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Rob Green, CEO of The GRM Group, shares a candid update for aspiring legal professionals and law students navigating the complex South African legal market. Drawing from the latest recruitment trends, retention data, and direct experience hosting the Leaders in Law event in Casablanca, Green explores the tough reality for recent graduates: too many students, too few candidate attorney positions, and the compounding threat of AI automation.

This essential briefing includes:

- Real statistics on the shortage of articles and CA positions

- Insights on retention rates from top law firms like Webber Wentzel

- The impact of AI on junior legal roles and future opportunities

- Advice for law students on career resilience, broadening opportunities, and thinking beyond traditional legal practice

- An announcement about the upcoming South African Legal Remuneration Report, the country’s largest salary survey for law professionals

If you’re a law student, trainee, or legal recruiter, this video will equip you with actionable insights and realistic perspectives to help you plan your next move in a rapidly changing industry.

Subscribe for more market updates, salary reports, and strategies for thriving in the legal field

globallegalmarket.substack.com 

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/mutugi-mutegi-17192284/

An Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and Certified Company Secretary (CS) with 10 years' experience in commercial law practice, specialising in competition law, capital markets and securities law and financial sector regulation.

Kenya’s legal market in 2025 is characterised by strong growth in transactional work, rapid adoption of technology, a sharp regulatory focus, and elevated demand for corporate and dispute resolution services. The legal environment is adapting to global standards on data privacy, AML, ESG, and beneficial ownership, while investment activity and cross-border transactions remain high.

Transactional Demand

• M&A, private equity, and venture capital activity continue to expand, with law firms advising on deals in technology, infrastructure, and energy.
• Advances in contract automation, LegalTech, and digital contract management are making transactional work more efficient and accessible.
• Regulatory reforms following fiscal and judicial changes demand close legal oversight on investor due diligence, corporate structuring, and compliance.

Dispute Resolution and Compliance

• Litigation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) are increasingly popular, with the judiciary promoting mediation and arbitration to manage caseload and support swift commercial resolutions.
• Anti-money laundering (AML), beneficial ownership disclosure, and ESG compliance have become central to legal advisory work, led by new laws enacted in 2025 targeting both financial and non-financial sectors.
• Data protection and cybersecurity are top priorities, with Kenyan regulations converging on international standards like GDPR, raising enforcement action and compliance expectations for both local and multinational firms.

Key Trends Shaping Legal Work

• LegalTech is transforming service delivery and operational efficiency, enabling law firms and clients to streamline contract review, compliance tracking, and research.
• ESG and governance requirements continue to grow, with legal departments helping clients implement responsible management, anti-corruption policies, and fair labour practices.
• Kenya’s evolving regulatory environment and increased scrutiny across sectors make compliance work, risk advisory, and dispute management essential service areas for business law firms.

Law firms in Kenya that excel at transactional, compliance, and technology-driven client support are best positioned for growth in 2025, as regulatory enforcement, global investment, and legal innovation reshape the market.

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Fayha Karimbux, Senior Legal Counsel | AfricInvest Grouphttps://www.linkedin.com/in/fayhakarimbux/

Based in Nairobi in the capacity of Senior Legal Counsel with AfricInvest Group. In her role, she oversees the Group’s various funds activities in Anglo Sub-Saharan markets from a legal perspective, including investments, portfolio management, exits and also fund formations and wind-ups. She brings over 11 years of experience in corporate law, specialising in mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions and corporate finance across a wide variety of sectors and jurisdictions in Africa. 

Kenya’s legal market in 2025 is characterised by strong growth in transactional work, rapid adoption of technology, a sharp regulatory focus, and elevated demand for corporate and dispute resolution services. The legal environment is adapting to global standards on data privacy, AML, ESG, and beneficial ownership, while investment activity and cross-border transactions remain high.

