The Legal 500

Bowman Gilfillan’s ‘excellent’ department focuses on insolvency, bankruptcy and healthcare disputes, as well as good knowledge in construction and infrastructure disputes. Senior litigator Tim Gordon-Grant and Greg Higgins are key figures; Jason Smit is ‘a born litigator’, and can ‘creatively manoeuvre through the dispute resolution process’ with a ‘cool temperament’; and James McKinnell and Mandisi Rusa are also recommended.

DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr has excellent form in major litigations and arbitrations across a variety of industries, and it enjoys good standing among blue-chip corporates. The team has been acting for Sasol Group and Vodacom Group in a series of substantial cases, and has been representing British American Tobacco for over a decade in smoking-related product liability claims. Department head Pieter Conradie is renowned for his tactical awareness and client-friendly approach. Sam Oosthuizen, who regularly litigates on behalf of financial institutions, is ‘well prepared’ and ‘very business-minded’, and ‘never leaves a stone unturned’. Jonathan Witts-Hewinson is also recommended.

ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs)’ Johannesburg and Cape Town offices field a ‘highly rated’ and ‘very substantial’ team of 23 directors and over 30 associates. Key lateral hires in recent years, including Robert Scott from Deneys Reitz Inc, Armando Aguiar from Bowman Gilfillan and, most recently, Nikita Lalla from Webber Wentzel in May 2011, have contributed to the firm’s growing litigation prowess. It recently represented Gold Reef City in a successful defamation action against M-Net and Carte Blanche in the South Gauteng High Court. Cape Town’s ‘exceptionally thorough and hardworking’ John Zieff leads the practice, and Sue Hayes is also highly regarded.

Norton Rose South Africa is the market leader in insurance and mining litigation, and also has the depth of expertise at senior and junior level to handle broader commercial litigation. Clients note the ‘good teamwork’ and ‘highly professional level of service’, and regard it as the ‘pre-eminent firm in professional indemnity cases’. Recommended partners include the ‘professional’ Michael Hart; Donald Dinnie, who is recommended for his medical malpractice and construction liability expertise; John Neaves, for policy coverage matters; the ‘excellent’ Rob Otty; Tony Hardie, who is ‘highly regarded in the insurance industry’; Aslam Moosajee, who is ‘highly knowledgeable on banking matters’; Pierre Naude, for his experience in aviation insurance litigation; and commercial litigator Jeffrey Kron.

Webber Wentzel’s ‘highly professional and top-class attorneys’ make it ‘first port of call’ for many clients, particularly in banking litigation but also more generally. It successfully acted for Mobile Telephone Networks (MTN) in a complaint to the regulator concerning alleged anti-competitive behaviour. ‘Excellent strategic thinker’ Stuart McCafferty provides ‘excellent service’, and Nick Alp has ‘extraordinarily deep and comprehensive knowledge’. ‘Very knowledgeable’ insurance expert Daniël Le Roux and David Scholtz, who has ‘massive experience’, are also highly recommended.

Werksmans Attorneys has developed its dispute resolution practice into one of its strongest departments, particularly in banking and mining litigation, as well as insolvency disputes. Department head and ‘hardworking strategist’ David Hertz recently acted for Gold Fields Operatons in a R13bn action brought against it by Rand Gold & Exploration Company. Des Williams is also highly recommended, as is insolvency expert Eric Levenstein.

Dispute resolution remains a core area for Knowles Husain Lindsay Inc, which has a particularly strong record in insurance and insolvency litigation. Errol Knowles is a renowned litigator, as are Mohamed Junaid Husain and contentious insolvency expert Ian Lindsay.

Bell Dewar is closely associated with the mining and resources sectors, but has also developed a fine reputation in the construction, aviation and media industries. Rakhee Bhoora, Nic Roodt and Tania Siciliano are recommended.

Though still closely associated with the construction and engineering sector, Eversheds has broader dispute resolution expertise. Brian Biebuyck acted for Transnet in an engineering dispute relating to the collapse of a shiploader at the Port of Saldanha in 2006. The firm also acted in arbitration proceedings relating to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the Gautrain project. Dave Adams and Jane Andropoulos are also recommended.

Fluxmans is recommended for general commercial litigation and insolvency disputes. Colin Strime and Jones Atunes are recommended.

Glyn Marais handles numerous liquidation cases, as well as agriculture, mining and real estate disputes. Although relatively small, the practice is capable of acting in cross-border mandates, including recently representing a client in a large arbitration. Cape Town’s Craig Assheton Smith heads the team.