The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Webber Wentzel is a second tier firm,

Webber Wentzel’s ‘excellent’ team has ‘applicable experience at partner level’ coupled with ‘detailed technical research at junior level’. The practice’s gradual transformation from a borrower-oriented practice to a more lender-driven one has given it experience and strength across leveraged and syndicated financings, securitisation, and a growing reputation in high-yield debt. It recently represented Absa Capital and a syndicate of lenders on the refinancing of facilities provided to the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Practice head Johan de Lange is ‘very astute’, ‘commercial’ and ‘easy to work with’; ‘superb lawyer’ Johann Scholtz is ‘an expert in his field’; and debt capital markets and securitisation specialists Karen Couzyn and Kathy Shepherd are also recommended.

Within Competition, Webber Wentzel is a first tier firm,

Webber Wentzel’s ‘absolutely brilliant’ and ‘top-quality’ department regularly advises on mergers and behavioural competition issues, and in litigation. It represented Wal-Mart in its proposed R17bn acquisition of Massmart, and acted for British Airways/Comair in a major abuse of dominance case. Robert Wilson, who ‘understands the nuances of competition law’, and the ‘pragmatic’, ‘business-oriented’ and ‘intellectually astute’ Martin Versfeld jointly head the practice. Senior figure Lesley Morphet,Desmond Rudman and Daryl Dingley are also recommended.

Within Corporate and M&A, Webber Wentzel is a first tier firm,

Webber Wentzel has ‘a vast number of excellent lawyers’, and is a leader in the private equity buyout space. The team recently advised FirstRand and Momentum in the R18bn sale of Momentum to Metropolitan, which involved an exchange for new shares. The firm also acted for Wal-Mart on its headline bid for Massmart. Key individuals include the ‘very polished’ and ‘solutions-driven’ Christo Els; the ‘unfailingly professional’ Johannes Gouws; the ‘extremely bright’ Colin du Toit; and Stephen Meltzer, who has ‘great business acumen’.

Within Dispute resolution, Webber Wentzel is a first tier firm,

Webber Wentzel’s ‘highly professional and top-class attorneys’ make it ‘first port of call’ for many clients, particularly in banking litigation but also more generally. It successfully acted for Mobile Telephone Networks (MTN) in a complaint to the regulator concerning alleged anti-competitive behaviour. ‘Excellent strategic thinker’ Stuart McCafferty provides ‘excellent service’, and Nick Alp has ‘extraordinarily deep and comprehensive knowledge’. ‘Very knowledgeable’ insurance expert Daniël Le Roux and David Scholtz, who has ‘massive experience’, are also highly recommended.

Within Intellectual property, Webber Wentzel is a second tier firm,

Webber Wentzel’s impressive array of senior IP partners give it real credibility in both Johannesburg and Cape Town for commercial and transactional IP work. The team recently advised on all IP aspects of Wal-Mart’s proposed acquisition of 51% of Massmart; its standalone IP clients include Specsavers and News International Limited. Johannesburg-based Lesley Fitton and Bernadette Versfeld are recommended, as is Leanne Mostert in Cape Town.

Within Investment funds, Webber Wentzel is a first tier firm,

Webber Wentzel is a leader in the private equity space, with a strong focus on mining and infrastructure investments. The group recently advised Decorum Capital Partners on establishing NAMF II mining fund, and acted for African Infrastructure Investment Managers on the closing of African Infrastructure Fund 2. Other clients include Actis, Ethos Private Equity, TRG Management, Chayton Capital, New Africa Mining Fund and Investec Private Equity. John Bellew and Nicole Paige are pre-eminent in the field.

Within Labour and employment, Webber Wentzel is a second tier firm,

Clients commend Webber Wentzel’s ‘excellent knowledge and service’. It has a particular strength in employee benefits matters, and represents three of South Africa’s ‘Big Four’ banks including Standard Bank, for which it acted in a substantial retrenchment dispute. It also advises major mining companies. Pamela Stein provides ‘high-quality advice’ and has ‘in-depth knowledge of agreements’. Nick Robb and Claire Gaul are also highly recommended.

Within Mining, Webber Wentzel is a first tier firm,

Webber Wentzel’s track record coupled with an array of eminent figures make it a go-to firm for matters ranging from M&A to health and safety. The team delivers ‘advice to the highest standard’ and draws together a variety of foreign-qualified, multilingual lawyers. It recently advised Vale on its $1.13bn offer to buy South African copper producer Metorex. Mining M&A specialist Bruce Dickinson, ‘good draughtsman’ Manus Booysen, regulatory specialist Peter Leon, ‘invaluable’ health and safety expert Warren Beech, and Rita Spalding are all recommended.

Within Projects and infrastructure, Webber Wentzel is a first tier firm,

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’.

Within Shipping, Webber Wentzel is a first tier firm,

Webber Wentzel provides ‘an excellent level of service’ and is ‘a first-class maritime law firm in South Africa’. Already recognised as a leader in casualty work, the firm has also attracted a growing number of instructions from owners and P&I clubs in ship arrests; traditionally it has acted for the arresting party. It also has a strong ship finance team. Gavin Fitzmaurice is ‘extremely easy to work with’ and also ‘exceptionally knowledgeable’; Patrick Holloway is ‘excellent’ and provides ‘constructive solutions’; Andre Bowley is ‘hardworking’ and ‘efficient’; and Marius Diemont is ‘a tremendous asset’.

Within Tax, Webber Wentzel is a second tier firm,

International tax structuring and M&A are pillars of Webber Wentzel’s ‘highly experienced’ and ‘very well respected’ tax department. Michael Honiball heads the practice, which further strengthened its international tax credentials by recruiting Anne Bennett from Deloitte in January 2011, where she was head of international tax in South Africa. Clients also highlight the tax structuring advice and management incentive schemes expertise, particularly in the private equity space, where Mark Linington is highly recommended. Also recommended are Brian Dennehy, who advised Wal-Mart on tax aspects of its bid for Massmart, and Patricia Williams, who leads the tax disputes practice. Ian MacKenzie retired from the partnership in 2011 but remains available on a consultancy basis.