Africa’s Most Trusted Legal Leaders Shaping the Future, 2026

January 2026 The

rtune Leader Africa's

Most Trusted

Legal Leaders

Shaping

the Future,

2 26

Oxenham

Director, Primerio International

Editors Insights

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elcome to Africa's Most Trusted Legal Leaders Shaping the Future, 2026. In this special edi on, we recognize outstanding legal professionals whose vision, exper se, and integrity are redefining the legal landscape across the African con nent.

Our cover feature highlights John Oxenham, Founder and Managing Partner of Primerio Interna onal, a trailblazer in compe on and regulatory law. With a dis nguished career spanning Johannesburg, Washington, D.C., and mul ple African jurisdic ons, Oxenham has built a truly pan-African legal pla orm anchored in principle, technical excellence, and strategic foresight. His leadership philosophy combines strong African roots with globally recognized standards, placing emphasis on ethics, accountability, and specialist legal exper se.

Primerio Interna onal has established itself as Africa's first dedicated pan-African compe on law bou que, delivering seamless, cross-border legal solu ons across Southern, East, West, and North Africa. Under Oxenham's leadership, the firm integrates legal, economic, and regulatory perspec ves while fostering diversity, nurturing talent, and mentoring the next genera on of African legal professionals.

As African markets grow more interconnected and regulatory frameworks con nue to evolve, Oxenham's work underscores the importance of principled and strategic legal leadership. His contribu ons play a vital role in shaping policy, guiding businesses, and suppor ng sustainable economic growth across the con nent.

Through his vision, African legal exper se is posi oned to be both globally compe ve and deeply responsive to the region's unique regulatory reali es.

EDITORIAL TEAM Editor-in-chief Sco Edward Sales & Marke ng Manager Lily Hayler Business Development Manager Lauren Green, Millie Butler, Rosie Jonas Business Development Execu ve Victoria Ma hews, Ashley Tucker Art and Design Director Paul Brown Research Analyst Robert Smith

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This edi on celebrates leaders like John Oxenham, whose influence extends beyond individual cases to help define the future of law and commerce in Africa. ward Scott Ed Editor-in-Chief The Fortune Leader

For any editorial queries, Write us at editor@thefortuneleader.com

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Cover Story

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Contents

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Contract Law Essen als Every Entrepreneur Should Know

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From Scandal to Strategy: Preven ng Corporate Crime to Protect Your BrandTop Legal Resources Every Freelancer Should Master

Shaping Africa's Competition Law Future

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C O V E Director, Primerio International

R S T O R Y

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As Africa's markets become more interconnected and regulatory scrutiny deepens, competition law has emerged as one of the most influential forces shaping business strategy across the continent. At the centre of this evolution stands John Oxenham, Founder and Managing Partner of Primerio International, a firm that has redefined how competition and regulatory law is practised in Africa.

With a career spanning Johannesburg, Washington, D.C., and multiple African jurisdictions, Oxenham has built a pan-African legal platform grounded in principle, technical excellence, and a clear strategic vision.

Johannesburg Origins and the Foundations of Discipline Born and raised in Johannesburg, Oxenham's professional journey is deeply influenced by his South African roots. His formative education, which included time in England and later at the University of Cape Town, played a defining role in shaping his character and approach to the law. Exposure to different educational systems instilled resilience, discipline, and focus qualities that would later prove essential in navigating complex regulatory and cross-border legal environments.

These early experiences also fostered an appreciation for both structure and adaptability. For Oxenham, law was never simply about doctrine; it was about understanding how rules operate in real economies and how institutions evolve over time.

Building Expertise at Webber Wentzel Oxenham began his legal career at Webber Wentzel, one of South Africa's most prominent law firms. Specialising in competition law, he entered the field at a time when South Africa's antitrust regime was gaining prominence and

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During this period, Oxenham developed a strong technical foundation in merger control, restrictive practices, and abuse of dominance. More importantly, he gained early exposure to the strategic dimension of competition law how regulatory decisions can reshape industries, influence investment, and alter market behaviour.

