Norton Rose develops China - Africa links with partner relocation
17 April 2012

Banking practice in Beijing expands

International legal practice Norton Rose Group has strengthened its China practice with the relocation to the Group’s Beijing office of Milton Osborn, a Johannesburg-based banking, finance and private equity partner.

Milton acts on financing, merger and acquisitions deals in Africa across the banking, energy and mining sectors. He primarily advises on cross-border transactions between Africa and Asia and has prior experience in both Europe and South East Asia. His role in Beijing will be to manage the increasing flow of transactions between China and Africa.

Phillip John, Head of North Asia, Norton Rose Hong Kong, commented:

“The addition of Milton to the Beijing office will allow us to build on the axis linking the Chinese and African markets, which is particularly strong in the mining and infrastructure sectors. Milton’s addition to the Beijing team and his extensive African banking and finance experience will benefit our clients in both China and Africa.”

Milton Osborn said:

“The growing demand for lawyers with cross-border transactional experience in the region, together with increased interest in investment into Africa from Asia, has made this an eminently sensible move. I look forward to contributing to the work being undertaken for our clients by the strong team we already have in Beijing.”

Rob Otty, managing director, Norton Rose South Africa said:

“Milton’s move to China is further evidence of the benefits and opportunities that our merger with Norton Rose Group brings to both our clients and our lawyers. Our clients’ ability – in both China and Africa - to leverage off Milton’s knowledge of the two markets is a compelling story in its own right. The opportunity for our lawyers to use their first-hand knowledge and understanding of our clients’ markets is a real plus.”

The Johannesburg and Beijing–based banking teams recently advised China Development Bank in relation to the financing of the acquisition of Metorex, a listed South African mining entity with assets in South Africa, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, by China’s largest platinum producer, Jinchuan Group.

Milton transfers to Beijing from a tier 1 ranked practice in South Africa for energy and natural resources, according to the recently published Chambers Global 2011 directory. His relocation to Beijing further develops the growing banking and finance practice in China, which was promoted two tiers in the latest edition of Chambers Global 2011.

Norton Rose Group is world leading in Projects and Energy, with a tier 1 ranking globally for both Projects and Energy: Power; and Projects and Energy: Mining and Minerals in Chambers Global 2011.

Milton’s relocation follows the appointment of Jing Wang as a corporate partner in Beijing.

For further information please contact:

Lorraine Lee, regional marketing and communications manager, Norton Rose Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3405 2324
lorraine.lee@nortonrose.com

Candice Collins, communications specialist, Norton Rose South Africa
Tel: +27 11 685 8630; Mob: +27 79 892 9369
candice.collins@nortonrose.com

Editors note