Biography

Andrew Skipper is a commercial lawyer of 35 years standing. During his career at Hogan Lovells, he has taken on many senior roles, including head of the global corporate practice, and also served on the firm’s international management committee for 10 years. He is now Chair of Africa Practice and is highly recommended for his broad knowledge of African matters. He believes the continent an integral driver of the firm’s global ambitions and chairs the Africa business on the 4 key pillars of understanding, investing, operating and respecting those we work with. This is with a view to developing business in mutual partnership throughout the continent. Andrew is a regular contributor to broader African issues. Following the UK Africa Investment Summit in 2020, he became a member of the UK government’s Africa Investors Group and is now its co-chair. This group was set up to encourage trade and support investment to and from Africa. Andrew is also a member of the Council of the Royal Africa Society (RAS) and chairs its governance and nominations committee, and sits on the advisory board of the South Africa Chamber of Commerce in the UK. Andrew is a member of the working group on legal services for the UK-Nigeria Economic Development Forum (EDF). As an advocate of the arts, Andrew was a trustee of the Foundation of the Royal National Theatre in the UK for a number of years and is now vice chair of the advisory board of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington. He is also on the advisory Board of the 1-54 Art Fair, which holds events in Africa, the UK and US. He is a private collector of modern and contemporary African Art and supports a number of events in this space. Andrew is a regular speaker and writer on African affairs, promoting an understanding of African business and culture, including hosting his A perspective podcasts. He won a Lifetime Achievement Award as a Commercial Lawyer in Africa from South Africa Professional Services Association (SAPSA) in 2020.