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Bowmans

Key contacts
Chairman and Senior Partner: Ezra Davids
Contact this practitioner
Quick facts
Number of lawyers

650

Total staff complement

1150

Number of countries

6

Number of offices

9

Network memberships

Lex Mundi

Alliance firm

Aman & Partners LLP (Ethiopia) and Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie (Nigeria)

Best friend relationships

Across Africa

Key practice areas
Banking and finance
Banking
Project finance
Capital markets
Capital markets : Debt
Capital markets : Equity
Financial and corporate
Corporate and M&A
M&A
M&A - Foreign
Financial and corporate - Foreign
M&A - Foreign
Banking and finance - Foreign
Project finance - Foreign
Banking - Foreign
Capital markets - Foreign
Firm overview

Bowmans helps its clients manage legal complexity and unlock opportunity in Africa. Its enviable track record of providing legal services to the highest professional standards on the continent, spans corporate, finance, competition, taxation, employment, technology and dispute resolution matters.

With over 500 specialist lawyers, Bowmans draws on its unique knowledge of the business and socio-political environment in Africa to advise on a wide range of legal issues.

The firm delivers integrated legal services from nine offices (Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Durban, Johannesburg, Lusaka, Moka, Nairobi, Swakopmund and Windhoek in six countries (Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia).

Everywhere it operates, Bowmans offers its clients a service that uniquely blends expertise in the law, knowledge of the local market, and an understanding of their businesses. The firm’s aim is to assist its clients to achieve their objectives as smoothly and efficiently as possible while minimising the legal and regulatory risks.

The firm works closely with its Alliance firms Aman & Partners LLP in Ethiopia and Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie in Nigeria. Bowmans has special relationships with firms in Mozambique and Uganda; a non-exclusive co-operation agreement with French international law firm Gide Loyrette Nouel that provides access to lawyers in francophone west and north Africa; regularly works with other leading independent law firms across the rest of Africa; and is a representative of Lex Mundi, a global association of independent law firms in more than 125 countries.

Clients include domestic and foreign corporates, multinationals, funds and financial institutions, across a range of industry sectors, as well as state-owned enterprises and governments.

