Bowmans, Matouk Bassiouny and ALN make strategic hires in Africa

African firms Bowmans, Matouk Bassiouny and the ALN legal network have hired experienced lawyers abroad to strengthen their projects, finances and dispute resolution practices.

Bowmans said Jeremy Connick, a former Clifford Chance lawyer based in the U.K., will join as an adviser in January 2025. Connick served as a partner and advisor at Clifford Chance for nearly four decades. He also worked in the global firm’s offices in Hong Kong, Washington and London and was co-head of the energy and resources group.

Connick, who will remain in the UK, will be tasked with expanding the reach and impact of Bowmans’ Africa-wide projects and infrastructure practice. According to Ezra Davids, Chairman and Senior Partner of Bowmans, he has been actively involved in work across Africa for more than 35 years. He will join next to a Team of former lawyers from A&O Shearman South Africa.

Matouk Bassiouny & Hennawy

Meanwhile, Egyptian firm Matouk Bassiouny & Hennawy (MBH) appointed former Securities and Commodities Authority lawyer Ayman Heikal as head of the firm’s capital markets offering in the UAE.

Heikal has more than 26 years of capital markets experience in the region, where he served as legal counsel for the Securities and Commodities Authority and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. His expertise includes public and private offerings, corporate formations, mergers and acquisitions, capital increases and reductions, strategic partnership advice, restructurings, liquidations and bankruptcies. Heikal drafted and negotiated federal trade, economic and capital markets laws, including the Gulf Cooperation Council countries’ uniform policies.

“We are confident that Ayman’s expertise and skills will be invaluable,” said MBH founding partner Omar Bassiouny.

ALN Dubai

Regional network ALN has hired triple qualified lawyer Alex Layden as litigation partner at its Dubai office, Anjarwalla Collins & Haidermota.

Layden is admitted to practice in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Ireland and specializes in complex commercial and cross-border disputes. He is also a former Adjunct Assistant Professor at Trinity College Dublin and a faculty member at King’s Inns, Dublin, where he taught international law and civil procedure.

Jobs in South Africa

Some companies have also expanded their teams in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

One of A&O Shearman’s outgoing partners in Johannesburg, Deborah Carmichael, is returning to ENS. The banking and finance lawyer previously worked at ENS for 13 years leave for the old A&O last year.

Carmichael said she now looks forward to doubling and leveraging ENS’ presence in Africa. A&O Shearman and ENS have been contacted for comment.

Also in Johannesburg, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) appointed former Bowmans partner Mohammed Saib to lead the debt capital markets offering as a director. CDH CEO Brent Williams said Saib brings extensive knowledge of leverage finance, particularly collateralized programs and distressed loan transactions.

“His work with South African state-owned enterprises and municipalities in raising loans under the Public Finance Management Act, the Municipal Finance Management Act, the Insurance Act and solvency assessment and management requirements is further evidence of his broad range of skills,” Williams said.

Fasken, Dentons & Rouse

Canadian law firm Fasken has recruited a former director of Werksmans Attorney as a partner in its Johannesburg-based labor, employment and human rights practice.

Sandile Tom advises clients on all aspects of employment law, public procurement, local government legislation, CCMA arbitration, employment tribunal audits and High Court litigation, Fasken said.

In Cape Town, Dentons hired Neetesh Ramjee, a director of global tobacco giant Philip Morris, as a partner. Ramjee will lead the company’s government affairs/relations and commercial diplomacy divisions.

He has more than two decades of experience in public affairs and law, helping global companies across Africa address complex regulatory, tax and communications challenges, the company said. Likewise, British intellectual property firm Rouse hired ENS veteran and director Waldo Steyn to lead its newly formed law firm in South Africa. The company will provide trademark portfolio, prosecution, enforcement and litigation services within the South African jurisdiction. Additional specialists will be hired for Steyn in the next few months.