Season 14 Episode 29
Phetheni Nkuna on operational excellence in African legal services
16 July 2026 · 42:51 min
In this episode of Business Talk, Michael Avery speaks to Phetheni Nkuna – Chief Operating Officer at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr about how major African law firms are evolving beyond tradition to meet rising client expectations. Nkuna unpacks why operational excellence, cross-border integration and… leadership development are now central to sustainable success, and how firms must balance legal expertise with commercial insight, efficiency and responsible use of technology.
The conversation explores the pressures shaping the profession, from regulatory complexity and AI disruption to client demands for value, diversity and seamless service across jurisdictions. Nkuna also shares her perspective on where economic momentum across Africa is translating into legal work, and what will ultimately distinguish law firms that scale meaningfully from those that struggle to adapt.
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