Baker & McKenzie has lured a partner from rival global behemoth DLA Piper for the second time in a month, this time taking a finance partner in Johannesburg.
Just two weeks after Bakers hired three DLA Piper partners in Mexico, the firm has recruited partner Jennifer Stolp from DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, an alliance set up between the transatlantic giant and one of South Africa’s leading corporate firms.
Stolp recently advised on the South African government’s renewable energy programme, REIPPP, and her hire comes as the country ramps up its use of solar and wind power. Her appointment coincides with the relocation of Bakers’ London capital markets and banking partner Chris Hogan as the firm bids to boost revenues through increased transactional work in South Africa. Hogan joins fellow banking partner Frances Okosi, who made the switch from London to Johannesburg earlier this year.
Baker & McKenzie’s Johannesburg office, which opened in May 2012, has now grown to more than 75 lawyers and support staff. Wildu du Plessis, managing partner of the Johannesburg office, said: ‘From day one we have set out to build market-leading transactional practices. With the arrival of Chris and Jennifer, we have not only considerably advanced this but now have added bench strength in servicing our banking and corporate clients.’
Stolp added: ‘This is a very exciting time in the renewable energy market and I look forward to working with Wildu and the team on the significant opportunities in this area.’
tom.moore@legalease.co.uk
For our latest overview of activity among domestic and international firms in Africa, see Constructing continents – the clients and advisers targeting Africa’s booming infra market
