Dentons has formally opened its second South African office in Johannesburg.

“South Africa is an exciting and sophisticated commercial market, as well as an important gateway for the Southern Africa region,” says global CEO, Elliott Portnoy. “Our Johannesburg launch will tap into that dynamism and enhance our service offerings for international clients, especially those in the energy, infrastructure, mining, transport and finance sectors.”

The firm’s Cape Town office, launched in association with local firm KapdiTwala, opened in April last year. The South African offices make Dentons the first global firm with Level 1 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) status.

“Many of the best known brands in the world care about Black Empowerment-qualified service providers, and as the first global law firm to be Level 1 B-BBEE qualified in South Africa, Dentons not only demonstrates its polycentric positioning but offers our clients a true choice,” says Joe Andrew, the firm’s global chairman.

Dentons currently supports clients in more than 75 locations across more than 50 countries around the world; 18 of which in Africa.