A Global Perspective: Washington, D.C. Seeking to broaden his expertise,

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Oxenham moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked as a foreign antitrust adviser at Howrey LLP. Immersed in one of the world's most sophisticated antitrust environments, he was exposed to complex investigations, advanced economic analysis, and high-stakes cross-border matters.

This experience proved transformative.

It provided Oxenham with a global benchmark for regulatory practice and reinforced the importance of independence, rigorous analysis, and credibility with enforcement agencies.

Crucially, it also highlighted the absence of comparable, integrated competition law platforms in Africa an

COVER STORY

enforcement agencies were asserting their authority.

insight that would later inform his entrepreneurial vision.

Returning Home: Partnership and Entrepreneurial Drive On returning to South Africa, Oxenham became a partner at Webber Wentzel and later co-founded a specialist practice focused on competition law and complex disputes. His reputation continued to grow, but so did his conviction that Africa's legal market needed a new model one capable of addressing cross-border regulatory challenges in a coordinated and consistent manner Africa's economies were integrating, regional competition authorities were becoming more assertive, and multinational clients were seeking clarity across multiple jurisdictions. The traditional, fragmented approach was no longer sufficient.

The Founding of Primerio: A Pan-African First In 2014, Oxenham developed the concept of Primerio as a dedicated pan-African competition and regulatory boutique.

Two years later, the firm commenced trading as Africa's first specialist pan-African competition law firm a bold and unconventional move in a profession often dominated by fullservice firms.

Primerio's structure was deliberately designed for cross-border work. By 2021, the firm had established its operational headquarters in Johannesburg, supported by regional hubs in Mauritius and Kenya. Today, Primerio advises across Southern, East, West, and North Africa, as well as before regional authorities such as COMESA, ECOWAS, and CEMAC. Core Principles: African Roots, Global Standards, Genuine Diversity Primerio's growth has been underpinned by a clear set of values. The firm is grounded in African roots, ensuring that advice is informed by local regulatory realities and enforcement cultures. At the same time, it operates according to global standards, drawing on international best practice in competition, investigations, and regulatory advisory work.

A defining feature of the firm is its commitment to genuine diversity. Primerio's teams reflect different legal traditions, languages, and cultural perspectives from across the continent.

This diversity is not symbolic; it enhances the quality of analysis and enables the firm to operate seamlessly across jurisdictions.

Advocacy is another cornerstone of the firm's identity. Primerio

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Africa’s Most Trusted Legal Leaders Shaping the Future, 2026

C actively engages in policy dialogue and regulatory development, recognising that sound frameworks ultimately benefit both markets and clients.

Africa's Evolving Regulatory Landscape Oxenham believes Africa is entering a decisive phase in its regulatory development. Competition regimes at both national and regional levels are becoming more sophisticated, with increased coordination and enforcement activity. Digital markets, platform economies, and data-driven business models are placing new demands on traditional competition law tools.

At the same time, there is a growing convergence of competition law, trade policy, and anti-corruption enforcement. Heightened scrutiny around bribery, money-laundering, and asset recovery has increased the global risk profile for businesses operating in Africa. Regulatory exposure is no longer confined to a single jurisdiction; it is increasingly cross-border and reputational.

Managing Cross-Border Complexity Primerio's approach to complex, multijurisdictional matters is built on strategic coherence. Each matter begins with a single, integrated strategy, executed across jurisdictions through coordinated teams.

Operating from regional hubs, the firm combines competition, regulatory, white-collar, and trade expertise with in-house economists and former regulators. Matters are centrally led, while trusted local counsel ensure alignment with domestic legal and enforcement nuances. Early risk assessment and proactive regulator

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engagement are critical elements of this model.

Leadership Philosophy: Specialist and Principled

damages and class action proceedings for cartel conduct. The case became a watershed moment in South African competition law, shaping jurisprudence on class actions and civil liability.

Oxenham's leadership philosophy is defined by focus and integrity. He has deliberately positioned Primerio as a specialist boutique, resisting expansion for its own sake. The firm concentrates on high-stakes competition, regulatory, investigations, and complex commercial work where it can deliver distinctive value.

The experience inspired Oxenham to author Class Action Litigation in South Africa, the first textbook on the subject, reinforcing his belief in litigation as a driver of legal development and access to justice.

