Finalists: Allen & Overy • Aluko & Oyebode • DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr • Fasken Martineau • Gabinete Legal Mocambique/PLMJ • Norton Rose Fulbright • Webber Wentzel

Bowman Gilfillan’s role advising hotel chain Marriott International on its acquisition of the Protea Hospitality Group in a deal worth 2bn rand (£115m) secured it the award for M&A Team of the Year. The transaction makes Marriott the largest hotel chain in South Africa.