Firm Profile > Bowmans > Johannesburg, South Africa

Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

Bowmans continues to be at the forefront of cross-border M&A, with a number of mandates coming from foreign investors. The practice is a growing force in Africa cross-border deals, thanks in part to its mounting number of offices throughout the continent. Private equity is another key forte for the prestigious team, and in addition the firm has worked on a series of headline FMCG deals. Ezra Davids and Charles Douglas are leading figures in cross-border M&A involving South African entities, while John Bellew is hugely experienced in private equity deals and strategic M&A.

Competition Tier 1

Bowmans has continued to cement its market leading position in South Africa and Africa-wide competition matters and has strongly focused on developing key relationships with competition regulators around Africa. It is also at the forefront of merger control, tapping into the firm's outstanding record in cross-border M&A. Derek Lötter co-heads the practice alongside Tamara Dini in Cape Town, and has a formidable record in big-ticket competition matters and is highly rated across the continent; he led the team that represented PepsiCo in its acquisition of Johannesburg-listed Pioneer Food Group, a deal that required notification in multiple jurisdictions, including in South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria and to the COMESA Competition Commission. Claire Reidy is a key figure in cartel and abuse of dominance cases, while Heather Irvine is another prominent name in the market.

Employment Tier 1

Bowmans has one of the largest teams in the market, furnished with some of the most experienced employment specialists in South Africa. The team has experienced growth in transactions, investigations and employee risk issues, and has added executive compensation specialist Martin Hopkins to the Johannesburg group. Robin Carr is a prominent figure in employment litigation, Graham Damant is hugely experienced in the management of industrial relations, restructuring and retrenchments, transfers of business and dismissals. Karen Fulton is a recognised expert on labour law the financial services industry contexts and Cape Town's Chris Todd is at the forefront of business transfers and collective bargaining.

Projects and infrastructure Tier 1

Bowmans has a large and stable team, offering high levels of specialisation across the projects and infrastructure sphere. The firm has an outstanding record in power and renewables, ports, transport and logistics, and benefits from specialist teams in front-end construction, environmental and regulatory matters. While being at the forefront of the South African market, it has landed a series of headline engagements for projects elsewhere in Africa.  Anton Barnes-Webb and Patrick Hirsch are leading figures in project finance. Andrew van Niekerk provides specialist front-end infrastructure expertise and Daryn Webb has an outstanding record in South African and Africa-wide power and infrastructure projects.

Shipping and transport Tier 1

Bowmans has one of the largest teams in South Africa dedicated to the shipping and transport sector. The group is principally located in Cape Town and Durban, and has seen further growth in aviation following the arrival of Heather Manson to the Johannesburg office in 2019; aviation specialist Claudia Jackson also joined from Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa Inc in 2020. Shipping expert and department head Craig Cunningham is at the forefront of the sector, acting on numerous landmark disputes, including headline casualty cases. Andrew Pike has emerged as a leading force in ports and terminals work, including advising on the proposed Durban Cruise Terminal. Mark van Velden is a leader in charterparty matters and Jeremy Prain is a rounded and versatile shipping specialist.

Banking and finance Tier 2

Bowmans remains a formidable player in the South African banking and finance market. It continues to be at the forefront of acquisition finance, major corporate restructurings and other mainstream conventional financings, and has achieved greater prominence in growth segments such as sustainable finance. The firm frequently represents South Africa's biggest lenders, numerous blue-chip corporates and a number of state-owned enterprises. Structured bonds and bank funding are also fortes for the team. Ulrike Naumann leads the team, which includes preference share funding specialist Jan Kruger and Jason Wilkinson, who has extensive domestic and cross-border financing expertise. Jackie Leggett is recommended for leveraged finance. Senior figure Mark Kyle joined from Webber Wentzel in October 2020.

Dispute resolution Tier 2

Bowmans operates a sizeable team spread across its Johannesburg and Cape Town offices. The department is split into highly specialised groups, focused on key areas such as commercial disputes, class action cases, restructuring litigation and shareholder disputes. Public law cases are another forte for the team and international arbitration is another growth area. Tim Gordon-Grant is highly rated for big-ticket commercial disputes, Adam Anderson is noted for class actions and Cape Town's James McKinnell is recognised for restructuring-related and financial services cases. Employment disputes specialist Chris Todd leads the team.

Investment funds Tier 2

Bowmans has a fast-developing funds structuring practice for Africa-focused private equity funds. The fund formation team is tightly integrated with the tax group, notably Wally Horak in Cape Town, a prominent figure in private equity tax structuring. The firm's increasing presence across Africa has afforded it greater knowledge and experience in regulatory considerations for funds. John Bellew leads the private equity sector group; he handles a strong flow of both fund formation and transactions and is close to a range of South African and international private equity houses. Cape Town partner Joshua Janks provides further senior level experience in private equity funds.

Tax Tier 2

Bowmans has significantly expanded its team in recent years, resulting in a multi-skilled and versatile team. With both lawyers and accountants in the group, it continues to impress in M&A and private equity-related tax matters, while being more than credible in disputes, international tax and debt restructuring. The group represents a multitude of international clients, prominent domestic businesses and a range of private equity houses. Barry Garven has a fine record in international tax, transactions and financings, while Wally Horak is a key name in international tax, including cross-border M&A and transfer pricing. Managing partner Alan Keep remains prominent in transaction structuring and corporate reorganisations. Patricia Williams is further noted for disputes and transactional work.

Construction Tier 3

Bowmans has a well established front-end and contentious construction practice that has achieved significant market share in South Africa and across the continent. The firm has a healthy mix of infrastructure, energy, mining and transport-related engagements. The firm has impressed in a series of headline infrastructure projects in South Africa and beyond, including the Beitbridge Border Post modernisation PPP project in Zimbabwe. Andrew van Niekerk is a leader in front-end construction in South Africa and in other African jurisdictions. Tumisang Mongae is an experienced figure in contentious construction, while Stephanie McDonald is another key non-contentious specialist. Spencer Naicker departed for Russell McVeagh in New Zealand.

Mining Tier 3

Bowmans  continues to impress in mining sector corporate transactions, and is also an emerging player in mining regulatory, environmental law and health and safety matters. Charles Young leads the team and has a fine record in mining sector M&A for clients such as Harmony Gold Mining, Rio Tinto and African Rainbow Minerals. The regulatory and environmental side of the practice is led by Wandisile Mandlana and Claire Tucker. Jason Wilkinson is recommended for mining finance.

Real estate Tier 3

Bowmans represents a large number of banks, developers, and listed and unlisted property funds, in financing acquisitions, disposals and the development of commercial, industrial and retail real estate in South Africa and beyond. It has an extensive record in lease and development lease agreements for both landlords and tenants, and frequently conducts real estate due diligence investigations linked to corporate transactions. Department head Craig Schafer and Samantha Saffy are highly rated for development, investment and financing engagements.