A law firm with ambitions to become the ‘Linklaters of Africa’ has become the first Ghanaian firm to open in London.

Ghanaian corporate and commercial firm Oxford & Beaumont has set up in the UK to service UK law firms conducting business in Ghana.The four-partner firm, which has 12 other lawyers, said it had already established working relationships with several UK firms including magic circle firms Clifford Chance; Linklaters; and Allen & Overy; City firm Berwin Leighton Paisner and Birmingham firm Wragge & Co.

Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia, managing partner of Oxford & Beaumont and former banking lawyer at magic circle firm Linklaters, said Ghana held huge opportunities for UK lawyers. Trade totalled £600m between Ghana and the UK in the first three quarters of 2009 alone, he said.

The firm aimed to become the ‘Linklaters of Africa’ through its international links, he added.