South Africa: Herbert Smith Freehills expands antitrust practice

Global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills announced that three leading South African lawyers will join the firm in its Johannesburg office. The hires, two partners—Nick Altini and Ross Lomax—and a senior consultant, are bringing well established teams with them, resulting in a total of 13 appointments.

Nick Altini joined the firm as a partner on July 1 from Baker & McKenzie, where he headed the firm’s South African competition practice. He brings a track record of advising high-profile companies on competition law as well as providing regulatory and compliance advice across the advertising, airline, entertainment and gaming sectors. Nick brings extensive experience in developing teams and is set to play a key role in the firm’s graduate recruitment going forward. He joined with director, Leana Engelbrecht. Together they add significantly to the bench strength of the firm’s competition, regulation and trade practice.

Expanding Herbert Smith Freehills’ corporate, competition, and technology & telecoms offerings, the three senior hires bring a total of 77 years’ experience advising high-profile South African and global companies.

These are the latest in a series of high-profile hires for the Johannesburg office, which has grown to a total team of about 70 since it opened in October 2015. By joining, Ross and Nick bring the number of partners in the office to seven.

Ed Baring, managing partner of the Johannesburg office, said, “Client demand for expertise and advice on mergers and acquisitions, competition and innovation through technology is constantly rising and we are meeting this demand by building our offer across the firm. The additions of Ross, Nick, Rohan and their teams, all of whom enjoy unparalleled reputations in the market, serve to demonstrate our determination to provide clients with access to the highest-quality advice under one roof.”