Dispute resolution Tier 1

Werksmans Attorneys has an outstanding record in domestic and cross-border litigation and arbitration. The firm's commitment to dispute resolution has resulted in it achieving additional prominence in specific areas such as business crimes and investigations, constitutional and administrative law and tax disputes. It has landed a series of headline engagements in the constitutional and administrative law field. Chairman of the firm David Hertz is widely regarded as one of the premier litigators in South Africa, while Des Williams provides further senior-level gravitas in litigation and international arbitration. Department head Corlett Manaka is well-regarded for constitutional and administrative law, having represented clients in a series of landmark cases.

Banking and finance Tier 2

Werksmans Attorneys' established and extensive practice has made a further impression in acquisition and leveraged finance, including private equity related financings. Structured finance, securitisations and debt capital markets are also strong areas, while distressed debt deals are a growth area for the team. Richard Roothman leads the team and is highly rated for DCM, structured finance, preference share fundings and acquisition finance. Danny Andropoulos is also widely recognised for acquisition and leveraged finance, preference share fundings and distressed debt.

Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Werksmans Attorneys remains at the forefront of listed company deals, though is highly rated for both public and private M&A. he firm advises an impressive number of blue-chip South African businesses along with a series of multinationals. The highly-rated Kevin Trudgeon  leads the commercial department, while Gerhard Johannes heads the corporate M&A group. David Gewer is another key figure in the team, a regular adviser to Bidvest among other notable clients. Director Danielle Magidson joined the firm from Hogan Lovells (South Africa) in October 2019.

Competition Tier 2

Werksmans Attorneys has a fully-rounded competition practice with extensive experience in mergers, market inquiries, prohibited practices and competition litigation. It has a particularly fine record in alleged abuse of dominance cases before the Competition Commission and Competition Tribunal. TMT is a key sector for the team. Price-gouging investigations and buyer power prohibitions are growth areas, while cartel engagements remain key for the group. The particularly stable team is led by the highly rated Paul Coetser. Rudolph Raath is an emerging talent in competition litigation, including prohibited practices matters.

Employment Tier 2

Werksmans Attorneys' sizeable team covers employment, health and safety, and pensions. It has a particularly established record in disputes and transaction-related matters, including outsourcing arrangements. Much of the practice centres on multinationals with South African operations, often dealing with executive terminations, employee-related disputes and the restructuring of local operations. Department head Anastasia Vatalidis is highly rated for employment engagements related to corporate transactions and restructurings.

Mining Tier 2

Werksmans Attorneys has a well-developed mining law and regulatory practice, coupled with a consistently high performing mining-focused M&A team. Mining disputes has been a long-term forte for the firm and this has increased in line with the Mining Charter and related administrative disputes over granting of prospecting and mining rights. Business rescue is another key area. The firm has an expanding list of clients, in part thanks to the presence of mining law and regulatory specialist Chris Stevens. Stephan Lochner and David Gewer are key names in mining M&A.

Projects and infrastructure Tier 2

Werksmans Attorneys has achieved great prominence in the infrastructure segment, notably toll roads, rail, serviced accommodation and other headline projects. The firm is also equally adept in the energy space, included embedded generation projects and projects linked to South Africa's coal baseload IPP procurement programme. Moreover, it is achieving a greater market share of engagements outside of South Africa. Department head Chris Moraitis is highly rated for infrastructure projects. Deon Griessel provides further projects expertise, including extensive EPC and O&M agreement experience.

Real estate Tier 2

Werksmans Attorneys advises some of the most prominent real estate developers and financial institutions in the market. The practice has an extensive record in the hotel and leisure, retail and commercial real estate sectors. This includes both investment and development engagements. At a more granular level, it has been at the forefront of real estate fund formation, including Section 12J investment structures in South Africa. The eminent team is spread across its Johannesburg, Cape Town and Stellenbosch offices. Fátima Rodrigues and Hendrik Kotze lead the department from Johannesburg and Stellenbosch respectively.

Tax Tier 2

Werksmans Attorneys has a wide-ranging practice that has made a notable impression in corporate and capital restructurings. M&A, private equity and tax disputes are also core to the practice. Its client base centres on an impressive number of South African businesses, South African arms of multinationals, financial institutions and investment funds. Department head and chartered accountant Ernest Mazansky is a leader in corporate tax planning, while Michael Honiball heads the international tax team. Doelie Lessing has impressed in corporate reorganisations and M&A.

Intellectual property Tier 3

Investment funds Tier 3

Werksmans Attorneys covers the private equity, hedge funds and pension funds segments, representing both investors and managers. Impact investing is a growth area for the team, which remains notably active in collective investment schemes. It represents a large number of South Africa based funds, along with those located in other African and European jurisdictions. Cape Town's Shayne Krige has some 20 years' experience in the investment funds and private equity segment, including 12 years in Paris where he had a significant focus on private equity and hedge funds.