Awards
  • IFLR Africa Awards, 2026: African Firm of the Year
  • Chambers Africa Awards, 2025: Law Firm of the Year: Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania
  • African Legal Awards, 2024: African Law Firm of the Year
  • Nairobi Legal Awards, 2024: Large Law Firm of the Year, Kenya
  • EAVCA Awards, 2024: Legal Advisor of the Year, Kenya
Connect with us
Sector expertise
  • The firm has specialist expertise in a range of sectors. Click here for further detail.
Other offices
Tel:+27 11 669 9000 Fax:+27 11 669 9001 Email:Contact Us Web Address:http://www.bowmanslaw.com/
Social:
Contact
72 results72 results
Cynthia Amutete
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
Banking and finance
Jurisdiction:
Kenya
Gilles Athaw
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
Banking
Financial restructuring
Project finance
Capital markets
Restructuring and insolvency
M&A
Jurisdiction:
Mauritius
Industry Sector:
Financial services
Bar Admission:
Mauritius
England & Wales
Jutami Augustyn
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
Investment funds
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Bar Admission:
South Africa
Jason Barbe
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
Banking and finance
Jurisdiction:
Mauritius
Bar Admission:
Mauritius
Paris
Anton Barnes-Webb
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
Project finance
Energy and infrastructure
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Industry Sector:
Banking
Energy
Bar Admission:
South Africa
Edwin Baru
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
Project development
Jurisdiction:
Kenya
John Bellew
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
Private equity
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Industry Sector:
Investment management
Charissa Beyers
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
M&A
Capital markets
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Bwalya Chilufya-Musonda
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
Corporate and M&A
Project development
Jurisdiction:
Zambia
Bar Admission:
Zambia
Alexandra Clüver
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
Banking
Project finance
M&A
Project development
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Industry Sector:
Energy
Bar Admission:
England & Wales
Philip Coulson
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
Banking
Project finance
Capital markets
Restructuring and insolvency
M&A
Energy and infrastructure
Project development
Jurisdiction:
Kenya
Industry Sector:
Energy
Transport
Real estate
Oil and gas
Social infrastructure
Natural resources
Bar Admission:
Kenya
England & Wales
Ezra Davids
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
Capital markets : Debt
Capital markets : Equity
M&A
Energy and infrastructure
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Industry Sector:
Banking
Technology and telecommunications
Mining
Bar Admission:
South Africa
Juliette de Hutton
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
Restructuring and insolvency
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Bar Admission:
England & Wales
Mongezi Dladla
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
Project development
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Charles Douglas
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
Capital markets : Equity
M&A
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Bar Admission:
South Africa
New South Wales
Kendall Evans
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
Private equity
M&A
Jurisdiction:
Kenya
Bar Admission:
Bermuda
Hong Kong
England & Wales
Alexandra Felekis
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
Project development
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Bar Admission:
South Africa
Rainbow Field
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
M&A
Jurisdiction:
Kenya
Industry Sector:
Energy
Mining
Natural resources
Bar Admission:
Western Australia
Irene Fwaya
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
M&A
Jurisdiction:
Kenya
Bar Admission:
Kenya
Tholinhlanhla Gcabashe
Firm:
Bowmans
Practice Area:
M&A
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
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Deal Highlights
15 results15 results
Deal Name Deal Date Firm Name Jurisdiction Deal Type Lawyer Names Client Names Client Role
Tullow Oil; Total; Africa Oil - Project development
2021-02-25
Bowmans
Kenya
Project development
Paras Shah
Tullow Oil, Total, Africa Oil
Project developer
Frontier Energy - Project development
2021-02-25
Bowmans
Kenya
Project development
Aleem Tharani
Frontier Energy
Sponsor
Intex Construction - Project development
2021-02-25
Bowmans
Kenya
Project development
Aleem Tharani
Intex Construction
Project developer
Intex Construction - Financing
2021-02-25
Bowmans
Kenya
Financing
Aleem Tharani
Intex Construction
Borrower
Shandong Hi-Speed Group; Hass Infrastructure; GVR Infrastructure - Project development
2021-02-25
Bowmans
Kenya
Project development
Aleem Tharani
Shandong Hi-Speed Group, Hass Infrastructure, GVR Infrastructure
Project developer
Shandong Hi-Speed Group; Hass Infrastructure; GVR Infrastructure - Financing
2021-02-25
Bowmans
Kenya
Financing
Aleem Tharani
Shandong Hi-Speed Group, Hass Infrastructure, GVR Infrastructure
Borrower
Standard Bank of South Africa; Stanbic Bank Kenya - Financing
2021-02-25
Bowmans
Kenya
Financing
Aleem Tharani
Standard Bank of South Africa, Stanbic Bank Kenya
Lender
Voltalia - Project development
2021-02-25
Bowmans
Kenya
Project development
Paras Shah
Voltalia
Project company
Virunga Power Holdings - Project development
2021-02-25
Bowmans
Kenya
Project development
Aleem Tharani
Virunga Power Holdings
Project developer
Hydroneo - Project development
2021-02-25
Bowmans
Kenya
Project development
Aleem Tharani
Hydroneo
Sponsor
South Africa Clean Energy Solutions. - Project development
2021-02-25
Bowmans
Kenya
Project development
Aleem Tharani
South Africa Clean Energy Solutions.
Sponsor
Investeringsfonden for Udviklingslande - Secondary share offering
2021-02-25
Bowmans
Kenya
Secondary share offering
Joyce Mbui
Investeringsfonden for Udviklingslande
Initial purchaser
HFC; HF Group - Financing
2020-03-17
Bowmans
Kenya
Financing
Richard Harney
HFC, HF Group
Borrower
Britam Holdings - Financing
2020-03-17
Bowmans
Kenya
Financing
Richard Harney
Britam Holdings
Lender
Evercare Group Management Ltd. - M&A
2022-11-24
Bowmans
United States (National)
M&A
Evercare Group Management Ltd.
Seller
Awards
55156196116_e3b97c09e9_o.jpg
IFLR launches 2026 awards season with Africa ceremony
Clifford Chance, Bowmans and Udo Udoma & Belo Osagie were among the top winning firms at the awards dinner held in Cape Town on March 17  
March 18 2026
Banking
AI-Powered Investing Robotic Automation in Financial Markets
AI-augmented legal services are non-negotiable for finance clients
Financial institutions are increasingly demanding that their legal advisers focus on speed, efficiency and value, according to lawyers and technology experts
Noemi Distefano, November 13 2025
M&A
Michael-Strain Website.png
How Bowmans is using AI and connections to expand in Africa
Tanzania managing partner Michael Strain explains how the firm is capturing opportunities in East Africa and how AI solutions such as Harvey can help
Karry Lai, July 31 2025
ESG
Shamilah Grimwood High res.jpg
How Bowmans is advising clients on Africa’s energy transition
Shamilah Grimwood-Norley explores the impact of the US' energy transition reversal on Africa and how the firm is helping its clients to rise to the challenge
Karry Lai, February 24 2025
ESG
Texas Prickly pear cactus with green fruit with sunset backgroun
IBA 2024: ESG highlights
It’s up to governments, regulators, and law firms to work together to create a future where ESG is not just a buzzword
Olivia Adam, September 24 2024
M&A
Image (2) (1).jpg
IBA 2024: Avoiding the ‘margin squeeze’ in a changing market
M&A partners from around the globe share ideas on how to avoid margin squeeze, how to keep firms profitable and how to avoid losing the most productive partners
Olivia Adam, September 17 2024
ESG
Image (1) (1).jpg
IBA 2024: How D&I impacts the business of law firms
Speakers from both inside and outside the legal industry share best practices on implementing diversity and inclusion policies and integrating these into operational culture
Olivia Adam, September 17 2024
ESG
africa.jpeg
African capital markets lawyers prepare clients for sustainability disclosures
Sustainability disclosures could become an even more important part of African capital markets transactions following an agreement between the African Development Bank and the IFRS Foundation
Ralph Cunningham, July 01 2024
Sponsored

