Corporate/M&A | Global

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.

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr is highly regarded for its handling of major M&A transactions in South Africa. Additionally, the firm is sought out for its counsel on corporate restructurings and shareholder rearrangements. With strength in depth emanating from its Cape Town and Johannesburg offices, CDH possesses an excellent track record in the mining, consumer goods and financial services sectors. The team regularly assists domestic and multinational clients with high-value transactions, often taking on deals with cross-border elements. The firm offers additional experience in real estate and telecoms, and frequently acts for dual-listed companies and investment funds, and on black economic empowerment (BEE) initiatives.

ENS houses a large corporate group with a deep bench of experienced lawyers and an excellent reputation in South Africa. The firm plays a key role in market-leading transactions across various industries, including mining, insurance and technology. The department also maintains an enviable client list in the banking, telecom and publishing sectors, as well as being a notable presence in the private equity market. The team's expertise also covers corporate restructuring and black economic empowerment (BEE) transactions and investments. The firm's comprehensive multi-jurisdictional capabilities are ably supported by the ENS network.

Webber Wentzel regularly features on some of the most complex and noteworthy transactions in the region, and maintains its prominent position at the forefront of the South African market. The firm leverages the expertise and strength of its deep bench of specialist practitioners in conjunction with its ongoing Linklaters alliance. The team frequently represents multinational clients and handles cross-border mandates, with special expertise in the financial services, food and drink, mining and telecoms sectors. The group maintains solid teams in both Johannesburg and Cape Town. It additionally offers extensive black economic empowerment (BEE) experience.

DLA Piper rises in the rankings due to its growing market share of top-end domestic and cross-border mandates. The corporate team represents a range of major international investment funds and corporations in cross-border transactions in sectors such as consumer goods, manufacturing and financial services. It provides guidance on the full spectrum of transactions and corporate advisory work, encompassing joint ventures, capital raisings, mergers and demergers. Clients of the Johannesburg office also benefit from its ability to leverage the strength of the greater DLA Piper network, particularly the Africa network comprising law firms in 19 other jurisdictions.

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.

White & Case is a well-recognised international law firm with a growing corporate presence in South Africa. The M&A department has a particularly impressive following of clients in the mining industry, with additional areas of strength including real estate, financial services and technology. It provides the full gamut of transactional corporate services, covering acquisitions and disposals, as well as corporate structuring and joint ventures.

Baker McKenzie is a recognised player in the South African corporate law market, with experience handling major transactions. The team is ably supported by the firm's expansive international network in the management of high-stakes cross-border mandates. In addition, the firm is experienced in corporate reorganisations, capital raisings and navigating the country's regulatory regime. Its lawyers also possess notable expertise regarding transactions in the manufacturing, mining, technology and financial services sectors, with further experience acting for PE and venture capital funds.

CMS' South African corporate department features a robust team which is adept at handling a wide range of corporate transactions. The firm counts a whole host of recognisable names under its belt, including entities from the mining, retail and telecoms industries, in addition to further strength in the shipping, financial services and energy sectors. Alongside its activity advising on acquisitions and disposals, the team leverages its transactional experience to act on fund formations and black economic empowerment (BEE) transactions.

Norton Rose Fulbright has an experienced corporate team covering a wide range of domestic M&A matters in South Africa. The firm's lawyers typically assist clients from the mining, financial services and insurance industries, and have significant experience advising on cross-border deals.