Are international law firms falling out of favour?

In recent months, there’s been a noticeable shift in partner-level hiring within South Africa’s legal market. The local ‘Big 5’ firms are now attracting more talent from international firms than the other way around—something that wasn’t the case a few years ago.

From my conversations with partners considering their next move, it’s clear that interest in joining international firms isn’t what it once was. One reason for this that frequently comes up in discussions was the abrupt closure of A&O Shearman’s South African office in 2024, followed shortly thereafter by Hogan Lovells' exit. Both events have sparked concerns about the long-term stability of global firms in the region.

Personally, I don’t share these concerns—though I do believe some local offices of international firms are in a far stronger position than others. Will there be more closures? Possibly. This isn’t the right platform for me to go into detail, but I’m happy to share my insights one-on-one.

If you're a Partner considering a move—or simply want to hear my take—let’s connect.

I specialise in placing Partners and senior lawyers. If you are based in Sandton and you would like to meet and discuss something specific or in general, please get in touch.