The leading South African and global law firm, Eversheds, announced the appointment of Lavery Modise as the Chairman of Eversheds South Africa. Modise, a former acting Labour Court judge, has served as deputy Chairman of the company since July 2009.

Modise's appointment comes at a time when Eversheds South Africa is enjoying significant business growth as a 300-person local operation supporting global companies to expand their footprint in South Africa and across Africa. “Whilst in the past decade there has been a great focus on BRIC nations - Brazil, Russia, India and China, it is Africa that has done the real growing,” says Modise. “Between 2001 and 2010, six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world were African. And foreign investment flows have grown commensurately. Due to the fact that the continent’s faster-than-average economic growth is expected to continue into the foreseeable future, flows are set to continue apace,” says Modise.

Operating across 5 continents, the firm is well positioned to support the community of investors focusing on Africa, with the companies’ extensive regional experience proving invaluable. “Having operated on the continent for 30 years, acting for African governments, corporates and financial institutions in countries such as Nigeria, Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa Republic, Mauritania, Rwanda, Senegal , Chad, Togo, Benin and Zimbabwe, Eversheds is ideally positioned to benefit from the global march into Africa.”

Modise says that while the South African operation has supported companies, both local and around the globe, to expand into Africa, the local operation has become a preferred adviser to firms operating out of China, amongst other foreign firms. Today Eversheds South Africa represents some of China’s largest corporations operating in the African market. The local office, in collaboration with the firms’ network of law firms in over 40 African countries, has advised Chinese companies on transactions in a cross section of sectors including, financial, mining, construction, energy and property, totalling tens of billions of Rands,“ comments Modise.

In his 25 years of practicing law, Modise has been focused on the labour environment in South Africa and has seen the country’s legal landscape evolve into one of the most regulated on the continent. “Despite this, for the period 2003 to 2010 South Africa was the largest recipient of foreign direct investment. This is recognition of the fact that the legal environment (complex as it may seem) offers a security of tenure for potential investors that does not always exist in other African countries,” he says.

According to Bryan Hughes, Chief Executive of Eversheds International “With foreign investment in Africa from both developed and emerging economies continuing to rise, we regard Eversheds (South Africa) as a player in driving development within South Africa’s borders and beyond. Mr. Modise’s unanimous appointment affirms the commitment that the firm has to the region and we have every confidence that the local office will grow from strength to strength under his leadership.”

Modise joined the firm in 1998 when his firm, Mlambo & Modise, merged with the then Routledges to become Routledge Modise Attorneys. Dunston Mlambo, current Judge President of the Labour Court and the Labour Appeal Court, who worked side by side with Modise prior to him joining Routledges sees this appointment as a decision that will move the firm in the right direction. “Lavery will undoubtedly add value to the firm going forward, particularly in relation to the transformation agenda of Eversheds. This will ensure that the firm remains locally relevant while responding appropriately to global demands,” says Judge President Mlambo.

Eversheds has also announced the appointment of May-Elaine Thomson as its Chief Executive Officer and Paul Labuschagne as its Chief Financial Officer.
The appointment of Lavery Modise as Chairman, May-Elaine Thomson as Chief Executive Officer, and Paul Labuschagne as Chief Financial Officer will become effective from 01 April 2012.

"I am excited to take up the position of CEO of Eversheds in South Africa and look forward to taking up the new challenge under the leadership of Lavery Modise and with the support of our management team," says Thomson, who will be the first female CEO of a major South African law firm.

Modise succeeds Derek Rabin who steps down after almost two years as Chairman. Rabin, the firm’s outgoing Chairman, was approached by the directors to act as the firm’s chairman in July 2010, which he agreed to do as an interim measure for a period of 6 months. Rabin acceded to a further year thereafter to remain on as Chairman and continues as such on the basis that his Chairmanship would end on the firm’s financial year end, being 31 March 2012. Rabin’s close association with the firm continues and he will act as a consultant to the firm on key strategic issues.

About Eversheds:
Eversheds International and its worldwide offices have over 4500 people providing services to the private and public sector business and finance community. Access to all these services is provided through 46 international offices in 28 jurisdictions. Eversheds combines local market knowledge and access with the specialisms, resources and international capability of one of the world’s largest law firms.

The South African office at 22 Fredman Drive, Sandton, has 120 professionals and a total staff complement of nearly 300.

For more information, contact:
Michelle de Pons / Kamantha Pillay
Corporate Communications Consultants
Tel:+27 11 463 2198                                                                                                                                Email: kamantha@corpcom.co.za