Advising domestic and international clients across various sectors, including mining, retail, banking, telecoms, and insurance, the M&A team at Werksmans Attorneys stands out in the South African market. Team leader Paul Tindle has extensive experience in commercial law and structured finance, and he is ably supported by Kevin Trudgeon, who has broad-ranging commercial experience, including in private equity, governance, and flotations. Lureshan Naidoo is highly adept in corporate restructurings, David Gewer in leveraged and managed buyouts, and Clarissa Laltha in asset finance and preference share transactions. Also key are Bafana Ntuli, Obakhe Bukula, and Gabriel Koski.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The team is commercial, effective and responsive.’
- ‘David Gewer is very commercial, puts himself in the client's shoes. Great problem-solving and good knowledge of the law.’
- ‘The team leverages prior work effectively to make current engagements more efficient. I feel that the experience of working with us is never lost with this team. We do not have to repeat ourselves.'
- ‘They are very detail-oriented, which gives me comfort.'
- 'Good lawyers.'
Key clients
- The Bidvest Group Ltd
- The Bidvest Group Ltd
- Finglobal Holdings Proprietary Ltd
- Sasfin Holdings Ltd
- Differential Capital Proprietary Ltd
- Newriver Reit Plc
- Tennant Metals South Africa Proprietary Ltd
- Purple Grapes Holdings Proprietary Ltd
- Ibex Investment Holdings Ltd
- Pepkor Holdings Ltd
- Blue Label Telecoms Ltd
- Dutoit Agri Ltd
Work highlights
Advising The Bidvest Group Limited on the disposal of its entire shareholding in Bidvest Bank Holdings Limited, being the holding company of various wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Bidvest Bank Limited to Access Bank Plc, a global financial institution headquartered in Nigeria.
Advised The Bidvest Group Limited and FinGlobal Holdings Proprietary Limited on the disposal by FinGlobal of its entire shareholding in FinGlobal Migration Proprietary Limited for a purchase consideration of approximately R200m.
Advised Sasfin Holdings Limited via its wholly owned subsidiary, Sasfin Bank Limited on the disposal by SBL to African Bank Limited of SBL's Capital Equipment Finance Business and Commercial Property Finance Business
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.
Obakhe Bukula
Practice head
Paul Tindle
Other key lawyers
Kevin Trudgeon; Lureshan Naidoo; David Gewer; Clarissa Laltha; Bafana Ntuli; Obakhe Bukula; Gabriel Koski