Dentons, the world's largest law firm, is announcing today a proposed combination with leading Tanzanian law firm, East African Law Chambers (EALC). Prior to this announcement, in 2020, Dentons has added 20 new offices around the world in an environment where other law firms are standing still, contracting or withdrawing from key markets. 

The combination with EALC advances Dentons’ strategy to become the leading Pan-African law firm owned and controlled by Africans. The combination will position Dentons as the largest global law firm in Tanzania from launch, helping clients to navigate the New Dynamic in 14 locations in Africa and 189 locations across 77 countries around the world.

“The combination with EALC 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. “Tanzania is a priority market for our clients given its strategic importance in the region and with this combination we can connect clients to leading talent in Tanzania and around the globe."

"Our clients are confronted with constant, accelerated change and want to work with a law firm that has the experience and confidence to help them navigate the New Dynamic wherever they are located," said Joe Andrew, Global Chairman of Dentons. "In an environment where law firms are closing offices, Dentons remains committed to serving its clients now and in the future in more locations than any other law firm."

EALC has five partners and 13 lawyers and is a recognized leader in Banking and Finance, Capital Markets and Securities, Competition, Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate and Commercial, Employment and Labor, Intellectual Property, Dispute Resolution, Mining, Oil and Gas, Real Estate, Taxation and Tax law, Telecommunications, Media and Technology. The combination would 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. "EALC is a leading firm in Tanzania, enabling Dentons to, once again, maintain and improve its quality as it grows."

Since first entering the region with a legacy law firm in Egypt in 1964, Dentons continues to scale its presence to become the fastest growing law firm in Africa. In 2015, Dentons joined with KapdiTwala to become the first Level 1 Black Economic Empowerment qualified global law firm in South Africa, disrupting the traditional model for providing legal services in South Africa.

In 2017, Dentons created a new Africa Region, making Africa a distinct governance and organizational unit within the law firm and guaranteeing that combination partners within the region will join the firm as members of Dentons, retaining local control of their governance and financial decisions while also securing a voice in the global governance of the firm.

An early success in the new strategy came in October 2017 when partners approved a combination with Hamilton, Harrison & Mathews in Kenya and Mardemootoo Solicitors and Balgobin Chambers in Mauritius, demonstrating the attractiveness of Dentons’ strategy and polycentric approach in the region. This success continued and in 2019, Dentons' partners approved six combinations in Africa: LEAD Advogados in Angola, Sayarh & Menjra in Morocco, Fernanda Lopes & Associados Advogados in Mozambique, Kyagaba & Otatiina Advocates in Uganda, Eric Silwamba, Jalasi and Linyama Legal Practitioners in Zambia and MawereSibanda in Zimbabwe.

"Like Dentons, EALC's vision is to become a leading tax and legal firm within the region," said Stella Ndikimi, Managing Partner of EALC. "Dentons' global strategy matches our strategy to connect clients to leading talent not only within the region but globally."

The combination, following approval by partners and subject to meeting regulatory requirements, is expected to launch in the next several months.

In 2020 to date, Dentons has added 20 offices. It announced a future combination with Salt Lake City-based Durham Jones & Pinegar - which also has offices in Lehi, St. George and Ogden and launched six combinations: 

• Dentons Bingham Greenebaum and Dentons Cohen & Grigsby, the inaugural member firms with Dentons US;
• Dentons Kensington Swan in New Zealand;
• Dentons Lee in South Korea;
• Dentons Jiménez de Aréchaga in Uruguay; and
• Dentons Rattagan Arocena (formerly Dentons Rattagan Macchiavello Arocena) in Argentina. 

Dentons has also opened offices in the British Virgin Islands, St. Lucia and Ireland.

About Dentons

Across over 80 countries, Dentons helps you grow, protect, operate and finance your organization by providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions. Polycentric, purpose-driven and committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and sustainability, we focus on what matters most to you. www.dentons.com