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South African lawyer Brian Malcomess among 62 worldwide promotions to DLA Piper’s global partnership
Global law firm DLA Piper has announced 62 partnership promotions, reflecting continued growth across key practices and regions. Corporate and M&A expert Brian Malcomess, a director in the Johannesburg office of DLA Piper, is the sole Africa-based lawyer promoted to the global partnership
The 62 new DLA Piper partners announced yesterday have the “sharp judgment, solutions-oriented mindset, and collaborative approach” clients expect of the firm, says Frank Ryan, Global Chair and Global Co-CEO. “They've earned the trust of clients and colleagues alike, and we're proud to welcome them to the partnership.”
The largest number of promotions were made within the global firm’s Corporate practice group, with 20 new partners, followed by 12 in Litigation, 8 in finance, 7 in ), Intellectual Property and Technology, five in Real Estate (5) and a further ten across Regulatory and Government Affairs, Employment, Investment Funds, and Tax.
All promotions are effective May 1, 2026.
While 53 of the 62 new global partners are located in DLA Piper offices across North America and Europe, South African corporate, commercial, and M&A lawyer Brian Malcomess has flown the flag for the African continent among the new promotions.
Based in Johannesburg, Brian focuses on private and public mergers and acquisitions and also has experience in leveraged debt and structured finance transactions. In this area, he has advised senior, junior, and mezzanine lenders, preference share funders, and borrowers on all aspects of debt financing, including funding structures, risk allocation, and security arrangements.
A law graduate of the University of Stellenbosch, Brian began his career as an accountant, working for three and a half years at Deloitte then FNB Insurance Brokers, before completing his articles over two years at leading South African law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, then joining the Johannesburg office of DLA Piper as an associate in February 2017, following his admission to the South African bar.
Experienced in private and public mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and general commercial law, Brian was appointed a Director of DLA Piper South Africa in 2022. He also has expertise in Banking and Finance Law, having spent a number of years specialising in leveraged debt, acquisition finance and derivative transactions.
Now he joins the global partnership of DLA Piper.
"This is a special moment for each of our new partners, and we congratulate them on an important achievement,” said Charles Severs, Global Co-CEO of DLA Piper. “Their promotions demonstrate DLA Piper's depth of talent across the world, the value and quality we offer our clients, and the continued evolution of our global firm."