Postgraduate Diploma in Banking and Finance Law from the University of London.
Fazil Hossenkhan – Managing Partner (Mauritius)
MEET THE TEAM
Mabvuto Sakala is the managing partner of our Zambian practice. He specialises in litigation and alternative dispute resolution. He is a member of the International Bar Association and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London. He has an LLB from the University of Zambia; an LLM from the University of Nottingham, UK; and a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from Lund University, Sweden.
Mabvuto Sakala – Managing Partner (Zambia)
MEET THE TEAM
Paras Shah is the managing partner of our Kenyan practice. He specialises in corporate and commercial law, banking and finance law, privatisations, M&A, capital markets and real estate law. He has a an LLB (Hons) from King’s College London, a Diploma in Legal Practice (cum laude) from the College of Law, UK, a Diploma in Management from Henley School of Management, UK, and a Diploma from the Kenya School of Law. He is qualified as a Solicitor in England, and an Advocate in Kenya
Paras Shah – Managing Partner (Kenya)
MEET THE TEAM
Stephen Vlieghe is the managing partner of our Namibian practice. He specialises in complex commercial litigation and has extensive experience in employment-, mining- and construction-related dispute resolution, and administrative review litigation. Stephen has been involved in a variety of precedent-setting judgements in the Labour Court, the High Court and the Supreme Court in Namibia.
Stephen Vlieghe – Managing Partner (Namibia)
MEET THE TEAM
Michael Strain is the managing partner of our Tanzanian practice. He is one of East Africa’s most active corporate/ M&A lawyers. He advises large corporates, financial institutions and private equity firms on all forms of equity investments, acquisitions and disposals. Michael is admitted as both a Solicitor (England & Wales) and as an Advocate of the High Court in Tanzania.
Michael Strain – Managing Partner (Tanzania)
Keep up to date on the latest news
Our specialist practitioners share their knowledge and insights into a range of legal issues through various public speaking engagements, publications and media interactions. Subscribe to our legal updates to keep abreast of new developments.