Laurie Hammond has joined Hogan Lovells in Johannesburg as a partner, leaving the structured trade and commodity finance team of Norton Rose Fulbright. She will be joined by her colleague Lodewyk Meyer on December 6. Hammond and Meyer bring with them Jessica Petersen and Izanne Geldenhuys, who are qualified associates.

Hammond is qualified in both English and South African law. Her focus is on cross-border trade and structured commodity finance, including bilateral and syndicated lending, participations, security structures and related regulatory matters. She has extensive experience advising on transactions for local and cross-border deals and her client base includes domestic and international banks and borrowers, producers, traders, processors and logistics companies in multiple jurisdictions across various sectors.

Meyer’s experience includes advising on structured trade finance transactions in multiple jurisdictions across Africa and managing legal and regulatory risk for domestic and multinational financial services providers.

Sharon Lewis, head of Hogan Lovells’ global finance practice comments: “Lodewyk and Laurie have a deep understanding of the African market place and the complex regulatory matters facing local and cross-border deals. Both partners have an excellent track record, having won numerous African trade finance awards in the past few years. They add considerable experience to Hogan Lovells’ position in South Africa representing both lenders and borrowers.

“We have very strong growth plans for our global finance practice so, given their solid network in Africa, Lodewyk and Laurie will be intrinsic in taking Hogan Lovells’ joint offering forward across the firm.”