The Legal 500

The established leader in South Africa with 41 dedicated tax professionals, ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) provides an ‘innovative’ and ‘superior quality of service’ across all tax disciplines, including international tax, VAT and customs, and transfer pricing. Clients commend the firm’s industry knowledge, in particular the financial services sector, in which it acts for many major offshore banks. Gerhard Badenhorst is singled out as the ‘leading specialist’ in complex VAT issues, with the firm having a ‘slight edge’ over competitors on indirect tax matters. The ‘excellent’ Cape Town director Robert Gad is commended for his ‘technical and commercial expertise’, while Peter Dachs ‘balances the big and small picture’ with ‘business relevant skills’. The commercial and practical Bernard du Plessis is also recommended, while Ana-Celia Mendes is ‘technically one of the best corporate tax advisors around on South Africa and international tax’.

Bowman Gilfillan has a strong background in M&A and capital markets tax structuring. Even so, with the presence of the seasoned Wally Horak, the firm has exceptional expertise in international tax issues, including in the fund management and private equity areas. The firm has a fine local and international client base, which includes major names such as Standard Bank. Alan Keep is another leading practitioner, while tax litigation specialist Johan Kotze recently joined from DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr.

Despite the recent departure of Patrick McGurk to Werksmans Attorneys, DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr retains a strong senior echelon with the arrival of the experienced corporate and finance transactions specialist Ludwig Smith in 2010. The department has an even mix of structuring and opinion work, alongside litigation issues. It represents many of the major banks and insurers in South Africa, as well as a number of key listed corporates. The firm recently advised ArcelorMittal on the tax issues relating to a R7bn empowerment transaction. Eminent figure Emil Brincker is ‘one of the best’ thanks to his ‘technical knowledge’, ‘in-depth experience’ and good contacts with the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

Deneys Reitz Inc’s tax practice is built principally around the seasoned Ernest Lai King, who is ‘very good on corporate tax advice’ according to clients. The firm is particularly adept on corporate and finance transactions, including BEE deals and restructurings. The firm’s pre-eminent figure Kevin Cron is a corporate and finance specialist, with extensive experience of tax issues in this segment.

Webber Wentzel is ‘professional’, ‘innovative’, adopts a ‘solutions-orientated approach’, and has a ‘well-balanced team’. The practice is widely regarded to be the leader in the tax elements of funds formation and private equity buyouts. The team recently worked on the formation of a new private equity fund for ABSA Bank. Michael Honiball is commended for ‘offshore tax advice and structuring’ and ‘exchange control’, while Ian McKenzie (‘excellent’, ‘practical’, ‘to the point’), Brian Dennehy (‘always available’, ‘hands on’, ‘formulates answers clearly’) and qualified chartered accountant Mark Linnington are also recommended. The tax dispute resolution team under Patricia Williams is also making an impression.

Buoyed by the arrival of Patrick McGurk (‘one of the best tax advisors around’) from DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, Werksmans Attorneys’s tax reputation and department continues to grow. The department is ‘exceptional’, with a ‘prompt’ and ‘proactive’ service, which delivers ‘easy to understand’ and ‘concise’ advice. The firm recently advised Clover on a capital restructure and conversion of preference shares. Ernest Mazansky is an ‘outstanding tax practitioner’ with ‘exceptional knowledge of his subject’, while Doelie Lessing is ‘commercially aware’ with ‘good business acumen’.

Glyn Marais is recommended for structured finance transactions, with Richard Glyn having an impressive record in advising on the tax elements of such deals. The firm represents numerous financial institutions and large corporates, both on domestic and multi-jurisdictional structures and transactions. Clients include ABSA Bank, NedBank, Investec, FirstRand, Growthpoint and Bravura Equity Services.