Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr > Cape Town, South Africa > Firm Profile

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr > The Legal 500 Rankings

South Africa > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr‘s ‘exceptional‘ corporate and commercial team is ‘extremely efficient‘, with ‘deep knowledge of deals structuring‘ and ‘extensive experience in M&A‘. Ian Hayes, who heads up the practice, is highly regarded for his expertise in advising on the full range of commercial and corporate matters, often for clients in the retail, telecoms, and mining sectors. Willem Jacobs is sought after for his excellent track record in M&A, and is well versed in handling transactions with cross-border elements. Jaco Meyer‘s workload includes assisting with the acquisitions and disposals of companies and businesses in South Africa. Roxanna Valayathum garners praise for her ‘exceptional responsiveness and commitment‘. Shameegh Allen brings experience in corporate restructurings. Justine Krige left the firm in October 2023.

South Africa > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Led by Rishaban Moodley, the dispute resolution team at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr is highly regarded for its expertise in advising on complex, cross-border litigation. Moodley is well known for assisting with forensic investigations, and the ‘very professional‘ Tim Fletcher often handles commercial litigation. Corné Lewis is ‘an exceptional lawyer‘, who is experienced in mining, and insurance law matters. Lucinde Rhoodie is ‘extremely knowledgeable in her field of expertise and her advice is always pragmatic and commercially orientated‘; Anja Hofmeyr is ‘commercially astute‘; and Jackwell Feris is a key contact for domestic and international arbitration. Claudette Dutilleux is ‘a brilliant attorney with an in-depth knowledge of the law‘. In 2024 Mongezi Mpahlwa left the firm and Sentebale Makara recently joined the team.

South Africa > Employment Tier 1

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr’s team has ‘deep practical knowledge of employment law‘, and is headed by Aadil Patel, who is well-versed in assisting private and public sector employers with a broad spectrum of employment law issues. Hugo Pienaar is highly regarded for his expertise in employment-related litigation, especially strike management disputes, while Fiona Leppan‘s workload includes acting for mining sector clients in inquiries arising from workplace accidents. Anli Bezuidenhout specialises in individual labour law. Asma Cachalia departed the firm in March 2025.

South Africa > Real estate Tier 1

The ‘professional‘ real estate team at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr has  strength in advising on prominent residential property developments, and is equally adept at handling high-profile financing work in the space. Muhammad Gattoo, who heads up the practice, stands out for his work the sector, while. John Webber is well-versed in handling land development and use conversion mandate. High-value deals have been prominent Fatima Gattoo‘s recent workload; and Mike Collins regularly advises prominent commercial banks on their finance activities. Simóne Franks is noted for her strength in assisting with property-related transfers and notarial matters, and Bridget Witts-Hewinson‘s practice also takes in conveyancing work.

South Africa > Tax Tier 1

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr‘s ‘well established and experienced‘ tax and exchange control practice ‘covers the whole spectrum of taxation‘, and has been kept busy representing clients in the energy, financial services and telecoms sectors, to name a few areas. Practice head Emil Brincker‘s ‘years of experience in dealing with tax disputes makes him the tax lawyer that you need on your side in dealing with tax disputes and tax litigation‘. Director Gerhard Badenhorst draws on his extensive experience as a chartered accountant to advise on complex VAT matters, and Howmera Parak specialises in international tax and exchange control issues. Jerome Brink fields expertise in tax controversy and dispute resolution, corporate tax, transfer pricing and tax residency cases, and Stephan Spamer‘s workload includes advising on tax structuring and the tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions.

South Africa > Banking and finance Tier 2

Led by Mashudu Mphafudi , the banking and finance practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr has an excellent track record in assisting state-owned enterprises and prominent banks with cross-border transactions, often involving equity and debt capital markets matters; Ludwig Smith has particular expertise in the latter area. Mbali Khumalo is well versed in representing borrowers, investment banks, issuers and development finance institutions in a broad range of transactions. Kuda Chimedza‘s practice takes in project and corporate finance matters, and Michael Bailey brings experience in advising on private equity transactions. Jess Reid left the firm to take up an in-house position in July 2024.

South Africa > Competition Tier 2

At Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, the ‘exceptional‘ competition team continues to handle a steady workflow of market inquiries across a wide range of sectors, as well as assisting with the competition law aspects of high-value M&A deals. Practice head Chris Charter is well versed in representing clients in the banking, retail, financial services, telecoms, and construction sectors, while the ‘exceptional‘ Susan Meyer regularly advises healthcare entities on a broad range of competition law issues, including merger notifications and exemption applications. Albert Aukema fields expertise in all areas of competition law, while competition litigation forms a key pillar of Mmakgabo Mogapi‘s practice.

South Africa > Construction Tier 2

Led by Clive Rumsey, the construction group at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr has an excellent track record in advising on high-profile construction disputes and non-contentious front-end work, and regularly acts as counsel to energy sector entities. Andrew van Niekerk is well known for his expertise in projects and infrastructure law, and is a key name for public procurement issues. Khaya Mantengu brings experience in arbitration, and Joe Whittle  handles engineering litigation. Krevania Pillay left the firm in December 2023, and Sentebale Makara joined the group in February 2024.

South Africa > Investment funds Tier 2

Under the leadership of John Gillmer, the ‘very strong‘ investment funds team at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr handles fund formation, structuring, and investment matters for investors and managers, Regulatory mandates form a key pillar of Gillmer’s practice, and Wayne Murray is adept at fund formation issues. Other key members of the team include Nuhaa Amardien, who has notable expertise in fund structuring work.

South Africa > Mining Tier 2

Led by Vivien Chaplin, the mining and minerals team at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr reports an uptick in mandates focusing on environmental and regulatory issues. Chaplin is a key contact for clients in the manganese and aluminium mining arenas, and has an excellent track record in handling offtake and supply agreements and regulatory matters. Allan Reid is a highly regarded practitioner in the space, with three decades of expertise in mining and minerals law. Fiona Leppan advises on health and safety matters, and Rachel Kelly is active on mining-related corporate work. Burton Meyer has a strong reputation for advising on mining disputes.

South Africa > Projects and infrastructure Tier 2

Oil and gas work forms the backbone of Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr‘s energy practice, and the team has a solid track record in advising on IPP procurement and construction contracts, PPAs, project finance and M&A relating to large-scale and embedded power generation projects. The group is jointly led by Andrew van Niekerk, who specialises in infrastructure matters, and Megan Rodgers, who has extensive expertise in upstream oil and gas matters. Project finance work forms a key pillar of Johan De Lange‘s practice, and Tessa Brewis advises sponsors, developers and investors on project development and M&A matters pertaining to renewable energy projects. Tsele Moloi brings experience in handling offtake agreements and PPAs for public and private sector entities.