The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Bowman Gilfillan is a first tier firm,

Bowman Gilfillan’s ‘highly experienced lawyers’ are widely acknowledged as having leading expertise in acquisition and leveraged finance, project finance, derivatives and structured finance, as well as debt capital markets, particularly high-yield debt. In 2011, the team represented Rand Merchant Bank and Standard Bank in connection with acquisition financing of Shanduka Group’s acquisition of the business and assets of McDonald’s South Africa. Practice head Lionel Shawe is highly rated and his ‘technical expertise is among the best in South Africa’. Ulrike Naumann is also recommended.

Within Competition, Bowman Gilfillan is a first tier firm,

Well known for its transactional expertise, Bowman Gilfillan has also developed a market-leading cartels and litigation practice. The firm is representing SABMiller in ongoing litigation relating to the use of appointed distributors in exclusive territories and alleged abuse of dominance. Robert Legh, Derek Lotter and Jean Meijer show industry knowledge and technical expertise, and are recommended.

Within Corporate and M&A, Bowman Gilfillan is a first tier firm,

Bowman Gilfillan’s impressive resources and industry expertise attract numerous blue-chip corporate clients. It illustrated its international and cross-border credentials when it advised Pinault Printemps Redoute on the R12bn sale of Conforama France to Steinhoff International Holdings. The eminent Ezra Davids heads the practice, which also includes Rudolph du Plessis, who has ‘insight into the application of local law’ and has completed numerous deals for Standard Bank, as well as Carl Stein and Robert Cohen.

Within Dispute resolution, Bowman Gilfillan is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Intellectual property, Bowman Gilfillan is a second tier firm,

Bowman Gilfillan’s ‘excellent’ IP practice ‘provides clear and practical legal advice in a timely manner’, particularly for patents and trade marks. It represents many foreign clients. The highly regarded Darren Olivier and Debbie Marriott advised Nike on its measures to counter guerrilla marketing during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Leading IP figure Llewellyn Parker sadly passed away in 2011.

Within Investment funds, Bowman Gilfillan is a second tier firm,

Bowman Gilfillan impresses with its ‘excellent service’, ‘quick responses’, ‘excellent knowledge’ and ‘tailored advice’, and is recommended particularly for its expertise in collective investment schemes, including UCITS and mutual funds. London-based fund managers looking to distribute their funds in South Africa, or forming funds that are focused on sub-Saharan Africa, make up a large proportion of its client base. There has also been a line of recent work for Japanese REITs. Practice head Francisco Khoza is ‘outstanding and knowledgeable’.

Within Labour and employment, Bowman Gilfillan is a first tier firm,

The ‘exceptional’ Bowman Gilfillan grew its sizeable practice further in 2011 by absorbing boutique employment practice Hunter Law, including name partner and pensions and employee benefits guru Rosemary Hunter. The practice’s track record includes strike actions and major corporate retrenchments, as well as an active transactional practice. Highlights included acting for Pick n Pay Retailers in an industrial dispute, and advising Standard Bank on a retrenchment exercise. The firm also handles public sector employment matters. Department head Graham Damant is ‘one of the finest labour lawyers in South Africa’, with ‘the ability to challenge established thinking’. Karen Fulton and labour law authority and academic Chris Todd are also recommended.

Within Mining, Bowman Gilfillan is a second tier firm,

Bowman Gilfillan acts on some of the sector’s most noteworthy transactions. This included advising AngloGold Ashanti on its joint venture with De Beers to mine marine placer deposits around the world. It also advised Rio Tinto Mineral Development on its acquisition of a majority shareholding in South Africa’s Riversdale Mining. Department head Claire Tucker is a regulatory expert.

Within Projects and infrastructure, Bowman Gilfillan is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Shipping, Bowman Gilfillan is a first tier firm,

Based in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, Bowman Gilfillan remains one of the go-to firms for shipowners, P&I clubs and referrals from foreign law firms. The team provides ‘a high level of service’ and its partners have ‘a firm understanding of their objectives’ when it comes to ship arrests and casualties, as well as non-contentious matters. The group recently acted for Transnet in the long-running Alina II arrest case. Craig Cunningham is a clear leader in the field, and Jeremy Prain is an expert in contentious and non-contentious matters.

Within Tax, Bowman Gilfillan is a second tier firm,

Bowman Gilfillan had established a reputation for advising on tax aspects of M&A and capital markets, but the arrival of tax litigator Johan Kotze from DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr and customs and excise specialist Virusha Subban from ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) broadened its scope further. The firm acts for a range of multinationals and banks, including Standard Bank, which it recently advised on the structuring and implementation of a bancassurance agreement with Liberty Group. Alan Keep heads the department, which also includes renowned international tax expert Wally Horak.