Entries for the 2021 event open this week (March 4) with nominations in the 34 categories (four new) expected from more than 16 African countries.

The awards are hosted by Legal Week and Law.com International in partnership with Africa Legal, the Corporate Counsel Association of South Africa and the global charity, Save the Children. They recognise exceptional achievement across the continent’s diverse legal community.

Africa Legal co-founder Wendy Bampton said she was delighted to see new categories added as the awards continue to become more inclusive and representative of the excellent work being done by the pan-African legal community.

“It’s a new world and it will be Africa’s lawyers who will be at the forefront of reconfiguring the way business is done, countries are run and laws rewritten. The legal community are the people who propel development and to be able to recognise the top achievers is a highlight of the year.”

This year new categories include:

• Crisis Management Initiative of the Year
• ESG Initiative of the Year
• Capital Markets Team of the Year
• Tax Team of the Year

The Children's Advocate Award, supported by the global charity Save the Children, and introduced for the first time last year, will recognise efforts to improve the rights and lives of children in Africa.

Africa Legal’s Chief Executive Scott Cowan, who is a member of the Africa advisory board and the South African Board for Save the Children, said children were already grappling with so much before the pandemic.

“Now, aside from the massive health risk families face, children without access to technology risk left being left behind as the world moves online. Africa’s lawyers have the power and access to resources that can make a difference to children’s lives.”

The deadline for nominations is May 28 with the shortlist to be announced on July 9. Anyone can submit an entry, as long as they or the firm/company entered meet the category’s criteria. There is also only one entry per firm/company per award. The time period covered by entries should be the 12-18 months prior to the entry deadline. All categories can be viewed here 

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To view the 2020 winners click here 

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