Herbert Smith Freehills has appointed a new chair for its Africa group, as part of a group-wide restructuring. 

London-based partner Martin Kavanagh, who previously co-headed the group, has been appointed as chair while Johannesburg office managing partner Jean Meijer and Paris-based partner Paul Morton have been appointed as the group's new co-heads. Their roles came into effect on 1 July 2024.

Collectively, they take over from former chair Peter Leon and former co-head Nina Bowyer, both of whom continue to be key members of the Africa group, Herbert Smith Freehills said. 

The firm's Africa group has about 200 partners across its global network, including its 50-lawyer Johannesburg office which opened in 2015.

Kavanagh is an energy transition and infrastructure finance partner and is the firm's regional head of practice for projects in the UK, US, Middle East & Africa. He has extensive experience in the project finance and project development fields, including oil and gas, power, transport, hydroelectric and renewable power and mining sectors.

Meantime Meijer, a competition partner with 30 years of experience working across Africa, has been the managing partner of the firm’s Johannesburg office since 2022. She advises global companies in the mining, TMT and consumer sectors as well as some of Africa’s largest financial institutions.

Morton advises on corporate and projects matters, and has been working on Africa-related matters for more than 20 years. 

"Organisations can face many legal complexities in Africa but it is an exciting place to do business and can be hugely rewarding," Kavanagh commented. "We have a track record advising on matters in Africa for more than 40 years and are constantly exploring ideas and different approaches for clients. The new Africa group leadership structure brings together the three key offices of our Africa practice – Johannesburg, London and Paris – and will enable us to really draw on expertise from across our global network and from our relationships with local counsel."

News of the firm's new Africa leadership follows A&O Shearman announcing earlier this month that it would close its 32-lawyer Johannesburg office, as part of broader cuts that will also see the firm axe 10% of its global partnership and shutter its consulting business. 

Last week Hogan Lovells also announced it would close its Johannesburg office as well as its bases in Warsaw and Sydney in the coming months, citing a focus on "strategic markets".