He’s been awarded the MBE and has been named one of Africa’s most influential young business leaders by Forbes, but what makes Josh Siaw’s rise to the top of the legal profession even more impressive is that he often had to do things the hard way.

He says: “I went to a challenging inner-city state school at a time when the legal profession was often seen as off-limits for people with my background. But I was very determined and went on to study law at King’s College, London, while working several part-time jobs to help pay my way through education.

“I didn’t have it easy, but it taught me the importance of working hard and appreciating the opportunities I’d been given.”

While studying, Josh got a training contract with Shearman and Sterling, spending time in London and New York before seeking a fresh challenge.

“The Firm has opened up incredible opportunities for me, but the secret is being able to capitalize on those opportunities by embracing new challenges and not being afraid to make suggestions.”

He says: “Being of Ghanaian decent, I always wanted to work for a firm that would enable me to do work in Africa.

“At the time, White & Case was renowned for being one of the strongest international firms in the region, so that was an important part of my decision to join the Firm.”

Josh joined White & Case in our London office in 2010 and quickly made his mark.

“The Firm has opened up incredible opportunities for me, but the secret is being able to capitalize on those opportunities by embracing new challenges and not being afraid to make suggestions.”

Josh was appointed as Director of the Africa Practice in 2012, following the Firm’s decision to take a more strategic and coordinated approach to its growth plans in Africa. In 2014, he was promoted to partner.

He explains: “Seven out of the 10 of the fastest growing economies in the world are in sub-Saharan Africa, so the potential is huge.

“Africa is also the fastest growing infrastructure investment destination in the world, has the single largest deposits of mineral reserves in the world and has the fastest growing population in the world.”

Unsurprisingly, such growth also attracts the world’s top international law firms, meaning competition continues to be fierce.

Josh says: “When I began my role as Director of the Africa Practice, we were strong in certain sectors (including EIPAF and Capital Markets) and in certain countries (such as Nigeria) but it was clear that, in order for us to fully realize the potential opportunities for the Firm in the region, we needed to have a more strategic and coordinated cross-practice, cross-jurisdictional approach to Africa.”

Josh’s role has been critical in raising the Firm’s profile in strategic and new growth markets in Africa where the Firm has had less experience and track record. He has also been instrumental in working with the various practice groups and offices across the Firm in identifying opportunities in Africa and developing a coordinated strategy for the region.

From 2014 Josh was based in the Johannesburg office where he played a key role in integrating the Johannesburg office into the Firm’s wider Africa practice, before moving back to London full time in 2017.

Several years on, our reputation in the African market continues to go from strength to strength, and Josh’s contribution has led to several personal awards, including being named among Britain’s Top 100 most influential black people by Powerlist.

In 2014, he was described by Forbes as ‘one of Africa’s most influential young business leaders’. He was also named Young Business Leader of the Year by the African Union.

Josh says: “What I’m most proud of is the significant part the Firm’s work has played in the transformation of several African economies, from helping to enable foreign direct investment to assisting on major sovereign financings and working on projects that are helping countries make the most of their resources.”

Our impact on the region hasn’t gone unnoticed and, in 2018, Josh was the only lawyer chosen to accompany the then UK Prime Minister Theresa May on a trade mission to Africa (see video below).

“When I was told about the trip, it took a while for me to realize it wasn’t a prank because the invite came out of the blue,” says Josh, “but a few days later I was with the Prime Minister flying out on a Royal Air Force plane touring several countries.

“The purpose of the trip was to strengthen alliances between the UK and Africa, which fits perfectly with the Firm’s goal of playing a significant role in promoting strong political, trade, finance and development relationships in the region.

“… one of the best bits of advice I could give anyone looking to build their career would be to focus on the difference you can make for others and the legacy you could leave, rather than personal success.”

Josh has since been appointed to the Global Britain subgroup of the UK Board of Trade, which is responsible for Britain’s trade and investment agenda in Africa.

As part of his responsibilities on the Board of Trade, Josh will, among other things, play a key role in advising the UK government on its upcoming and first-ever UK-Africa investment summit, which will be hosted by the Prime Minister in January 2020.

Josh was equally surprised when he was told he’d been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2019 Birthday Honours list in recognition of his services to law, UK legal services and young people, as well as his contribution to UK trade and investment in Africa.

He says: “The investiture will take place at Buckingham Palace in January 2020… my family and friends are very excited!”

Throughout his career, Josh has also won acclaim for his work on Black and Ethnic Minority (BAME) issues, but he’s particularly passionate about encouraging and promoting diversity in all its forms.

He says: “Of course, it’s really important for us as a Firm to make sure our people represent the diversity of the countries and cultures we operate in and, I’m happy to say, White & Case is already incredibly international, employing people from around 100 nationalities worldwide.

“The Firm also appreciates that having a truly diverse workforce goes far further than gender or race.

“As someone who went to an inner-city state school, I know the importance of making sure the Firm doesn’t miss out on the wealth of talent coming through all areas of society.

“That’s why I regularly go into schools to mentor and tell young people about my career and the opportunities available in law.

“Law as a profession can still be viewed as out of reach for people from my background, so if I can be a positive role model for young people, I’d be delighted.

“In fact, one of the best bits of advice I could give anyone looking to build their career would be to focus on the difference you can make for others and the legacy you could leave, rather than personal success.

“To me, it’s all about the ‘why’. What’s the purpose behind your work and who will benefit? That’s probably been my biggest motivation throughout my White & Case career.”