Sponsored

  • IFLR1000
    Sponsored by Bowmans
    Kenya: Bowmans lauded at the DealMakers East Africa Awards
    Pre-eminent African law firm Bowmans has once again been recognised as a leading legal advisor on complex, cross-border M&A and private equity transactions in East Africa. The firm topped the DealMakers East Africa legal advisor league table by deal flow and placed second by deal value in the M&A Category; placed second by both transaction flow and value in the General Corporate Finance Category; and was recognised for advising on the deal named Ansarada Private Equity Deal of the Year (East Africa).
    Bowmans - Kenya, March 23 2026
  • IFLR1000
    Sponsored by Bowmans
    Namibia: Bowmans expands with the appointment of Hugo Meyer van den Berg as partner
    Pre-eminent African law firm Bowmans has announced that Hugo Meyer van den Berg has joined the firm as a partner in its Windhoek office. The appointment comes at a critical time in the development of Bowmans Namibia. Having been established when Bowmans and Koep & Partners joined forces almost three years ago, the practice has shown good growth and is now ready to expand.
    Bowmans - Namibia, March 23 2026
  • IFLR1000
    Sponsored by Bowmans
    Global: Bowmans celebrated for its role in shaping the continent’s most innovative transactions
    Johannesburg, - Pre-eminent African law firm Bowmans walked away with the top honours at the IFLR Africa Awards held in Cape Town last night (17 March 2026). In addition to winning the prestigious African Firm of the Year Award, Bowmans was named South African Law Firm of the Year and received the Team of the Year Award for M&A: Regional as well as four Deal of the Year awards. In addition, the firm’s chairman and senior partner Ezra Davids received the prestigious Lawyer of the Year: South Africa accolade.
    Bowmans - South Africa, March 18 2026
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