The Legal 500

Bell Dewar has a fine heritage in infrastructure, power, mining and public private partnership (PPP) deals. Its work on the R3.7bn refinancing of South Africa’s N4 west toll road continues to draw praise. Lara Bezuidenhoudt is ‘experienced’ and ‘considered’, and Ashen Jugoo is ‘quick’ and ‘very helpful’.

Bowman Gilfillan is recommended for PPP and project finance, with clients giving the firm ‘ten out of ten’ for ‘professionalism’, ‘client interaction’ and ‘commitment to deadlines’. The team recently acted for Standard Bank on its $500m bridge financing of Konkola Copper Mines in Zambia. The firm is also acting for Tsela Tshweu Consortium as preferred bidder for the City Of Tshwana municipal offices PPP. Patrick Hirsch is ‘in a league of his own’, and Anton Barnes-Webb and Daryn Webb are also recommended.

DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr has an exceptional record in PPPs thanks to its close connections to government institutions in South Africa and the sub-Saharan region. The firm is also strong in project finance, including export credit agency (ECA) backed financings, with Joz Coetzer and Craig Whitley singled out for their expertise. The firm recently advised Group 5 on the R6bn financing of a solar power plant. Kieran Whyte and PPP specialist Claire Barclay are also recommended.

Dewey & LeBoeuf (PTY) Limited brings its global energy credentials to South Africa and has bulked up with some notable lateral hires, including finance specialist Wildu du Plessis and Chris Moraitis from Werksmans Attorneys; Moraitis has an ‘exceptional relationship’ with the South African Reserve Bank. The group has been instrumental in South Africa’s first wave of independent power projects (IPPs) and is taking this expertise to the wider sub-Sahara region: it recently advised the Ghana Grid Company on the financing of the national power grid system. Scott Brodsky is regarded by some as ‘the most experienced power purchase agreement adviser in South Africa’. Joseph Tato is recommended, but splits his time between New York and Johannesburg.

ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) created a distinct projects department in 2011, drawing together an impressive array of talent from across the firm. The team has a strong position in the power sector (including IPPs) in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, and also acts on numerous mining project financing mandates and PPPs. Highlights included advising Boteti Mining on development of the AK6 diamond mine in Botswana, and Nedbank Capital on the N1/N2 toll road project. Eric Le Grange heads the department, which also includes project finance specialist Biddy Faber, EPC expert Andrew van Niekerk and energy and rail specialist John Ferraz.

Norton Rose South Africa’s Jackie Midlane and Julian Jackson have been highly active in IPP matters. Jackson recently represented a South African developer in establishing a renewable energy facility in the Northern Cape. Gavin Noeth is also recommended.

Webber Wentzel is a major player in project finance and PPPs. Project finance expert Brigette Baillie has been advising the South African government on its renewable energy IPP procurement programme. Jason van der Poel is ‘thorough’, ‘diligent’ and ‘knowledgeable’.

Werksmans Attorneys’ loss of Wildu du Plessis and Chris Moraitis to Dewey & LeBoeuf (PTY) Limited deprived it of two key project finance specialists. Even so, clients report that the ‘excellent service’, ‘knowledge’ and ‘business acumen’ of the department remains. Senior figure Richard Roothman recently advised Absa Bank on the PPP for the design, construction and maintenance of five new prisons for the Department of Correctional Services.

White & Case LLP International Lawyers’ South Africa branch has done well to uphold its global reputation in project finance. Shamilah Grimwood advised key client Eskom on an IPP programme to procure up to 4,000MW of new base-load generation capacity in South Africa.