Webber Wentzel has been named African Law Firm of the Year (Mid-Large Sized Practice) at the 2022 African Legal Awards.
The African Law Firm of the Year title affirms and upholds Webber Wentzel's legal expertise status. We are proud of our 150-year history as a leading South African law firm with a reputation for excellence innovation, strategic vision, employee development and commitment to our clients.
The African Legal Awards judges specifically highlighted our gender diversity stats, graduate recruitment programme, and the wide range of the firm's CSR activities.
Below are the milestones the firm achieved, that have contributed to winning this award.
Gender diversity stats:
- As at March 2022, women made up 49% of the firm's total partner body and 56% of the firm's total legal services complement.
- Of all the black lawyers ranked in Chambers in SA 2022, 40% are from Webber Wentzel and of all the women lawyers profiled in Chambers SA 2022, 37% are from Webber Wentzel.
CSR activities:
- The firm ran several CSI-related initiatives, including donating ZAR 450,000 to the Gift of the Givers Foundation.
- The firm spent 17,318 hours on pro bono work, valued at ZAR 50 million.
Graduate recruitment programme:
Webber Wentzel re-launched its graduate recruitment programme, in line with its people strategy, to be the law firm where top talent choose to build fulfilling and enduring careers. The various programmes available support a graduate's journey from candidate attorney to partnership, or other alternative careers within the firm.
Webber Wentzel's purpose is to have a sustainable and transformative impact through our work and actions. We do so by putting our clients at the centre of everything we do, creating a workplace where our people thrive and by making a significant contribution to our communities.
See below other awards Webber Wentzel won at the African Legal Awards:
Webber Wentzel biggest winner at the African Legal Awards
ESG Initiative of the Year
Environment, Energy & Natural Resources Team of the Year
Litigation and Dispute Resolution Team of the Year
M&A Team of the Year
Private Equity Team of the Year