Department profile
ENS

Restructuring/Insolvency

Global Guide 2026 : South Africa


ENS

Rankings

About

Provided by ENS

ENSafrica’s dedicated insolvency and restructuring team focuses on minimising loss, maximising returns and assisting clients throughout Africa to proactively manage financial risk and exposure.

When insolvency is inevitable, we have the expertise to develop and implement effective recovery strategies for viable business activities, and to maximise returns for creditors.

As a result, we have acted in many complex cross-border insolvencies and restructurings, and have been called in to assist in most major corporate collapses and restructurings in Africa.

We are at the cutting edge of developing insolvency and business rescue law in Africa, and have been involved in the most prestigious and important matters since the introduction of business rescue, playing a significant role in procuring successful results in this regard.

Recent work highlights:

  • Highly complex restructuring of the Edcon Group (with stores in Botswana, Ghana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe), involving South African banks, London-based lenders and New York-based financial creditors.
  • ZAR22-billion recovered from the Steinhoff Group within five months for Absa Bank, China Construction Bank, Citibank South Africa, Depfin Investments, HSBC Bank South Africa, Investec Bank, iNguza Investments, Nedbank, Old Mutual, Rand Merchant Bank, Rapvest, Standard Bank of South Africa and Standard Chartered Bank.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Restructuring/Insolvency - South Africa

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

ENS houses a highly skilled business rescue and insolvency practice, with a deep bench, and resources spread across its Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban offices. The firm demonstrates comprehensive expertise covering debt recovery, securities enforcement, accelerated M&A and financial restructuring. It represents a number of major banking institutions and business rescue practitioners, with experience handling restructuring and insolvency mandates in the mining, manufacturing, construction and retail sectors. The team regularly advises on both the creditor and debtor sides.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • ENS advised Nedbank on a business rescue proceeding of one of its debtors, Rebosis.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • ENS's team is very practical, thinks outside of the box and is pragmatic. It is a breath of fresh air working with ENS in particular due to the way it goes about these matters.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentGlobal
  • ENS has knowledge and capability across all aspects of the law while retaining deep specialist knowledge.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Senior StatespeoplePaul Winer
    Senior StatespeoplePaul Winer

    Paul Winer

    Paul Winer is a seasoned lawyer with extensive experience advising on a multitude of issues stemming from insolvency and liquidation, including recovery claims, business rescue and distressed acquisitions. His skill in business rescue is sought out by a range of stakeholders, including lenders, investors and distressed companies.
  • Eminent PractitionersLeonard Katz
    Eminent PractitionersLeonard Katz

    Leonard Katz

    Leonard Katz commands an impressive reputation for his insolvency litigation practice and continues to assist the firm's clients alongside his managerial duties.
  • Band 1Gary Oertel
    Band 1Gary Oertel

    Gary Oertel

    Gary Oertel is instructed on some of the most high-profile restructuring and business rescue proceedings in the country, acting for a myriad of distressed companies, business rescue practitioners and lenders.
  • Band 4Ntlhane Makena
    Band 4Ntlhane Makena

    Ntlhane Makena

    Ntlhane Makena is noted for his representation of both distressed entities and financial lenders in business rescue proceedings and debt recovery. He particularly impresses with his role on a number of high-profile restructuring mandates in the aviation and financial services sectors.

Ranked Individuals at ENS (4)

South Africa

Members

Provided by ENS

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