End of an era for 158-year-old law firm in South Africa
South Africa’s 158-year-old law firm Webber Wentzel has unveiled a new logo, website, and corporate identity.
This change marks the end of an era, as it formally moves away from its exclusive alliance with the international law firm, Linklaters.
The refreshed brand, which takes effect following the conclusion of the alliance on 1 November 2026, which the firm said places Webber Wentzel’s name and identity at the centre of its operations.
The firm has removed the “in alliance with Linklaters” wording and pink branding that have been part of its logo for more than a decade.
Webber Wentzel and Linklaters announced that they had mutually agreed to end their formal alliance, which began in 2013, following significant changes in the African legal market.
However, the separation does not mean the two firms will stop working together.
They have maintained a professional relationship for approximately 60 years and said they would continue collaborating on cross-border legal matters where doing so serves their clients’ interests.
The end of the agreement also does not signal a reduction in Webber Wentzel’s South African operations or its presence in the local market.
Under the exclusive alliance, international work from South Africa was closely connected to Linklaters, which generally referred South African legal matters to Webber Wentzel.
With the agreement now over, Webber Wentzel can work with a broader range of international law firms, including those that compete directly with Linklaters.
It will also have greater flexibility to recommend international legal partners based on the specific requirements of individual clients, rather than relying on an exclusive relationship.
This effectively returns the firm to a non-exclusive referral model, allowing it to build relationships with different international practices as its clients’ needs evolve.
In announcing the refreshed identity, Webber Wentzel said the changes were not about altering the firm’s underlying character, but rather reflecting its history, people, and future ambitions.
New era
The refreshed branding features clean, forward-focused typography and a modernised palette. The new core look aligns seamlessly with this tech-first, digital-architect identity.
“We have not changed who we are. We have refreshed our visual identity to put the institution, and the people within it, at the centre of our brand,” the firm said.
“Webber Wentzel is an African institution known for exceptional lawyers doing exceptional work. Work that supports individuals and organisations shaping Africa’s future.”
The firm said its identity was built on generations of accumulated judgement, knowledge shared between colleagues, and a collective standard of legal work.
“What has not changed is our people, our values, and the way we approach our clients’ mandates. Our brand reflects who we are: an institution that is rooted in its past while fully focused on the future.”
The firm also noted that the new identity will focus on transformation, technology, and expanding its work across the continent.
This follows another structural change earlier in 2026, when Webber Wentzel separated its alternative legal services and legal technology division into a standalone subsidiary called Webber Wentzel Fusion.
Webber Wentzel said the move reflects the changing nature of the legal industry, where technology and alternative service models are increasingly becoming part of how legal work is delivered.
Webber Wentzel was founded 158 years ago in 1868 and is now one of South Africa’s longest-established law firms.
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