Department profile
CMS South Africa

Corporate/M&A

Global Guide 2026 : South Africa


CMS South Africa

Rankings

About

Provided by CMS South Africa

The Corporate/M&A and Commercial team is led by senior lawyers, Yushanta Rungasammy & Kabelo Dlothi.

The team of more than 10 lawyers advises on M&A, private equity, equity capital markets, joint ventures and corporate advisory issues for multinationals, local market participants, large corporations & SMEs in a variety of sectors. It is a diverse, robust team adept at handling a wide range of corporate transactions across industries including mining, retail, telecoms, media & tech in addition to further strengths in the food and drink, financial services & energy sectors. Alongside its main activity in acquisitions & disposals, the team leverages its experience to act on fund formations &black economic empowerment (BEE) transactions.

The team offers a wide variety of services:

  • BEE
  • Business trusts
  • Debt & Equity Capital Markets
  • Due diligence investigations
  • Corporate governance
  • Corporate restructuring
  • Establishment of business entities
  • General corporate & commercial issues
  • Investment funds
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Private Equity
  • Take-overs
  • Transaction structuring

Some recent work highlights include:

  • African Parks as the lead legal advisors on their rewilding project in which 2,000 semi-wild rhinos owned by South African rhino breeder John Hume will be “rewilded” into reserves across South Africa and other parts of the continent over the next 10 years.
  • Exxaro Resources Limited on the disposal of two non-core coal assets as part of its strategy to address climate change.

Clients (5)

  • Exxaro Resources Limited
  • Artefact SAS
  • CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP on behalf of Pinewoo
  • CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP on behalf of Pinewoo
  • Entelect Software Proprietary Limited

Industries (13)

  • Consumer Products
  • Energy & Climate Change
  • Funds
  • Hotels & Leisure
  • Infrastructure & Project Finance
  • Private Equity
  • Technology, Media & Communications
  • Banking
  • Financial Services
  • Healthcare
  • Mining & Commodities
  • Retail
  • Transport

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Corporate/M&A - South Africa

Band 3

Band 3


What the Team is Known For

CMS's South African corporate department is a robust team which is adept at handling a wide range of corporate transactions. The firm counts a whole host of recognised client names under its belt, including entities from the mining, retail and telecoms industries, in addition to further strength in the shipping, financial services and energy sectors. Alongside its activity advising on acquisitions and disposals, the team leverages its transactional experience to act on fund formation and black economic empowerment (BEE) transactions.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • CMS advised the MTN Group on the corporate and commercial aspects of its establishment of The Centre for the Technological Transformation of Africa.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • At CMS, deliverables are delivered on time and the quality of work is unmatched. Above everything, the team is calm and provides assurance through the entire process.

    Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
  • CMS is technically very strong on complex cross-border M&A deals. The law firm is a great partner to work with and understands the needs of the client and the commercial drivers.

    Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
  • The team at CMS is readily available and very accommodative in terms of what we need. I am also very impressed with the manner the lawyers conduct themselves, as they are very responsive.

    Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
  • What I really like about CMS is their deep knowledge of our business and the option to tailor the approach to what we really like.

    Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
  • My overall impression of CMS is that their commercial awareness is really strong and the team works really well to meet deadlines. They are very good at keeping on top of things.

    Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 5Kabelo Dlothi
    Band 5Kabelo Dlothi

    Kabelo Dlothi

    Kabelo Dlothi represents international clients in investments in the healthcare and energy sectors. He frequently assists with pan-African corporate projects as well as BEE transactions.

    • Kabelo Dlothi is very approachable and very knowledgeable when it comes to the commercial side. He is a knowledgeable lawyer to work with.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal
  • Band 5Yushanta Rungasammy
    Band 5Yushanta Rungasammy

    Yushanta Rungasammy

    Yushanta Rungasammy acts on many share and equity transactions, corporate structurings and asset disposals. Her clients operate in diverse sectors including mining.

    • Yushanta Rungasammy is a very knowledgeable and commercially aware lawyer.

      Corporate/M&A respondentGlobal

Ranked Individuals at CMS South Africa (2)

South Africa

Members

Provided by CMS South Africa

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