Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+27 11 669 9000About
Provided by Bowmans
We have a strong record of acting on the most significant corporate and M&A transactions across the African continent. Our size and geographic spread combined with our breadth of skills, experience and good relationships with regulators enables us to handle large and time-critical transactions.
Our services include public acquisitions, private equity transactions, joint ventures, unbundlings and other investments and divestitures including public M&A (both contested and uncontested), and private M&As. We also have considerable expertise in the fields of privatisation and public-to- private transactions and have advised shareholders in becoming more active in the management of their companies. In South Africa, we have been involved in the structuring and implementation of complex black economic empowerment transactions.
We represent participants in transactions in virtually all capacities – purchasers, sellers, financiers, financial advisers, directors and shareholders. In most cases we project manage the entire transaction which includes conducting a legal due diligence investigation, providing strategic advice, negotiating terms, drafting documentation and assisting with the implementation of the transaction from a legal point of view.
We have also served as local counsel for a range of international financial institutions and corporates, as well as international law firms and merchant banks.
Chambers Review
Bowmans is a pre-eminent South African law firm that maintains a stellar corporate practice group, and one which plays a significant role in many of the region's largest transactions. The team represents a number of high-profile domestic and international clients and offers impressive cross-border capabilities, with a particularly prominent position in the manufacturing, insurance and consumer goods sectors across Sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, the department has significant experience in other major industries, including mining, telecoms, financial services and energy. Its lawyers also possess further experience assisting with corporate restructuring, black economic empowerment (BEE) transactions and unbundling mandates.
Work Highlights
- Bowmans advised MSC on the South African law aspects of its joint takeover of Mediclinic International.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"We really appreciate that Bowmans' lawyers take the time to get to know us as clients and understand our risk appetite. Their commercial awareness is one of the reasons we work with them frequently."
"I would specifically recommend Bowmans for black economic empowerment transactions."
"Bowmans offers an exceptional service. The team is responsive, commercially minded and has great market knowledge."
"We really appreciate that Bowmans' lawyers take the time to get to know us as clients and understand our risk appetite. Their commercial awareness is one of the reasons we work with them frequently."
"I would specifically recommend Bowmans for black economic empowerment transactions."
"Bowmans offers an exceptional service. The team is responsive, commercially minded and has great market knowledge."
Notable Practitioners
Ezra Davids maintains a stellar domestic and international reputation as one of South Africa's foremost experts in corporate law. His skills continue to be sought out by blue-chip clients for assistance with significant cross-border mandates.
"Ezra Davids is a stalwart and has a great reputation in South Africa."
"He is a very experienced corporate lawyer."
Charles Douglas attracts ample praise from market sources and has an established corporate capability in South Africa. He holds experience relating to an impressive range of mandates, including M&A and black economic empowerment transactions. He also regularly handles joint venture structurings. Based in Johannesburg, he co-leads Bowmans' M&A practice group.
"I endorse Charles Douglas' abilities and services. He is practical, careful, well informed and updated on the market's best practices and M&A law."
Charles Young rises in the rankings following an increased market presence. He regularly advises on M&A and asset transactions, as well as providing advice on commercial agreements. He is particularly well known in the mining sector, advising on cross-border acquisitions and share subscriptions.
Lerato Thahane maintains her standing in the rankings, with impressive support from the market. Often working for industrial clients, she draws upon her extensive experience to assist with domestic and cross-border acquisitions and disposals. She is also comfortable acting as local counsel to international firms operating in South Africa.
Ranked Lawyers at
Bowmans
South Africa
Members
Provided by Bowmans
Anne McAlister
Ashleigh Hale
Charles Young
David Anderson
David Yuill
Deon de Klerk
Dirk Wessels
Ian Kirkman
Ineke Brink
James Westgate
Jonathan Schlosberg
Joshua Janks
Julie Oppenheim
Lance Fleiser
Paul Hart-Davies
Ryan Wessels
Tholinhlanhla Gcabashe
Timothy McDougall
Clients
Provided by Bowmans
Ab InBev
African Rainbow Minerals
Alexander Forbes Group Holdings
Exxon Mobil
IBM
Oger Telecom
Old Mutual
Orange
Rio Tinto
The Standard Bank Group
Industries
Provided by Bowmans
Aerospace & Defence
Banking
Construction & Materials
Consumer Product Manufacturing
Education
Energy
Financial Services
Food & Drink Producers
Forestry & Paper
Industrial Engineering
Insurance
Mining and Metals
Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences
Real Estate Finance
Retail
Software & Computer Services
Technology, Hardware and Electronics
Telecommunications
Transportation
Utilities