By Brooks Igo
(Sept. 10) – Dallas law firm White Wiggins & Barnes is expanding its footprint beyond the U.S.
The oldest minority-owned law firm in Dallas announced recently that it has opened an office in Johannesburg, South Africa and established an affiliation with a prominent law firm in Lagos, Nigeria.
The firm will represent clients in entertainment, emerging market development, international dispute resolution and regulatory compliance matters.
“When the firm was founded 25 years ago, it represented a new frontier in regard to African American law firms focused primarily on corporate matters,” Barnes says. “The opening of our offices in Lagos and Johannesburg represents yet another frontier. As far as we have been able to determine, we may be the first African American-owned law firm to actually expand globally.”
Barnes and Nnamdi Anozie – two of White, Wiggins & Barnes’ newest partners – have connections to the firm’s newest locations. When the two attorneys joined White & Wiggins in May, they had plans to grow the Dallas firm’s international presence, particularly in Africa.
While he was at Thompson & Knight, Barnes helped train the legal staff at PetroSA, South Africa’s state-owned oil and gas company. He also has a strong working relationship with Tope Adebayo LLP, the firm’s new affiliate partner. Barnes was counsel on an international arbitration with the Lagos law firm last year.
Anozie is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Nigeria. He says the new affiliate relationship with Tope Adebayo “brings new meaning to work from home.
“I’m excited because [White Wiggins & Barnes] is a law firm that not only accepts my culture but has an independent interest in doing business on the continent,” Anozie says. “Our affiliation with [Tope Adebayo] enhances our ability to be effective on the ground in Nigeria and across the continent, particularly in the regulatory space.”
The Dallas firm already works closely with leading African and internationally-known artists and producers in the entertainment industry. They currently have three projects in pre-production or under contract.
“We are exploring infrastructure projects related to the film, music and television industry,” Barnes says. “While South Africa has abundant facilities and resources, the Nigerian market is still underserved when it comes to facilities.”
Barnes adds that his team has developed expertise in cryptocurrency and hemp, two areas with emerging business opportunities and legal issues.