Transactional Demand

• M&A, private equity, and venture capital activity continue to expand, with law firms advising on deals in technology, infrastructure, and energy.
• Advances in contract automation, LegalTech, and digital contract management are making transactional work more efficient and accessible.
• Regulatory reforms following fiscal and judicial changes demand close legal oversight on investor due diligence, corporate structuring, and compliance.

Dispute Resolution and Compliance

• Litigation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) are increasingly popular, with the judiciary promoting mediation and arbitration to manage caseload and support swift commercial resolutions.
• Anti-money laundering (AML), beneficial ownership disclosure, and ESG compliance have become central to legal advisory work, led by new laws enacted in 2025 targeting both financial and non-financial sectors.
• Data protection and cybersecurity are top priorities, with Kenyan regulations converging on international standards like GDPR, raising enforcement action and compliance expectations for both local and multinational firms.

Key Trends Shaping Legal Work

• LegalTech is transforming service delivery and operational efficiency, enabling law firms and clients to streamline contract review, compliance tracking, and research.
• ESG and governance requirements continue to grow, with legal departments helping clients implement responsible management, anti-corruption policies, and fair labour practices.
• Kenya’s evolving regulatory environment and increased scrutiny across sectors make compliance work, risk advisory, and dispute management essential service areas for business law firms.

Law firms in Kenya that excel at transactional, compliance, and technology-driven client support are best positioned for growth in 2025, as regulatory enforcement, global investment, and legal innovation reshape the market.

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/zana-ismaila-bamba-877742208/ 

Zana Ismaila BAMBA est assistant Manager au sein d’African legal and Tax Mali depuis 6ans. Je suis titulaire d’une maitrise en droit obtenu à l’université des sciences juridiques et politiques de Bamako. Maitrisant bien le droit des affaires et le droit minier, je suis spécialisé en Droit fiscal et social.

Avant d’intégrer l’équipe ALT, je suis passé par un cabinet d’huissier, le tribunal administratif de Bamako et les aéroports du Mali. J’ai une très bonne relation avec les administrations publiques et plus particulièrement l’administration fiscale

Mali’s legal market in 2025 is shaped by ongoing economic and security reforms, increased foreign investment in the mining and energy sectors, and a steady rise in transactional and compliance work for law firms. Business law practices are primarily focused on advising international and domestic clients in natural resources, banking, project finance, and employment litigation.

Transactional Demand

• Mergers and acquisitions, project finance for energy and mining, and real estate transactions are active workstreams, as Mali seeks to attract new foreign capital and expand large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Law firms in Bamako are advising on structuring cross-border deals, compliance with OHADA business laws, and navigating sector-specific regulations in telecom, energy, and finance.
• Additional transactional needs arise from public-private partnerships and investment incentives targeting resource extraction and infrastructure.

Dispute Resolution and Compliance

• Commercial disputes, employment litigation, and tax appeals drive demand for dispute resolution services, with both local and foreign companies seeking judicial and arbitral solutions.
• Sectoral reforms and updates to OHADA law require careful compliance guidance on issues such as creditor rights, insolvency, and anti-corruption controls.
• Malian courts and leading law firms are increasingly involved in arbitration, mediation, and complex litigation in the wake of public and private sector reforms.

Key Trends Shaping Legal Work

• The top-ranked firms—such as Cabinet Juri-Partner, Satis Partners, and FSD CONSEILS—are recognised for capabilities in energy, mining, commercial contracts, banking, and international arbitration.
• There is growing attention on regulatory changes, transparency in extractive industries, and compliance with anti-money laundering and local content rules as part of investment protocols.
• Real estate and construction legal services are positioned for growth, with rising demand for due diligence, land registry, and dispute resolution as development accelerates.

Law firms and practitioners with sectoral expertise, OHADA knowledge, and strong dispute resolution capacity are well placed to capture Mali’s expanding legal market opportunities in 2025.

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With more than 17 years of experience, he assisted structures and secures corporate, banking, and insurance operations across the OHADA, CIMA, and WAMU zones.

