London law firm Bishop & Sewell has formed an association with a legal practice in Zambia as part of its continued strategic African expansion, which is set to include a new office in South Africa.

The firm sealed an alliance with Ben Ngenda Advocates after working with the firm on a project for mutual client CDC Group, the UK government-owned venture capitalist.

Partner Matthew Coleman said: 'There are good business opportunities to be had in Africa, although not many firms have realised this.

There are plenty of investment projects and a lot of contentious work, as most agreements are set up under UK law.'

The firm is only the second into Zambia; City firm Denton Wilde Sapte already has an associate office there after tying up with Corpus Globe.

Under the agreement, Bishop & Sewell will work in close co-operation with the Lusaka-based commercial law firm and the two practices will refer work to one another.

However, they will not be contractually obliged to work together on an exclusive basis.

Ben Ngenda's clients also include African electricity company Eskom, the Africa Development Bank and Zambia National Commercial Bank.

Bishop & Sewell plans further African links with a joint venture arrangement in Johannesburg, South Africa in the future, which it said it will staff with English lawyers.

Earlier this year, Bishop & Sewell formed an association with Stumbles & Rowe in Harare, Zimbabwe, in part to act for commercial farmers who have been stripped of their assets by the Zimbabwean government.

Rachel Rothwell