The booming economies of sub-Saharan Africa offer lucrative opportunities for British law firms, but only if firms engage with local lawyers on equal terms and are not there just to make a ‘quick buck’, leading African lawyers have warned.

The average growth in gross domestic product in sub-Saharan Africa was 4.5% last year, while Nigeria boasted the world’s best-performing stock market. Vast oil deposits have been discovered in both East and West Africa.

Speaking at an event this week organised by the Black Solicitors Network’s City group, and hosted by magic circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Oba Nsugbe QC, joint head of Pump Court Chambers, said: ‘Africa is suddenly in fashion again, but this time Africans aren’t just waiting for Europe to come to them. International firms must tell us what they can offer in terms of training and specialist support, and prove they are willing to work with us... We are not interested in lawyers who are coming here to make a quick buck.’

Elikem Kuenyehia, managing partner of Ghanaian firm Oxford and Beaumont, which opened a London office last month, said: ‘We have capacity issues, but otherwise offer the same qualities and skills as international firms. That is why we expect an equal partnership – we want the meat as well, not just the bones.’