Putting African business, growth, and legal talent front and centre

Bringing together leading African general counsel and law firms for a pioneering GC Forum | Governance, Risk & Compliance in Johannesburg on Wednesday 17 September will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase people who can provide huge value to Africa’s future while developing Africa’s legal ecosystem, says Glenda Benson, Engagement and Business Development Lead at Afriwise, 

“There’s not a doubt in my mind that Africa’s legal professionals are among the most talented anywhere, and they’re playing a central role in driving business growth and shaping the continent’s future,” says Glenda, a lawyer turned high-level legal strategy consultant with nearly two decades of cross-border experience across Africa, the UK, and the Middle East.

“You no longer need to go through London to reach Kenya, or through Paris to reach the DRC — you can go directly to the local legal talent,” says Glenda, who will host an "Against the Clock: Rapid-Fire GRC Insights from Africa’s Legal Experts" session at the GC Forum | Governance, Risk & Compliance on Wednesday afternoon. “It’s faster, more efficient, and more commercial, because Africa can stand on its own two feet. The expertise is here, on the ground, and it’s world-class.”

Taking place alongside the IBA African Regional Forum Conference, the flagship GC Forum | Governance, Risk & Compliance marks a step-change in how African GCs engage with the most pressing forces shaping business today: geopolitical volatility, legal fragmentation, and rising demands for risk-conscious governance.

One of several topical and high-value sessions on the agenda of the one-day GC Forum, Glenda’s high-tempo panel will feature legal and regulatory experts from across Africa going head-to-head against the clock to offer concise, actionable insights on their shifting governance, risk, and compliance landscapes. The panel will give attending in-house counsel a practical, region-by-region snapshot of what matters most when navigating legal risk and opportunity across Africa. 

Panel participants include Claudia Santos Cruz, a partner at MDR Advogados/ Morais Leitão Legal Circle; Khaled Abou El Houda, Managing Partner of SCP Houda & Associes; Marian Ekua Hayfron-Benjamin, Senior Partner of HB&O Legal; and Rodrick Molonga Elekeleme, Senior Lawyer at MBM-CONSEIL SCA. 

“This is a wonderful opportunity for me to put the people who I value so much front and centre for what will be a very sophisticated legal audience,” says Glenda, who earlier in her career qualified as an attorney in South Africa before excelling in roles aligning legal strategy with commercial growth at leading African firms and organisations including Webber Wentzel, ENS, and ALN. 

Glenda has also been Vice-Chair of the International Bar Association's African Regional Forum, served on the Board of the World Services Group, and chaired the WSG Africa and Middle East Regional Council, helping shape regional strategy and promote collaboration among top legal and business professionals.

“I have an unbridled passion for empowering and recognizing the talent that lies in Africa,” says Glenda, who in her role at Afriwise now drives stakeholder engagement, manages a network of over 180 law firms, and leads initiatives that connect international investors with African legal counsel. 

“I gave up a legal career of my own in order to take on a strategic role, to broker and grow business and channel it towards law firms in Africa,” she says. “I now see Afriwise, together with Africa Legal, playing a huge role in developing and maturing the wider African legal ecosystem, bringing together the General Counsel and the law firms. I do think that there's wonderful space for us to mingle together and share ideas about the wider African profession.”

Glenda Benson will be speaking the GC Forum | Governance, Risk & Compliance in Johannesburg on 17 September. 

You can find out more information about the full agenda, here. Please note this event is now full. To join the waiting list you can email admin@africa-legal.com