Internally, Oxenham leads by example setting high technical standards, maintaining independence in difficult matters, and empowering younger lawyers with early responsibility. This approach has created a culture of accountability, excellence, and trust.

Mentorship is central to Primerio's operating model. Lean, partner-led teams ensure that associates work directly on complex cross-border matters and engage with regulators early in their careers.

Ethics and Integrity at the Core In areas such as competition enforcement, anti-corruption, and asset recovery, ethics are non-negotiable.

Primerio routinely advises on antibribery, anti-money-laundering, internal investigations, and asset recovery, including through global networks such as ICC FraudNet. The firm invests heavily in compliance frameworks and contributes to international initiatives like the ICC Antitrust Compliance Toolkit. Matters are carefully screened, conflicts rigorously managed, and instructions declined where independence could be compromised.

A Landmark Case That Shaped a Legacy One of the most influential matters in Oxenham's career was the South African bread cartel case, which led to the country's first major follow-on

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Mentorship and Building African Legal Talent

The firm actively promotes diversity and international exposure through exchanges, joint publications, and speaking engagements. Many of its younger lawyers are now recognised individually by international legal directories, reflecting the firm's commitment to building world-class African legal talent.

Looking Ahead: A Long-Term PanAfrican Vision Oxenham's long-term vision is for Primerio to remain the leading Africanrooted competition and regulatory boutique, while preserving the agility and independence that define it today.

Strategic priorities include deepening presence in key African markets, strengthening engagement with regional bodies, and continuing to invest in thought leadership and policy development. In an era of accelerating regulatory change, John Oxenham stands out as a legal leader shaping not only cases, but the very framework within which African markets operate.

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Contract Law Essentials Every Entrepreneur Should Know

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s an entrepreneur, contracts play a crucial role in business operations.

Whether you are forming a partnership, employing staff, or obtaining financing, the legal agreements you establish can have long-lasting effects on your enterprise. Familiarity with the fundamentals of contract law is vital for safeguarding your interests, preventing expensive legal conflicts, and facilitating seamless business processes. Below are the essential components of contract law that every entrepreneur ought to understand.

What is a Contract?

A contract constitutes a legally enforceable agreement among two or more parties, establishing reciprocal obligations. It is subject to legal enforcement, which allows one party to pursue legal remedies if the other fails to meet their obligations.

While contracts can be either written or verbal, written agreements are generally favored due to their clarity and the simplicity they offer in enforcement.

Essential Elements of a Contract For a contract to be valid, it must contain the following essential elements: Offer: A clear and unequivocal offer must be presented by one party.

Acceptance: The other party is required to accept the offer without any conditions.

Consideration: There should be an exchange of valuable items, which may include money, services, or goods.

Intention to Create Legal Relations: Both parties must have the intention for the agreement to produce legal effects.

Capacity: Both parties are required to possess the legal capacity to engage in a

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contract, which entails being of sound mind and of legal age.

Written vs. Oral Contracts Although oral contracts hold validity, written contracts are typically more enforceable and offer clearer documentation of the agreed-upon terms. A written contract aids in avoiding misunderstandings and serves as a formal record of the agreement.

Furthermore, it guarantees that both parties have a clear understanding of their responsibilities, deadlines, and expectations.

Breach of Contract A breach takes place when one party does not meet their contractual obligations. Typical causes of a breach include failure to make payments, inability to provide services, or not adhering to deadlines. When a breach occurs, the party not at fault may pursue compensation or demand specific performance, depending on the circumstances.

Termination Clauses A termination clause specifies the circumstances under which a contract may be legally dissolved. It is advisable for entrepreneurs to incorporate this clause into their contracts to establish a definitive exit strategy should the situation not proceed as planned.

Negotiation and Modification Contracts are not immutable. It is essential for entrepreneurs to take the initiative in negotiating contract terms to ensure they align with their requirements.

Furthermore, should circumstances evolve, both parties have the option to amend the contract; however, any changes must be documented in writing to hold legal validity.

