The IFLR1000 has once again recognised pre-eminent African law firm Bowmans’ excellence in advising on complex and multi-jurisdictional corporate and finance matters in Africa.

According to the research organisation’s EMEA Financial and Corporate Guide for 2024, which was released yesterday (27 November 2024), the firm was ranked 16 times across 10 practice areas, with 10 Tier 1 rankings, and 55 of its lawyers received 58 individual rankings.

The firm’s chairman and senior partner, Ezra Davids, was named a ‘Market Leader’; 35 of its lawyers were identified as ‘Highly Regarded’ with three of these people also listed as ‘Women Leaders’; six were named as ‘Rising Star Partners’; seven were assessed as ‘Notable Practitioners’; and six were labelled as ‘Rising Stars’.

The client feedback quoted in the guide acknowledged Bowmans for its ‘exceptional responsiveness’ and being ‘the only firm in Africa with which I have worked that can perform to US/UK standards’. Bowmans’ ‘deep market and industry knowledge’ and ‘on-point regulatory and legislative tech skills’ were also commended by clients.

Bowmans Kenya was included in Tier 1 in all four available categories: Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Project Development.

The team was recognised for demonstrating ‘extensive knowledge and expertise’ and for ‘effectively leveraging their resources to provide high-quality service’. Clients also applauded their ‘client-centric approach’.

In South Africa, Bowmans was rated Tier 1 in all six available categories: Banking, Capital Markets: Debt, Capital Markets: Equity, Mergers and Acquisitions, Project Development: Energy and Infrastructure, and Project Development: Mining.

The team was praised for its ‘subject matter experts’ who display ‘good commercial to legal balance to ensure that transactions proceed, and risk is dealt with’.

In the Financial and Corporate category, Bowmans Namibia and Bowmans Tanzania were rated Tier 2 while Bowmans Mauritius and Bowmans Zambia were included in Tier 3. In the Project Development category, Bowmans Tanzania was included in Tier 2 and Bowmans Zambia was recognised as ‘Notable’.

IFLR1000 is a leading international legal market research product specialised in ranking financial and corporate law firms and lawyers to assist buyers of legal services to make informed strategic decisions when hiring external counsel.

Established in 1990, the organisation follows a credible and independent research process to rank close to 5 000 law firms and more than 21 000 lawyers across 12 practice areas and 250 jurisdictions.

Chairman and senior partner, Ezra Davids, says, ‘We are very proud of these results. It is further testimony to the trust that our clients place in us to advise them on their largest and most complex matters and transactions across our offices on the African continent. It is very pleasing to see our ability to deliver a seamless, world-class service to our clients being recognised in this way.’

The news follows two other recent awards won by the firm. Its Kenyan Practice was named Large Law Firm of the Year in that country at the Nairobi Legal Awards held last week (22 November 2024), and Bowmans was named African Law Firm of the Year at the African Legal Awards ceremony held earlier this year.