Global legal services organisation, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary has announced that Tanzanian law firm, IMMMA Advocates, has joined the DLA Piper Group, further advancing DLA Piper’s reach in Anglophone Africa.

DLA claims this is a significant development for both legal practices and is another important strategic step for the firm in its drive to become the leading international African specialist practising in the continent.

IMMMA is a major Tanzanian commercial law firm with six partners and 11 other lawyers. The Tanzanian law firm, established in 1997, advises both local and international clients and plans to extend its offering to corporate clients across East Africa.  It has offices in both the commercial hub of Dar es Salaam, and the Lake Zone city of Mwanza.

DLA Piper, the founding member of DLA Piper Group, has more than 3,100 lawyers in 59 offices across 22 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the US.  Through DLA Piper Group, which has members in Scandinavia, Poland and Africa, DLA Piper further increases its substantial global reach.

IMMMA is the fourth African law firm to join the alliance, following Chibesakunda & Co in Zambia, Cliffe Dekker in South Africa and DLA Matouk Bassiouny in Egypt.  As a member of DLA Piper Group, IMMMA will be able to offer its clients access to both local and global expertise across a wide range of specialisations, including projects/project finance, trade finance, privatisation, PPP and PFI work.

DLA Piper marked its interest in Africa last year when it appointed leading Africa expert, Charles Morrison, who has specialised knowledge of sub-Saharan African jurisdictions, built up over many years of handling trade and project finance transactions principally for European banks and institutions.

Charles Morrison, finance and lead Africa partner, says: “I am really very excited indeed about this latest addition to the DLA Piper Group. Tanzania is developing fast and has commercial importance both regionally in East Africa and, with its status amongst other things as a leading gold producer, internationally. Tanzania is a politically stable, common law based jurisdiction where it is possible to do well-structured projects, finance and trade deals. With the excellent lawyers at IMMMA on board as part of the team, I am convinced that DLA Piper will be able to offer our finance and commercial clients the specialised service they expect with true local expertise.”

Speaking of the added value services that IMMMA would be able to extend to its local and international clients, managing partner, Protase Ishengoma, adds: “I am delighted that we have joined DLA Piper Group and this is yet another testimony to our clients worldwide that we are committed to continually improve the quality of the services we deliver, all tuned to match the increased complexity of the transactions we handle. We remain committed to our clients and the business community in general and will continue to build long-term relationships which support day-to-day business activities, large and small. As a member of DLA Piper Group we will enhance our ability to offer unparalleled legal advice using skilled lawyers without compromising our ethical standards.”