Corporate/M&A
Global Guide 2024 : South Africa
Band 2
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+27 11 535 8000About
Provided by Werksmans Attorneys
Werksmans' Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) team has in-depth experience in both public and private corporate mergers, as well as private equity and international/cross-border transactions. Our M&A lawyers boast an ever-evolving knowledge base that remains in step with changing economic and industry cycles, as well as legislative developments in fields such as taxation, competition law, environmental compliance and black economic empowerment.
Our team has represented numerous South African and international clients engaged in takeovers, reverse takeovers, corporate mergers, acquisitions, restructuring, hostile bids, privatisations and empowerment transactions. Since corporate finance and securities laws feature prominently in many corporate transactions, we also advise on new listings/flotations, delistings and issues of shares. Our M&A lawyers also deal with regulatory matters concerning the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), the Securities Regulation Panel and the South African Reserve Bank.
Our services include takeovers, mergers and acquisitions in both private and public markets, BEE transactions and due diligence investigations. We also have expert knowledge in matters of management/leveraged buyouts, private equity, privatisations, group restructuring and reorganisation, listings/flotations (primary, secondary and inward), stock exchange compliance and offers to the public, exchange control, and corporate finance and structuring.
Chambers Review
Werksmans Attorneys fields a sizeable corporate team with a well-established reputation, being particularly noted for its representation of major domestic and international clients in both the public and private spaces. The firm's impressive and diverse client roster comprises blue-chip corporations in the financial services, energy, manufacturing, mining and retail sectors. The team is experienced across a variety of corporate mandates, including asset sales, share subscriptions and black economic empowerment (BEE) transactions. Its lawyers also advise on transactions involving distressed companies and assets, operating in tandem with the firm's market-leading business rescue team.
Work Highlights
- Werksmans advised Dometic Sweden on the acquisition of Cadac.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The Werksmans' practitioners I work with are very commercially savvy and practical. They focus on the material issues and useful ways to anticipate, prepare for and address problems."
"The team at Werksmans Attorneys provides pragmatic commercial options."
"They have delivered excellent performance and results over a number of years. The lawyers are brilliant, practical and technically astute."
"The Werksmans' practitioners I work with are very commercially savvy and practical. They focus on the material issues and useful ways to anticipate, prepare for and address problems."
"The team at Werksmans Attorneys provides pragmatic commercial options."
"They have delivered excellent performance and results over a number of years. The lawyers are brilliant, practical and technically astute."
Notable Practitioners
Gerhard Johannes is a highly regarded lawyer who advises on a range of corporate deals and finance mandates, including BEE transactions, share acquisitions and PE investments. He is regularly sought out by clients in fields such as IT and logistics.
Acting as head of the firm's commercial department, Kevin Trudgeon advises on a range of corporate transactions covering major cross-border acquisitions and investments. He also has significant experience leading M&A deals involving distressed companies and assets.
David Gewer continues to act for a range of clients in mining, logistics, manufacturing and financial services. He has considerable experience advising on transactions in a range of contexts, including inbound and cross-border investments, as well as distressed M&A and share subscriptions.
"David Gewer is an excellent attorney. He has a good way of getting to the heart of a matter and then providing workable solutions to the problem."
"David is an extremely knowledgeable and practical corporate lawyer who anticipates and addresses complex issues with abundant skills. He's also very responsive, detail-oriented and a pleasure to work with."
Elliott Wood maintains a broad corporate and finance practice, including regular instructions on M&A and share subscriptions. He is notably active advising clients in the telecoms sector.
"Elliott Wood is hard-working and a deal-maker."
Ranked Lawyers at
Werksmans Attorneys
South Africa
Members
Provided by Werksmans Attorneys
Aarthi Ramdhin
Adam Pyzikowski
Danielle Magidson
Deon Griessel
Elliot Wood
Fatima Rodrigues
Herman van Niekerk
Janene Meiring
Jannie de Villiers
Kashvi Lalla
Head of Department
Lloyd Abraham
Lureshan Naidoo
Nozipho Bhengu
Paul Tindle
Pierre le Roux
Pieter Steyn
Robert Driman
Seroshan Padayachy
Shayne Krige
Stephan Lochner
Taryn Potter
Willie Oosthuizen
Ze'ev Blieden