Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg has announced the appointment of leading trade and commodity finance lawyer Lodewyk Meyer as a Partner in the Banking & Finance Practice Group. The appointment was effective from 1 July 2019. Meyer specialises in Africa trade and export finance, investment into Africa and structured finance.

Meyer was previously the Head Partner of the Banking & Finance team at Hogan Lovells. His experience includes advising banks, structured trade and speciality funds, and actors in the commodity value chain in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the USA.

Meyer received his B Proc from the University of Pretoria in 1993 and was admitted as an attorney in South Africa in 1995. He is ranked in Chambers Global, IFLR1000, Legal 500 EMEA and in Best Lawyers South Africa.

Morne van der Merwe, Managing Partner, says, “Lodewyk's hire forms part of our strategy to grow our transactional practice in Africa through strategic recruitment and organic promotions. Through our transactional practice, we are able to provide commercially focused, end-to-end legal advice to maximise deal certainty and secure the intended value of our clients’ transactions in Africa. Lodewyk will join our team of 2,500 transactional lawyers (globally and in Africa) with expertise spanning banking and finance, capital markets, corporate finance, funds, M&A, private equity and projects.

“Lodewyk’s skills in trade, finance and investment in Africa are invaluable to multinational organisations who must negotiate a multitude of trade and finance laws and regulations when transacting across borders in Africa. His appointment will also add considerable value to our industry-focused client strategy, which allows us to better understand our clients’ businesses, what keeps them awake at night and what they need to successfully close deals in Africa.

“We are sure that Lodewyk will have a long and successful career at Baker McKenzie.”