Bowmans (law firm)
Bowmans is a global law firm headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. Staffed by over 650 lawyers, it comprises nine offices in six African countries: South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Mauritius, and Kenya. It is one of the so-called [Big Five law firm|law firms (South Africa)|Big Five law firms] in South Africa.
The legal practice comprises the following law firms: Coulson Harney LLP, Koep & Partners, Bowmans Mauritius, Bowman Gilfillan, Bowmans Tanzania and B&M Legal Practitioners. Bowmans offices are located in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town, South Africa; Swakopmund and Windhoek, Namibia; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Lusaka, Zambia; Moka, Mauritius; and Nairobi, Kenya.
Bowmans has signed alliance agreements with Aman & Partners LLP in Ethiopia and Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie in Nigeria and has a non-exclusive co-operation agreement with French international law firm Gide Loyrette Nouel.
It is a representative of Lex Mundi, a global association of independent law firms in more than 125 countries.
History
Bowman Gilfillan was formed through the merger in 1998 of three law firms – Bowman Gilfillan Hayman Godfrey, Findlay & Tait and John & Kernick.In January 2025, 57 former members of A&O Shearman, including 14 partners, joined Bowmans. This was after A&O Shearman announced that they would shut down their South African operations.