Steptoe Appoints Emerging Markets Funds Partner - Joe Whitfield Joins as Partner

For more information, contact Robert Harris (European Marketing Manager) +44(0)20 7367 8054, rharris@steptoe.com

(September 17, 2007, London) - Joe Whitfield has joined Steptoe & Johnson’s London office as a partner in the firm’s Corporate, Securities and Finance group. Joe’s practice includes funds and private equity, corporate (including mergers and acquisitions), and corporate finance and banking.

Joe has over 15 years of experience working in the emerging markets and particularly Africa. He has represented a number of leading international financial institutions, private equity and other funds, corporations and government agencies, on a wide variety of cross border equity and finance transactions throughout the emerging markets, including major acquisitions, funds, joint ventures and various infrastructure projects.

Before joining Steptoe & Johnson he was a founding Director of Africa Legal (the Africa division of South African law firm Deneys Reitz), and prior to that he was General Counsel at CDC Group Plc, the UK Government’s official development finance institution which invests capital in private equity funds focused on Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Steptoe & Johnson is currently advising on a number of arbitration, corporate, finance and regulatory matters throughout Africa including Cameroon, The Gambia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe, as well as on several pan-African projects.

Whilst Joe will continue to focus on Africa, he aims to broaden his horizons and said, “Steptoe’s longstanding investment practice in emerging markets, and its strengthening commitment to this area, were key factors in my decision to join the firm. They already have a strong interest in Africa, as well as Latin America, the Caribbean, CIS, China and India and I think there is great potential to build on the contacts there.”

Brendan Patterson, managing partner of the London office added, “We are looking to expand the London office’s offering in areas where we see real synergy. Joe’s practice fits very well with our Corporate team and their growing focus on emerging markets and also our Projects team based in Washington, DC.”