The Legal 500

The clear leader in the tax sector, ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs)’ ‘excellent team’ is ‘proactive’ and displays ‘industry and commercial knowledge’. A go-to adviser for many of the large South African and international financial institutions, it has been increasingly busy with disputes and advice on international tax, transfer pricing and human capital matters. Pan-Africa and China-related matters have also kept the practice active. Peter Dachs is one of the market’s most prominent tax advisers, particularly on international tax issues. Robert Gad provides ‘excellent commercial and technical advice’, and Gerhard Badenhorst is a leading adviser on indirect tax matters.

Bowman Gilfillan is ‘high quality’, ‘sensible’ and ‘pragmatic’, and has genuine capabilities in most areas of tax but particularly leads the way on M&A and capital markets work. The team recently advised Marsh on acquiring Alexander Forbes’ insurance broking assets in seven jurisdictions. Barry Garven is commended for his ‘technical knowledge’ and ‘market knowledge’, ‘years of experience’, and ‘people skills’. Alan Keep is ‘excellent’, and Wally Horak is a leading international tax law specialist.

DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr is acknowledged as a leader in advising the financial services sector, and is ‘outstanding’, ‘extremely responsive’ and ‘technically excellent’. The firm is also commended for its strengths in corporate tax, structured finance and tax litigation, and also has a strong focus on mining and natural resources work. Emil Brincker is ‘technically outstanding’ and has ‘in-depth industry knowledge’.

Webber Wentzel is ‘excellent’ and ‘good value for money’, and has a particularly fine record in international tax, M&A and tax litigation. Clients include leading financial institutions, private equity houses and listed companies. Michael Honiball and Anne Bennett, who has ‘excellent technical knowledge’, are recommended for international tax matters. Mark Linington is a leader in the private equity space and Patricia Williams handles tax disputes. Brian Dennehy recently joined Standard Bank.

Werksmans Attorneys’ excellent standing in the market is largely down to the presence of the highly experienced Ernest Mazansky, who has good support from Doelie Lessing and Patrick McGurk. The team recently advised MerTech Group on tax aspects of a private equity investment and the creation of a short-term insurance business.

Glyn Marais represents major South African banks, such as Absa, NedBank and Investec, as well as a number of real estate entities including regular client Growthpoint Properties. Experienced practitioner Richard Glyn is widely acknowledged as a technically accomplished tax expert.

Norton Rose South Africa (Incorporated as Deneys Reitz Inc) has a strong focus on banking and finance-related work, such as advising on tax aspects of debt restructurings and shari’ah-compliant structures. The team also has substantial experience in advising clients in the renewable energy industry. Andrew Wellsted is ‘practical’, ‘commercial’ and ‘consistently delivers quality tax advice’.