He led the Group Legal Department at NSIA Participations, a major financial holding company with a strong footprint across Central and West Africa (covering 12 countries). 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/assemian-faustin-kouakou/

Côte d’Ivoire’s legal market in 2025 is benefiting from accelerated foreign investment, sophisticated regulatory reforms, and heightened deal and compliance activity across industries such as banking, telecom, natural resources, fintech, and infrastructure. The government’s National Development Plan and changes in OHADA law and sector-specific regulation are positioning law firms for sustained growth in transactional, compliance, and dispute resolution services.

Transactional Demand
Mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and project finance are active, fuelled by reforms to the Ivorian Investment Code, new incentives for investors, and a predictable, codified business law environment under the OHADA system.

Due diligence, regulatory advice, and structuring are top priorities for international investors entering banking, mining, digital, agribusiness, and real estate sectors.

Regulatory clearances from sectoral authorities and compliance with tax and employment law frequently require advice from leading corporate law firms.

Dispute Resolution and Compliance
Côte d’Ivoire has modernised its commercial judiciary, digitising court systems and expanding commercial courts to expedite business dispute resolution, which has increased investor confidence and cross-border deal flow.

Enhanced enforcement of creditor rights in insolvency, new e-filing systems, and regional arbitration options (via CCJA in Abidjan) promise more reliable contract enforcement.

Law firms are increasingly called on for compliance and risk advisory in areas such as anti-money laundering, data protection (with GDPR-like standards), local content regulations, and corporate governance under the latest OHADA reforms.

Key Trends Shaping Legal Work
Launch of national electronic land registry and Unified Social Security Identifier (NUMOSS) streamlines land deals and employment law compliance.

Adoption of new digital and telecom laws, local content quotas, and financial sector reforms expand the need for cross-disciplinary counsel.

There is minimal restriction on foreign ownership outside of some regulated sectors, but strict reporting and compliance requirements (including foreign exchange) persist for cross-border investors.

Corporate and transactional lawyers with expertise in OHADA law, sectoral regulation, dispute resolution, and international compliance are seeing the greatest demand in Côte d’Ivoire as 2025 unfolds.

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/dikyobutungi/

Partner, TASLAF Advocates Director, DK Butungi & Co

• Legal advisory
• Corporate and Commercial Advisory
• Energy,Projects and Infrastructure 
• Oil and gas
• Family Business 
• Franchising
• Arbitration 
• Strategic Advisory Services
• Corporate Consulting
• Set up & Secretarial
• Knowledge Management
• Change Management
• Specialized sector services
• Local Coordination &Representation 
• Third Party Liaison
• Research, among others. 

Uganda’s legal market is experiencing robust growth in demand for law firm services, especially in transactional, regulatory, and dispute resolution matters. In 2025, legal work is being driven by increased M&A activity across sectors like technology, financial services, healthcare, and energy, fuelled by regulatory reforms, new compliance requirements, and foreign investment.

Transactional Demand

• Cross-border M&A and private equity deals have surged in Uganda since 2024, with transaction values rising rapidly and several high-profile acquisitions in telecoms and energy.
• Legal advisors are in high demand for complex deals due to regulatory changes such as the Competition Act, tax reforms, and requirements for share listings on the Uganda Securities Exchange.
• The clean energy sector and infrastructure projects continue to attract investors, creating significant opportunities for transactional and project finance lawyers.
• Dispute Resolution and Compliance
  • Regulatory and compliance reforms—such as new standards in capital markets and ESG requirements—have raised the need for advice on due diligence, governance, and anti-money laundering.
  • Litigation and alternative dispute resolution work are increasing, with law firms assisting on complex commercial disputes, bankruptcy and restructuring, and tax appeals.
  • Clients increasingly demand cross-border expertise, as many businesses operate across East Africa or seek global legal support.
• Key Trends Shaping Legal Work
  • The emergence of fintech and digital services has produced new demand for legal services around privacy, technology contracts, and financial regulation.
  • Regionalisation and globalisation have prompted Uganda’s major firms to partner with international networks to meet cross-jurisdictional client needs.
  • Law firm clients include multinationals, banks, oil & gas companies, and investors, all facing an evolving regulatory environment shaped by reforms in competition law, tax, and consumer protection.
• Firms and lawyers with expertise in transaction structuring, regulatory navigation, and litigation are best positioned to capture Uganda’s growing legal market opportunities as 2025 progresses

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5 in 5 starts right now!

