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Global Guide 2023
South Africa Corporate/M&A
1
Band 1

6 Ranked Lawyers

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.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers
Corporate/M&A - South Africa
1
Band 1
What the team is known for

Bowmans is a pre-eminent South African law firm that maintains a stellar corporate practice group, 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 also possess further experience assisting with corporate restructuring, black economic empowerment (BEE) transactions and unbundling mandates. Furthermore, Bowmans is renowned for its bench of skilled private equity lawyers with experience covering fund formation and transactions.

Work Highlights

Provided by Bowmans
  • The lawyers at Bowmans represented Standard Bank in its acquisition of the remaining 42.6% stake in Liberty Holdings, valued at around USD697.9 million.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers
John Bellew
N
John Bellew
1
Band 1

Johannesburg-based John Bellew is a household name in the South African PE market, with immense experience in buyouts, investments and fund formation.

Ezra Davids
N
Ezra Davids
1
Band 1

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 Davids is excellent."

Charles Douglas
N
Charles Douglas
2
Band 2

Charles Douglas climbs the rankings this year following strong market feedback. He holds experience across an impressive range of corporate transactions, including M&A and BEE. Based in Johannesburg, he co-leads Bowmans' M&A practice group.

"Charles Douglas is always readily available for the client, extremely astute and aware of the legal, commercial and operational imperatives in the transaction."

"He is an outstanding attorney and trusted adviser to his clients, with great commercial acumen and a significant amount of relevant experience."

Charles Young
N
Charles Young
4
Band 4

Charles Young advises on M&A and asset transactions, as well as providing advice on commercial agreements. He is particularly well known in the mining sector, advising on cross-border acquisitions and share subscriptions.

"Charles Young has great commercial acumen."

"He is always on top of things."

Lerato Thahane
N
Lerato Thahane
U
Up and Coming

Lerato Thahane makes her debut in the rankings this year with support from the market. Working for industrial clients, she draws upon her experience to assist with domestic and cross-border acquisitions and disposals. She is also comfortable acting as local counsel to international firms operating in South Africa.

"She provided good, solid advice."

James Westgate
N
James Westgate
U
Up and Coming

James Westgate acts for a number of major private equity and investment management clients, with expertise covering both domestic and cross-border transactions. He is based in the firm's Johannesburg office.

Ranked Lawyers at
Bowmans

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

South Africa

Corporate/M&A

Ezra Davids
1
Ezra Davids
1
Band 1
Charles Douglas
2
Charles Douglas
2
Band 2
Charles Young
4
Charles Young
4
Band 4
Lerato Thahane
U
Lerato Thahane
U
Up and Coming
Corporate/M&A: Private Equity

John Bellew
1
John Bellew
1
Band 1
James Westgate
U
James Westgate
U
Up and Coming

Members

Provided by Bowmans

Anne McAlister

Ashleigh Hale

Charles Young

David Anderson

David Yuill

Deon de Klerk

Dirk Wessels

Ian Kirkman

Ineke Brink

James Westgate

Jonathan Schlosberg

Joshua Janks

Julie Oppenheim

Lance Fleiser

Paul Hart-Davies

Ryan Wessels

Tholinhlanhla Gcabashe

Timothy McDougall

Clients

Provided by Bowmans

Ab InBev

African Rainbow Minerals

Alexander Forbes Group Holdings

Exxon Mobil

IBM

Oger Telecom

Old Mutual

Orange

Rio Tinto

The Standard Bank Group

Industries

Provided by Bowmans

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