The 'extremely proactive and knowledgeable' tax team at Bowmans is highly adept at advising on the tax and regulatory aspects of international trade matters and routinely represents taxpayers in dealings with tax authorities. Co-leaders of the practice, Barry Garven and Mike Benetello, focus on tax litigation, M&A structuring, acquisition funding, mining taxation, and dispute resolution. Other key members of the department include Alan Keep, who advises corporate clients, Mark Linington, who specialises in M&A tax structuring, Robyn Berger, an expert in tax and exchange control, Mogola Makola, who is active in domestic and international tax work, banking and finance specialist Michael Rudnicki, and Wally Horak, who is notable in transfer pricing and expatriate secondments. Kelly Wright is another notable practitioner in the department.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Very good team that we have been working with for a few years now.'
- 'They have taken the time to get to know and understand our business and have advised superbly.’
- 'The team ensures fluidity within the department - there is always an informed team member to assist when the lead member is unavailable.'
- ‘Barry Garven as tax head is readily available to respond to the client's interactions.'
- ‘The team combines technically excellence with a deep understanding of the issue.'
- 'They are commercially minded and solution-focused in their thinking.’
Key clients
- Groupe Canal+ SA
- Pick n Pay Retailers (Pty) Limited and Boxer Retail Limited
- Infinite Partners Proprietary Limited
- Convergence Partners Digital Infrastructure Fund
- Inseego Corporation
- AfriSam (South Africa) proprietary Limited
- Coronation Investment Management SA Proprietary Limited
- IDEAS Infrastructure II GP Proprietary Limited
- Peermont Global Proprietary Limited
- TotalEnergies
- Compania Electrometalurgica S.A.
- AECI Limited
Work highlights
Advised Groupe Canal+ on its acquisition, through a mandatory offer contemplated in the Companies Act, of the JSE listed ordinary shares of the MultiChoice Group Limited not already owned by Canal+, a USD3bn transaction which won Deal of the Year at the 2025 DealMakers Awards.
Acted as tax advisors to Boxer Superstores and its parent company, Pick n Pay, in connection with the group’s capital raising exercises which included a rights offer concluded in August 2024 that preceded the listing of Boxer through an IPO in November 2024; the IPO raised ZAR8.5bn.
Acted as lead counsel for the Coronation group in a nine-year dispute with SARS regarding whether the income of Coronation’s Irish subsidiary should be taxed in South Africa; this has involved three appeals being heard in the Western Cape Tax Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal, and the Constitutional Court.
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.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Diwan Kamoetie
Practice head
Barry Garven; Mike Benetello
Other key lawyers
Alan Keep; Mark Linington; Robyn Berger; Mogola Makola; Michael Rudnicki; Wally Horak; Kelly Wright; Diwan Katoetie