We kick start this incredible new series of interviews, with John Chibueze, Attorney-at-Law, in Lagos, Nigeria.

5 questions in 5 minutes (although we ran over a little!)

Covering the economy, the legal market, the opportunities and whats coming up.

Brought to you by GRM Events - for more information, contact MD, Sue Smith on [email protected] 

The 5 in 5 - Africa's Not A Gamble podcast by GRM Group is a legal-focused series that aims to provide insights into the legal landscape across Africa. 

The podcast features interviews with attorneys from each of the 54 African countries, offering localised expertise and perspectives on the legal market, economic trends, and related topics. 

Each episode is structured around answering five key questions in five minutes, making it concise and accessible for listeners interested in the intersection of law, business, and regional developments in Africa.

This initiative reflects GRM Group's commitment to exploring and highlighting the diverse legal environments across the continent, fostering cross-border understanding and professional connections.

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The next in the 5 in 5 series is from Mauritius and the great Nikita Lalla

5 questions in 5 minutes

Covering the economy, the legal market, the opportunities and whats coming up.

Brought to you by GRM Events - for more information, contact MD, Sue Smith on [email protected] 

The 5 in 5 - Africa's Not A Gamble podcast by GRM Group is a legal-focused series that aims to provide insights into the legal landscape across Africa. 

The podcast features interviews with attorneys from each of the 54 African countries, offering localised expertise and perspectives on the legal market, economic trends, and related topics. 

Each episode is structured around answering five key questions in five minutes, making it concise and accessible for listeners interested in the intersection of law, business, and regional developments in Africa.

This initiative reflects GRM Group's commitment to exploring and highlighting the diverse legal environments across the continent, fostering cross-border understanding and professional connections.

Support the show

Send us a text

Brought to you by GRM Events - for more information, contact MD, Sue Smith on [email protected] 

Botswana in focus

The 5 in 5 - Africa's Not A Gamble podcast by GRM Group is a legal-focused series that aims to provide insights into the legal landscape across Africa. 

The podcast features interviews with attorneys from each of the 54 African countries, offering localised expertise and perspectives on the legal market, economic trends, and related topics. 

Each episode is structured around answering five key questions in five minutes, making it concise and accessible for listeners interested in the intersection of law, business, and regional developments in Africa.

This initiative reflects GRM Group's commitment to exploring and highlighting the diverse legal environments across the continent, fostering cross-border understanding and professional connections.

Support the show

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Incredible proud to be bringing the 5 in 5 series to Egypt for the first time.

We welcome Sunanda Holmes, GC of The American University of Cairo, to answer 5 questions, in 5 minutes - on the Egyptian economy, law market, opportunities and more

Brought to you by GRM Events - for more information, contact MD, Sue Smith on [email protected] 

The 5 in 5 - Africa's Not A Gamble podcast by GRM Group is a legal-focused series that aims to provide insights into the legal landscape across Africa. 

The podcast features interviews with attorneys from each of the 54 African countries, offering localised expertise and perspectives on the legal market, economic trends, and related topics. 

Each episode is structured around answering five key questions in five minutes, making it concise and accessible for listeners interested in the intersection of law, business, and regional developments in Africa.

This initiative reflects GRM Group's commitment to exploring and highlighting the diverse legal environments across the continent, fostering cross-border understanding and professional connections.

Support the show