The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) is a first tier firm,

ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs)’ sizeable team has connections to major local financial institutions including Standard Bank, Rand Merchant Bank and HSBC, for which it acts on leveraged finance, debt capital markets and bank regulatory matters. It also has a market-leading tax practice. The widely respected Sean Lederman and Roger Rudolph jointly lead the practice, in which Clinton van Loggerenberg, Diana Messerschmidt and Stephen von Schirnding are also recommended.

Within Competition, ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) is a first tier firm,

ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) has developed a market-leading behavioural competition and litigation practice, and acted for Massmart, Nedbank, Liberty Group and Tiger Brands in relation to an investigation by the Competition Commission into the retail and wholesale sectors. It also advised Massmart on its proposed R17bn acquisition by Wal-Mart. Lee Mendelsohn heads the department.

Within Corporate and M&A, ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) is a first tier firm,

ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs)’ ‘large team’ has ‘excellent depth of experience’. It acted for Massmart during its acquisition by Wal-Mart. Chairman Michael Katz has an ‘astute business and legal mind’, and is ‘ever present’ on major deals; Doron Joffe has ‘in-depth knowledge’ and is ‘excellent on the spot’; Koos Pretorius is ‘particularly experienced’ with ‘a great deal of practical know-how and contacts’; Jason Valkin is ‘very solid’; and Cecil Wulfsohn has ‘excellent business acumen’ and is ‘very approachable’. Stephen Lewis and Miranda Feinstein are also recommended.

Within Dispute resolution, ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Intellectual property, ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) is a third tier firm,

Transactional support is a substantial part of the IP practice at ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs), and the team performed due diligence for Metropolitan on the worldwide IP aspects of its merger with Momentum. Mike du Toit, Gaelyn Scott, Vicky Stilwell, and Stellenbosch-based Ilse du Plessis are recommended.

Within Labour and employment, ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) is a first tier firm,

ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs)’s nine-director team has an impressive following of local and international clients, as demonstrated by its representation of South African Airways’ board of directors in a claim for breach of fiduciary duty against the former CEO. It also acted for Bytes Technologies in the enforcement of a restraint of trade clause against an ex-employee. The highly recommended Stuart Harrison heads the department, which also includes Fritz Malan, Brian Patterson and Ross Alcock. The immensely well respected Susan Stelzner sadly passed away in 2011.

Within Legal market overview,

Otherwise, the market was relatively stable, with only a handful of senior lateral moves. ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) hired tax specialist Ernie Lai King and mining expert Otsile Matlou from Norton Rose South Africa, and also brought in senior shipping figure Michael Tucker from Fairbridges.

Within Mining, ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) is a third tier firm,

ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) has steadily developed its mining credentials in recent years and rounded out its team with the recent arrival of mining law expert Otsile Matlou and mining sector health and safety specialist Wessel Badenhorst. In addition to mining regulatory expertise it has a solid record in industry transactions, and recently acted on a series of deals involving Chinese acquirers.

Within Projects and infrastructure, ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Shipping, ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) is a second tier firm,

ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) has consolidated its position in the shipping sector following the arrival of the ‘top-drawer’ Tony Norton and a team including Kate Pitman from Garlicke & Bousfield, while Michael Tucker joined from Fairbridges. The practice is principally focused on owners and P&I clubs, and its clients include The UK P&I Club, The Standard P&I Club, Charterers P&I Club, Safmarine, Maersk Line and Unicorn. Janine Lee is recommended, along with the new hires.

Within Tax, ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) is a first tier firm,

ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) is particularly noteworthy for international tax structuring, and is also active in corporate tax and restructurings, and has a breadth and depth of expertise that sets it apart from its competitors. It recruited Ernie Lai King from Norton Rose South Africa in 2011, thereby deepening its capability on China-related transactions. It also recruited senior tax specialist Julie Pousson from BHP Billiton. Department heads Bernard du Plessis and Peter Dachs are renowned for their international tax expertise, as is Robert Gad. Gerhard Badenhorst is recommended for indirect tax issues, and the ‘practical’ Gary Vogelman ‘has good relationships with the relevant government departments’ and is ‘a lateral thinker’.