The corporate team at ENSafrica is an expert across multiple disciplines, particularly in private equity, joint ventures, transactions, and shareholder activism. Co-leader of the practice, Doron Joffe, specialises in M&A transactions, restructuring mandates, corporate reorganisations, and takeovers, while co-leader Sanjay Kassen has stellar expertise in BEE transactions, capital raisings, and multi-jurisdictional mandates. Kevin Markman boasts expertise in hostile takeovers and complex corporate restructures, Brad Serebro is skilled in exchange control law, Witness Makhubele in schemes of arrangement and regulatory issues, and Matthew Morrison in corporate finance. Other key members of the practice include Nkosi Tshabalala, Chevan Daniels, Mohamed Sajit Darsot, Michael Katz, and Gabi Mailula.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Professional and responsive service, sound understanding of the commercial issues and the provision of expert and well-rounded legal advice, breadth of expertise and well-coordinated teamwork across a multidisciplinary legal team.'
- ‘The team deployed great technology for the due diligence exercise, the team comprised of experts who have great subject matter expertise and experience.’
- ‘Witness Makhubele at ENSAfrica gave brilliant legal support throughout the transaction negotiations. He stood out for providing prompt advice, turning around documents at short notice and was always available for us to pick his brain on potential solutions.’
- ‘The ability to understand the commerciality of the transaction.'
- ‘Good communication skills, including the ability to explain the issue and provide a plausible commercial solution.'
- 'ENSafrica supported us throughout a complex (and ultimately successful) M&A transaction over a period of more than 18 months. Throughout that time, we benefited from excellent team continuity, flexibility, creativity, responsiveness, professionalism, and an ability to co-ordinate services across a number of legal areas.'
Key clients
- Absa Investment Management Services Proprietary Limited
- Ninety One
- Tiger Consumer Brands Limited
- Autozone Holdings Proprietary Limited
- Mineworkers Investment Company (Pty) Ltd
- NOVUS Limited
- Nestlé (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd
- Société Des Produits Nestlé S.A
- Patient Square Capital (San Francisco) and Eargo (US)
- Exxaro
- AngloGold Ashanti PLC
- PETRONAS Marketing International Sdn. Bhd.
Work highlights
Advised Absa Investment Management Services Proprietary Limited on its link Investment Service Provider business to Glacier.
Advised Ninety One on the proposed acquisition of Sanlam Investment management for about R5bn; Sanlam and Ninety One (the dual-listed company consisting of Ninety One plc and Ninety One Limited) have entered into a binding Framework Agreement.
Advised Tiger Consumer Brands Limited on its sale of business agreement for the disposal of its Baby wellbeing business, as a going concern, to an unrelated third-party purchaser.
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.
Michael Katz
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Sanjay Kassen
Practice head
Doron Joffe; Sanjay Kassen
Other key lawyers
Kevin Markman; Brad Serebro; Witness Makhubele; Matthew Morrison; Nkosi Tshabalala; Chevan Daniels; Mohamed Sajit Darsot; Gabi Mailula; Michael Katz