Andrew Skipper, Partner and Head of Africa, Hogan Lovells

Andrew currently heads the Africa practice of Hogan Lovells, a global law firm with offices in more than 45 countries, including 11 offices in the USA. In this role Andrew spends much of his time on the continent, including recent visits to Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa, where he oversees the development of the Johannesburg office. He divides his time between managing some of the firm's largest clients and developing relationships with African businesses, law firms and government contacts. In leading the Africa practice, Andrew is committed to pursuing a policy of understanding, operating in, investing in and respecting Africa.

Andrew was educated at Rugby School and then University College, Oxford, where he read Greats, with a focus on language and ancient history. This is where his passion for the Arts was born. In 1985, he joined Lovell White & King in London, and became partner in 1995. He has led the commercial and wider corporate groups globally and was on the global executive committee for 10 years, overseeing one of the largest combinations in the firm's history, between Hogan & Hartson and Lovells in 2010.

The combination of Andrew's professional career, work in Africa and appreciation of the arts has created a deep admiration and respect for African art and culture, across various artistic forms. This has led to his current position on the National Advisory Board of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. In addition, for 8 years he was a trustee of the Royal National Theatre Foundation, an independent trust set up to support the development and sustaining of the National Theatre in England; a position from which he has recently stepped down. Andrew also spends much time in Northern Portugal, from which many Lusophone connections in Africa have emerged, especially in Mozambique and Angola.

As well as his philanthropic work with the Royal National Theatre Foundation, Andrew enjoys supporting various charities privately, including providing funding for the Rare Breed Survival Trust (having himself been a breeder of Tamworth pigs, which are an endangered breed); contributing to the establishing of a Classics fellowship in honour of George Cawkwell, his tutor at University College, Oxford; and to his old school, Rugby. Recently, Andrew has also taken on the sponsorship of a female university student in Mozambique to see her through to graduation.

Andrew is a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the City of London Solicitors Company. He is also a member of the Lowtonian Society, a centuries old senior lawyers' society, and of the Naval & Military Club in St James, London.