African Legal Award winners 2024

Image: Law.com International - African Legal Awards

This year, Bowmans walked away with seven awards including the coveted title of African Law Firm of the Year, while VdA - Vieira de Almeida was awarded International Law Firm of the Year. DLA Piper Africa took home four awards, having been named African Law Firm of the Year for East, West and Southern Africa, as well as African Network/Alliance of the Year. Webber Wentzel also won four awards, including the Innovation Award. Norton Rose Fulbright and Baker McKenzie took three awards each.

Two new categories this year honoured Women Leaders in Law - In-House/Vendor, as well as in Private Practice. These were awarded to Seun Timi-Koleolu of Pavestones Legal, and Lili Nupen of Nupen Staude de Vries respectively.

Former chief justice, Raymond Zondo, was named the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

"Competition was fierce; and every shortlisted firm or individual ... has shown skill, determination and flair in getting this far. And when it came to selecting the winners, our distinguished panel of judges devoted months to meticulously reviewing each submission, and applying the highest level of care and discernment to select the overall winners," said Habiba Cullen-Jaffar, reporter for Law.com International.

Bowmans’ chairman and senior partner, Ezra Davids, thanked the African Legal Awards for recognising the firm's contribution: "We are very proud of this recognition of our commitment to Africa and our position as the pre-eminent law firm on the continent. It’s a testament to the value of our ‘one firm’ strategy and approach to growing sustainably in support of our clients."

The full list of winners for the 2024 African Legal Award:

In-House Awards

Private Practice Awards

*A large firm is classified by being top 25 in the Africa Top 50 or in the Global 100

Awards Open to both Private Practice & In-House