Ms Jennifer Smit > Werksmans Attorneys > Johannesburg, South Africa > Lawyer Profile

Werksmans Attorneys
THE CENTRAL, 96 RIVONIA ROAD
SANDTON
JOHANNESBURG 2196
South Africa
Jennifer Smit photo

Work Department

Arbitration, Construction & Engineering, Dispute Resolution, Insolvency, Business Rescue & Restructuring

Position

Admitted in 2005 with well over fourteen years experience in general commercial dispute resolution and litigation.

Career

Jenny has been a partner at Werksmans for six years and has significant experience in insolvency law: liquidations, business rescues, insolvency enquiries; general contractual claims and recoveries both of a general commercial nature and a more specific construction and engineering nature; lease and property disputes as well as administration and review-related work in various sectors from mining to horse racing; execution steps including recognition of awards and foreign enforcement steps; and Jenny has extensive High Court and arbitration experience. She has been involved in several major arbitrations, including ICC, AFSA and private arbitrations.

Education

Jennifer was awarded a BA LLB from Rhodes University in 2002. Her academic achievements are extensive and include being on the Dean’s List for Outstanding Academic Achievement for three years running at Rhodes and being awarded a Georgia Rotary Student Program Scholarship to study in the United States for a year. Jennifer also completed the AIPSA Insolvency diploma course cum laude at the University of Johannesburg (2011).

Lawyer Rankings

South Africa > Construction

Jennifer Smit heads Werksmans Attorneys‘ construction and engineering practice, which draws upon the expertise of the firm’s mining and infrastructure and energy groups to assist contractors, sub-contractors and employers with contentious construction matters. Deon Griessel and Boitumelo Rammala are names to note.

South Africa > Dispute resolution

Werksmans Attorneys‘ ‘amazingly experienced‘ disputes team is ‘highly commended in cross-border litigation‘, and continues to handle a high volume of complex commercial disputes. Practice head Corlett Manaka ‘has vast litigation experience and knowledge‘, and is well versed in representing clients in aviation and commercial litigation, while Jennifer Smit advises on contentious construction matters, property disputes and prominent local and international arbitrations. Darren Willans specialises in pension fund litigation and insurance disputes. Rael Gootkin, who focuses on banking litigation, contentious insolvency matters and shareholder disputes, has ‘a formidable energy that takes no prisoners‘. Faith Sikhavhakhavha is ‘a seasoned litigator who always remains calm under pressure‘. David Hertz, Sarah Passmoor and Koketso Rapoo are key names to note.