Co-led by Khurshid Fazel and Lindi Marais, who ‘have excellent local market knowledge and contacts’, the banking and finance team at Webber Wentzel remains a pre-eminent South African practice, offering the full spectrum of banking and finance services. Fazel handles a wide range of funding deals, including leveraged finance, cross-border real estate, fund and acquisition financing, and restructurings, while Marais advises on specialised debt transactions, including standalone, syndicated, and term lending, locally and internationally. Kathy Shepherd represents corporate borrowers, Karen Couzyn focuses on DCM and structured finance, and Scott Edmundson advises on transport sector financing. Other key contacts include Janine Lamb, Rashaad Carrim, Matthew Gibson, Taheera Cassim, and Dawid de Villiers.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Kathy Shepherd and Faatimah Jaffer are responsive, detail-oriented, have exceptional knowledge in banking and finance and contractual law, and have the ability to cut through the noise and get to the crux of the issue.’
- ‘The depth of knowledge within this team is like no other in the South African market. The partners and juniors are skilled across all areas and can provide holistic advice.’
- ‘The service excellence and depth of knowledge are what make them stand out.'
- ‘Good partners who have excellent local market knowledge and contacts.’
Key clients
- Actis LLP
- FirstRand Bank Ltd
- Nqaba Finance 1 (RF) Ltd
- Absa Bank Ltd
- Bank of China Ltd Johannesburg Branch
- Mpact Ltd and various subsidiaries
- Gold Fields Ltd
- Marex Financial
Work highlights
Acted as counsel for Actis LLP and the purchaser in relation to ZAR4.5bn syndicated acquisition funding made available (by way of a debt pushdown structure) for its acquisition of Swiftnet SOC Ltd (Swiftnet) from Telkom for an enterprise value of ZAR6.75bn, making it one of the largest tower transactions in the country to date by deal value.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Faatimah Jaffer
Practice head
Khurshid Fazel; Lindi Marais
Other key lawyers
Kathy Shepherd; Karen Couzyn; Scott Edmundson; Janine Lamb; Rashaad Carrim; Matthew Gibson; Taheera Cassim; Dawid de Villiers; Faatimah Jaffer