Werksmans Attorneys’ banking and finance department is home to 'industry leaders', and it is well-known for assisting with complex, high-value transactions. Practice head Elliott Wood specialises in leveraged and acquisition finance, management buy-outs, structured finance, and syndicated and bilateral lending. Richard Roothman advises on debt capital markets and project finance, Paul Tindle focuses on M&A and structured financing, and Tracy-Lee Janse van Rensburg guides banks and issuers on complex debt capital markets and structured finance. Astrid Berman's practice encompasses structured, project, and property finance, while Jenni Darling focuses on transactional financing, including secured, unsecured, and preference share funding. Lynsey Watson, Lureshan Naidoo, Aarthi Ramdhin, and Laura Alexander are also key contributors.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Jenni Darling is easily the best in the market. Exceptional interpersonal skills. Always accessible. Wears a commercial/strategic hat which is unique.'
- ‘Excellent lawyers.'
- ‘Responsive and great to work with.'
- ‘Fantastic drafting, understanding of the issues at play.’
- ‘Elliott Wood is unflappable, wholly aware of all issues at all times.'
- 'Lynsey Watson has excellent communication skills, and is great at delivery, drafting and turnarounds.’
Key clients
- Investec Bank Ltd
- Absa Bank Ltd
- Firstrand Bank Ltd
- The Standard Bank Of South Africa Ltd
- Nedbank Ltd
- Westbrooke Yield Plus Plc
- Vantage Capital Group (Pty) Ltd
- Blue Label Telecoms Ltd
- African Clean Energy Developments (Pty) Ltd
- Burstone Group Ltd
Work highlights
Advised a consortium of South African banks and companies comprising Absa Bank Ltd (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division), FirstRand Bank Ltd (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division), The Standard Bank of South Africa Ltd (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division), Nedbank Ltd (acting through its Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking division), Depfin Investments Proprietary Ltd, and Rapvest Investments Proprietary Ltd on the largest syndicated preference share funding deal to close in the South African market.
Advised a consortium of lenders comprising Investec Bank Ltd (acting through its Investment Banking division: Sponsor Leveraged Finance), FirstRand Bank Ltd (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division), and the Standard Bank of South Africa Ltd (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division) on the provision of bridge funding to facilitate the acquisition by Frogfoot Networks Proprietary Ltd of the business of ATC South Africa Wireless Infrastructure Proprietary Ltd to aid Frogfoot's expansion of its fibre network infrastructure business
Acted as legal counsel to Investec Bank Ltd in providing a funding package to Old Mutual Private Equity and Sphere Investments Proprietary Ltd for the acquisition of Much Asphalt Proprietary Ltd (South Africa's leading independent manufacturer and supplier of bituminous products) from JSE-listed AECI Ltd.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Jenni Darling
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
James Wewege
Practice head
Elliott Wood
Other key lawyers
Richard Roothman; Paul Tindle; Tracy-Lee Janse van Rensburg; Astrid Berman; Jenni Darling; Lynsey Watson; Lureshan Naidoo; Aarthi Ramdhin; Laura Alexander; James Wewege