Law firm Bowmans has announced its expansion into Namibia, where it has joined forces with Koep & Partners (Koep) from 1 March 2022, to establish a presence on the cusp of significant growth in the country due to the discovery of oil and gas.
“This move is exciting for us because of Namibia’s significance as an emerging African economy with growth opportunities in energy, mining and minerals, oil and gas, green hydrogen, as well as infrastructure and agriculture. Many of our clients have expressed interest in developments there, and by combining with Koep we will be able to seamlessly deliver top-level services to them,” said Bowmans Chairman and Senior Partner Ezra Davids.
Koep is one of the largest and most established full-service law firms in Namibia, with a strong track record in corporate and commercial law, banking and finance law, and litigation and dispute resolution.
The firm’s extensive experience, particularly in energy and natural resources, maritime and shipping, and oil and gas, spans over 40 years.
“Our legacy as Koep has been built on expertise, integrity, and long-standing client relationships characterized by trust and an in-depth understanding of their business and their people. By joining forces with Bowmans, we will be able to leverage our existing footprint and growth in high-value projects with Bowmans’ capacity to deliver on complex commercial mandates to accelerate our growth,” said Koep’s Senior Partner Irvin Titus.
The integration of the two firms is expected to benefit clients of both, enhancing their joint value proposition and enabling them to more effectively and competitively help clients with their most complex legal challenges in Namibia.
“Koep’s internal culture as well as its philosophy of excellence combined with an unwavering commitment to providing outstanding client service resonates with Bowmans’ approach. The expansion is another step towards achieving our African growth strategy and reinforces our commitment to our pan-African ‘One Firm’ approach, which is critical to our success on the continent,” said Davids.
The Namibian team joining Bowmans comprises over 40 people, including six partners and 13 lawyers.
With the addition of Namibia, Bowmans will operate in six key African countries, including Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia, and will have new offices in Swakopmund and Windhoek in Namibia.
Bowmans with over 500 lawyers, has alliance partners in Nigeria and Ethiopia, and strong relations with firms across the continent that enable seamless delivery of services from an African international firm.