Allen & Overy today announced the appointment of leading senior litigator Gerhard Rudolph as a partner in the global litigation practice based in the Johannesburg office. Gerhard was formerly co-managing partner and head of litigation at Baker McKenzie, Johannesburg. He is joined by a local team of 11 litigators from Baker McKenzie, including Kate Daniels, Michelle Porter-Wright, Widaad Ebrahim and Callum O’Connor, all former partners of Baker McKenzie.

The team has a strong reputation in high end construction, infrastructure and mining disputes throughout sub-Saharan Africa.  The team also brings extensive experience in complex financial services industry disputes, business rescue and insolvency, regulatory and compliance matters, risk advice, investigations and cross border asset recovery.

Tim House, Allen & Overy’s Global Head of Litigation, comments: “I’d like to welcome Gerhard and his team to A&O. These appointments increase our capacity to provide globally integrated litigation, international arbitration and contentious regulatory support to our clients. Together with our recent appointment of two Portuguese qualified lawyers to focus on Angola and Mozambique, this demonstrates our commitment to strengthening our already leading Africa practice and our view that Africa is a key growth area for our clients and our firm.”

Lionel Shawe, co-managing partner of our Johannesburg office says of the appointment “Gerhard’s appointment together with the team is a necessary step in expanding Allen & Overy’s offering in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa to our domestic and international clients. The addition of a litigation and arbitration team is complementary to our current offering out of Johannesburg and reflects our ambition to be recognised as the compelling choice for complex and significant matters that involve an African element.  We are delighted to have Gerhard and his team join us as part of Allen & Overy’s global team. Gerhard and the team’s breadth of experience will be an outstanding addition to our Africa practice.”

Allen & Overy opened its Johannesburg office in October 2014, with a team of 9 lawyers and support staff. Gerhard’s appointment brings Allen & Overy’s South African partner total to 7 with the support of over 80 lawyers and support staff. This excellent growth has been fuelled by positive client response to our focus on leveraging our global and domestic expertise.

The Johannesburg office opened with a banking and finance focus but now has expanded to include projects and infrastructure, restructuring, corporate and M&A, equity and debt capital markets, tax and dispute resolution.

“Allen & Overy are an excellent fit for our team, existing clients both domestic and international, and across our key practice areas. We are now optimally placed to service clients within South Africa and elsewhere, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. The prospect of leveraging off the firm’s global resources and expertise while working hand in glove with Allen & Overy’s global team is compelling and I am truly excited by the opportunity that the firm presents,” says Gerhard.

Our global litigation practice comprises more than 600 lawyers across 44 offices in 31 countries.