World's largest law firm launches first-of-its-kind combination with ACAS-Law, positioning Dentons as the principal global law firm in Africa's leading economy and accelerates its momentum to become the leading Pan-African law firm owned and controlled by Africans across 17 locations on the continent.
Just in the first quarter of 2021, Dentons has announced or launched more combinations than any other law firm did in the entirety of 2020.
Dentons, the world's largest law firm, has launched a recently announced combination with leading law firm, Adepetun, Caxton-Martins, Agbor & Segun (ACAS-Law) in Nigeria. The combination, which has been voted upon favorably by Dentons’ partners, gives Dentons further African presence, with the addition of key locations Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
ACAS-Law's outstanding reputation as a leading service provider, coupled with Dentons' global reach, creates the primary gateway to connecting worldwide services to Nigeria-based clients and companies. This historic combination - the first of its kind in Nigeria - marks the zenith of a solid and longstanding partnership between the two firms, culminating in the world's largest law firm serving Africa's leading economy.
“The combination with ACAS-Law builds upon our strategy to become the leading Pan-African law firm owned and controlled by Africans and located in key markets,” said Elliott Portnoy, Global CEO of Dentons. “Nigeria, as Africa's leading economy, is a priority market for our clients. Combining with ACAS-Law, with whom we have shared years of significant collaboration, allows us to connect clients to leading talent in Nigeria and to more than 19,000 people around the globe."
ACAS-Law and Dentons have served clients together for many years, in sectors such as Energy, TMT and Banking and Finance. Dentons' combination with this established and prestigious firm, which celebrated its 30th anniversary on April 1, 2021, is a meaningful testimony to years of successful collaboration.
"As our clients emerge from the global economic crisis, they are being confronted with bigger and broader challenges and are asking us, what’s next?" said Joe Andrew, Global Chairman of Dentons. "The answer to that question is talent. With over 19,000 people, Dentons has the experience and confidence to help our clients navigate their unique needs - in 204 locations around the world."
On a continent scarred by the legacy of colonial domination and in a market where the operations of every leading law firm are hierarchical, Dentons’ unique polycentric and anti-colonial approach has been a stark differentiator, disrupting the traditional model for providing legal services in Africa. Dentons' combination with ACAS-Law further advances Dentons’ strategy to become the leading Pan-African law firm owned and controlled by Africans, helping clients to navigate the New Dynamic Decade in 17 locations in Africa, and 204 locations across 81 countries around the world.
The brand name of the firm is now Dentons ACAS-Law and has seven partners and 52 lawyers. It is 60% female led and has a female Managing Partner.ACAS-Law enjoys a prestigious reputation for world-class legal services in Nigeria. It is highly recognized in the market in Corporate and Commercial, Energy, Project Finance, Shipping, Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, and Tax, with numerous rankings across these practices. The combination will lead to significant synergies in light of Dentons' strengths in each of these areas.
"Dentons' strategy is focused on finding combination firms who have the proven ability to offer sophisticated, high-quality legal services and business solutions in their home markets," said Noor Kapdi, CEO of Dentons’ Africa Region. "We quickly identified ACAS-Law by virtue of its preeminence in Nigeria and our combination continues Dentons' momentum in Africa, enabling Dentons to, once again, maintain and improve its quality as it grows."
"Dentons ACAS-Law shares the vision of building the leading Pan-African law firm owned and controlled by Africans," said Felicia Kemi Segun, Managing Partner. "Our combination with Dentons means that our clients will benefit from continuing to be served by lawyers that they know and trust while also having access to an unrivalled talent pool around the globe."
In Africa, Dentons now has a presence in:
So far in 2021, Dentons has announced or launched more combinations than any other law firm did in 2020.
Dentons has announced combinations with:
- Ecuadorian law firm Paz Horowitz Abogados;
- Bolivian law firm Guevara & Gutierrez.
The Firm has launched combinations with:
- East African Law Chambers (EALC) in Tanzania;
- Davis Brown in the United States.
Dentons has also opened an office in Grenada and announced an expansion of its tax practice in Venezuela.
About Dentons
Dentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic. www.dentons.com