Grasping the fundamentals of contract law is essential for all entrepreneurs. It guarantees that business transactions

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are legally valid and provides a framework for effectively managing any disputes that may occur. By creating welldefined contracts, entrepreneurs can safeguard their enterprises, reduce potential risks, and foster robust professional relationships.

FROM SCANDAL TO STRATEGY Preventing Corporate Crime to Protect Your BrandTop Legal Resources Every Freelancer Should Master

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candals that involve corporations can result in more than just financial losses; they can also ruin reputations that have been built up over the course of decades. Currently, when there is a greater emphasis on openness and accountability, scandals that involve corporations can result in more than just financial losses.

Corporate crime continues to be one of the most severe and pervasive challenges to the legitimacy of companies, and there is no doubt that this is the case. This problem involves a wide variety of activities, ranging from improper management of financial resources to violations of regulatory requirements. The good news is that companies can make the transition from being reactive to being proactive by implementing measures that discourage inappropriate activity before it escalates to a more serious level. The transformation that can be affected is what is described here.

The first thing that needs to be done to start the process of preventing criminal behaviour within businesses is to build a culture that places heavy emphasis on accountability and compliance. The fact that employees follow the signals that they receive from leadership makes it necessary for chief executive officers to demonstrate integrity and to take responsibility for the obligations that they assign to their staff. Several strategies are available to ensure that members of the organisation are aware of the ethical requirements that are expected of them. These strategies are designed to ensure that members are aware of the commitments that they are expected to fulfil. Codes of conduct, ongoing training, and open communication lines are some examples of these.

It is imperative that the evaluation of risks be not disregarded because it is yet another essential component of

prevention. Companies that conduct frequent audits of their operations and identify vulnerabilities are in a better position to eliminate gaps by filling them before they become liabilities. This is because they are in a better position to discover weaknesses. This enables the companies to close any holes in their operations before they become liabilities. Proactive oversight helps reduce the chance of unethical behaviour by monitoring financial transactions and evaluating the risks connected with supply chain operations. This can be accomplished in several different ways. A variety of approaches are available for achieving this goal.

It is essential for companies to treat compliance not as a simple obligation that consists of checking off boxes, but rather as a strategic benefit that can be leveraged to their advantage. Compliance is advantageous to companies for a variety of reasons, which is why it matters. Customers, investors, and partners are more likely to have faith in a brand when it has a reputation for being accessible and accountable to its stakeholders. This makes it more likely that other stakeholders will have faith in the brand.

Because of the trust that we have in one another, we can improve our position in the market and keep our resilience throughout the course of a longer period.

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The prevention of corporate crime is not only about avoiding controversies; it is also about protecting the equity of the brand. When it comes down to it, this is the most important aspect of the matter. Companies could safeguard their reputations and transform their integrity into a competitive advantage when they include ethical practices into their business operations. This is since companies have the power to generate a competitive edge by transforming their level of integrity.

Freelancers who work independently are afforded the foundation of security in the form of contracts that are draughted in a manner that is not only understandable but also uncomplicated. Freelancers can produce a clear definition of the project scope, payment terms, and intellectual property rights by making use of resources such as template agreements that they have purchased from reputable platforms or legal libraries. Achieving this goal is possible through the utilisation of the resources. Because they lessen the risk of misunderstandings, having detailed contracts is not only beneficial for a freelancer because they lower the likelihood of misunderstandings, but they also strengthen the freelancer’s capacity to effectively enforce commitments.

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When it comes to the process of conflict resolution, it is necessary to make sure that the availability of resources is not neglected. It is in the best interest of freelancers to educate themselves on arbitration contracts, mediation centres, and the procedures that are followed by small claims courts. This would be beneficial to them in the long run. Alternatives such as these, which offer procedures that are both time- and money-saving and cost-effective, can be utilised to resolve disagreements without resorting to drawn-out legal processes. This is possible because these alternatives offer alternative methods.

Individuals who are self-employed can not only protect themselves but also improve their professional status by acquiring expertise in the utilisation of these legal tools.

This is because they could acquire this expertise.

Independent workers can concentrate on their own personal development and creative aspirations when they have access to the resources they require and are certain that their legal basis is solid. This allows them to focus on their own personal progress and achievements.