Dispute Resolution | Global

One of South Africa's legal powerhouses, Webber Wentzel houses a broad disputes practice that excels in commercial matters as well as constitutional and public law litigation. The firm's examples of truly ground-breaking work include cases concerning class actions, government broadcasting and tax policy. The group handles commercial disputes across a range of industries, including construction, media, healthcare, financial services and mining, with a number of sector-specific investment fund clients. Its cross-border work rounds off the firm's abilities, with considerable experience handling disputes touching on the African continent and further afield, including international arbitration.

Werksmans is a market-leading law firm with an impressively broad practice which encompasses considerable commercial litigation expertise, with further experience in cases concerning IP, tax and business rescues. The team acts for both public and private sector entities from sectors as diverse as banking, energy, mining, heavy industry and telecommunications, with public clients including provincial government bodies and regulators. It is a founding member of the legal alliance Lex Africa, which provides the firm's clients with an extensive network of allied law offices across the continent.

Bowmans houses a well-regarded team and a rounded contentious practice. The firm has long-standing experience in a broad spectrum of commercial disputes, with the team showing notable expertise in negligence claims, public procurement disputes, issues relating to the South African Revenue Service and construction disputes. In addition to its litigious prestige, the group maintains excellent standing for its ADR practice, with notable experience in arbitrations across Africa. Its offices throughout the country and beyond give it excellent reach and high visibility in such cross-border disputes, which include matters in the natural resources sector.

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr is a prominent player in significant disputes in South Africa, acting for local and global clients. In addition to commercial litigation, the firm also advises on contentious corporate investigations and white-collar criminal matters. The group's clients are drawn from sectors as diverse as energy and natural resources, telecommunications, retail, gaming and financial services, with highly regulated industries a particular area of expertise. The team possesses expertise in alternative dispute resolution methods such as arbitration and mediation.

ENS is experienced working with international clients and law firms, with strengths across Africa and notable successes in the mining, transportation and financial services sectors. The team is as comfortable dealing with regulatory cases as with commercial disputes. It continues to bolster its bench with litigators adept in a range of practice areas, and the team includes lawyers with considerable expertise in construction, insurance and banking disputes. Other cases of note for the firm concern administrative law and shareholder disputes, and its impressive client following also includes healthcare service providers, educational bodies and corporate executives.

This high-profile multinational law firm has a well-established presence in South Africa. It has a particularly developed client following among the jurisdiction's financial institutions, with a swathe of domestic and international clients derived from the private equity, construction and mining sectors, among others. The disputes group is well positioned to assist with cases stemming from insolvency and business rescue proceedings, as well as instances of corporate fraud and professional negligence, with further experience in corporate and commercial mandates. The firm has deep expertise across its network of offices, in addition to its capabilities in South Africa. Allen & Overy's 2024 merger with US law firm Shearman & Sterling will further add to the team's cross-border capabilities.

Adams & Adams is a notable South African law firm with a growing presence in the disputes market. The group is particularly active representing domestic clients, including significant names in the banking and telecoms industries, with a developed practice acting for government agencies, municipalities and other public sector clients. The team possesses expertise in both single-plaintiff and class action disputes, as well as judicial review proceedings, handling constitutional matters, tax and construction disputes, as well as all manner of contractual cases. The firm maintains offices in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, with associate offices across the African continent.

Baker McKenzie is an international law firm with a solid presence in South Africa. The team is familiar handling a diverse range of disputes, from environmental authorisations to shareholder issues and matters related to tender processes. The firm is additionally notable for its involvement in disputes resulting from or related to insolvent entities and companies under business rescue, and is sought out for its skills in sectors such as aviation, mining, engineering, construction and financial services. Mining and power have been particularly fruitful sources of work, where the firm has been able to show its domestic and international strengths.

Norton Rose Fulbright is a multinational law firm with a global profile which attracts a range of well-known international clients, notably in the financial services and energy sectors. From retail outlets and power companies to banks and mining houses, the firm's clients include major names in the country and its neighbours in Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to general commercial disputes, the group is well versed in advising on regulatory compliance and medical malpractice disputes, as well as dispute avoidance and class actions.