The ALA aims to provide clients with the option of how their needs can best be met on specific matters, "be it through single matter management via the ALA or working individually with either firm".

The move comes after Bartier Perry and Logie-Smith Lanyon worked together informally on several matters, identifying shared values and a complementary culture, a statement to the media said.

After identifying this, the pair began having discussions on how to approach a more formal partnership, with the alliance model the preferred option “as it gave clients more choice”, according to Logie-Smith Lanyon managing partner Andrew Logie-Smith.

“We’ve seen a lot of consolidation in the legal market in recent years but I’m not convinced simply changing the stationery necessarily changes much for the clients,” Mr Logie-Smith said.

“I think we have both traditionally done a good job of attracting highly experienced partners but the ALA will also expose our younger lawyers in particular to even more opportunities to work on a range of diverse matters and transactions.”

Commenting further, Bartier Perry CEO Riana Steyn said the firms shared a parallel approach to client service.

“Both firms are seeing an increasing range of private, government and listed clients come to us given the consistent access they get to experienced partners, as opposed to having matters pushed down a leverage funnel,” she said.

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“In the last 18 months Bartier Perry has managed that growth through a number of lateral and internal partner appointments so we see the ALA as another important step in meeting our clients’ needs.

“While neither firm’s practice has traditionally been constrained by geography we also see distinct advantages in offering clients a broader pool of expertise to service increasingly complex transactions throughout the region,” she said.

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