Department profile

Corporate/M&A

Global Guide 2026 : South Africa

Rankings

Ranked Individuals

About

Provided by Bowmans

We have a strong record of acting on the most significant corporate and M&A transactions across the African continent. Our size and geographic spread combined with our breadth of skills, experience and good relationships with regulators enables us to handle large and time-critical transactions.

Our services include public acquisitions, private equity transactions, joint ventures, unbundlings and other investments and divestitures including public M&A (both contested and uncontested), and private M&As. We also have considerable expertise in the fields of privatisation and public-to- private transactions and have advised shareholders in becoming more active in the management of their companies. In South Africa, we have been involved in the structuring and implementation of complex black economic empowerment transactions.

We represent participants in transactions in virtually all capacities – purchasers, sellers, financiers, financial advisers, directors and shareholders. In most cases we project manage the entire transaction which includes conducting a legal due diligence investigation, providing strategic advice, negotiating terms, drafting documentation and assisting with the implementation of the transaction from a legal point of view.

We have also served as local counsel for a range of international financial institutions and corporates, as well as international law firms and merchant banks.

Clients (10)

The Standard Bank Group
Ab InBev
Old Mutual
IBM
Exxon Mobil
African Rainbow Minerals
Alexander Forbes Group Holdings
Rio Tinto
Orange
Oger Telecom

Industries (20)

Aerospace & Defence
Banking
Construction & Materials
Consumer Product Manufacturing
Education
Energy
Financial Services
Food & Drink Producers
Forestry & Paper
Industrial Engineering
Insurance
Mining and Metals
Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences
Real Estate Finance
Retail
Software & Computer Services
Technology, Hardware and Electronics
Telecommunications
Transportation
Utilities

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Corporate/M&A - South Africa

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Bowmans is a pre-eminent South African law firm that maintains a stellar corporate practice group, and one which plays a significant role in many of the region's largest transactions. The team represents a number of high-profile domestic and international clients and offers impressive cross-border capabilities, with a particularly prominent position in the manufacturing, insurance and consumer goods sectors across sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, the department has significant experience in other major industries, including mining, telecoms, financial services and energy. Its lawyers possess further experience assisting with corporate restructuring, black economic empowerment (BEE) transactions and unbundling mandates.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

Bowmans advised the Canal+ Group on the South African aspects of its merger with the MultiChoice Group.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Bowmans managed our challenging transaction from start to finish and did so extremely well.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
They provide clear, concise, commercially minded advice and are always available and prompt in their responses. They provide thoughtful advice on the requirements of South African and JSE regulations.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Bowmans do an excellent job. The team are very helpful in drafting unusual types of transactions.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Bowmans have incredible patience, strategic insights, attention to detail and willingness to work beyond their mandate. I haven't seen this level of dedication to helping us succeed in any other firm.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Bowmans offers excellent structuring of legal agreements, taking into account and mitigating all issues and risks. They really listen to their clients.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Star Individuals
Star Individuals
Ezra Davids
Chairman of Bowmans and senior partner, Ezra Davids maintains a stellar domestic and international reputation as one of South Africa's foremost experts in corporate law. His skills continue to be sought out by blue-chip clients for assistance with significant cross-border mandates.
Ezra is a fantastic deal maker.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Ezra Davids does exceptionally well. He has an amazing career and his work is really well done.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Band 2
Band 2
Charles Douglas
Charles Douglas attracts ample praise from market sources and has an established corporate capability in South Africa. He holds experience relating to an impressive range of mandates, including M&A and BEE transactions. He also regularly handles joint venture structurings.
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Band 3
Band 3
Charles Young
Charles Young regularly advises on M&A and asset transactions, as well as providing advice on commercial agreements. He is particularly well known in the mining sector, where he advises on cross-border acquisitions and share subscriptions.
Charles Young is excellent and gives a good sense of comfort when he addresses issues.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Charles Young is an absolutely brilliant legal professional whose extensive experience and mastery of the law set him apart as one of the most capable lawyers I have had the privilege of working with.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Band 4
Band 4
Deepa Vallabh
Deepa Vallabh is a lawyer with an impressive pedigree and a client following of well-known telecoms and mining companies. She acts on domestic and international acquisitions and disposals.
Deepa Vallabh combines deep technical expertise in M&A with a practical, solutions-driven mindset that makes her an invaluable partner to both clients and colleagues.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Band 5
Band 5
Gasant Orrie
Gasant Orrie is an experienced transactional attorney who frequently assists clients with M&A and corporate finance, as well as advising on empowerment-related deals and structures. He is based in Cape Town.
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Band 5
Band 5
Lerato Thahane
Lerato Thahane often works for industrial clients and draws upon her extensive experience to assist with domestic and cross-border acquisitions and disposals. She is also comfortable acting as local counsel to international companies operating in South Africa.
Lerato Thahane has very good engagement with clients. She is able to move discussions along and give us a high degree of comfort.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Lerato Thahane offers strong leadership paired with high-quality service.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
Her work capacity is excellent and she knows her stuff.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
I know clients love her and that she is doing great work.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Band 5
Band 5
Ryan Wessels
Ryan Wessels has a strong practice advising private equity firms on inbound investments into South Africa. He also assists public clients with the disposal of assets.
Ryan Wessels is very intelligent; he understands economics and transactions. He's brilliant at structuring deals and I find he's proactive and thorough.
Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
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Band 5
Band 5
Tholinhlanhla Gcabashe
Tholinhlanhla Gcabashe acts for clients on cross-border transactions. He has prominent experience in the logistics and fashion industries. Based in Johannesburg, he is the head of the corporate/M&A practice at Bowmans.
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