
About
Provided by Webber Wentzel
Our team of multidisciplinary experts help businesses operate through these hard climates by providing practical and commercial specialist support. We advise on all aspects of general contingency planning in a distressed debt environment, formal and informal restructures, business rescue proceedings and insolvencies. We have a reputation for taking a proactive and commercial approach and achieving the best possible outcome for our clients.
We have worked across all sectors, with deep expertise in the resources (mining), financial services, telecommunications, retail, construction and agricultural sectors and we understand the unique financial pressure points of each sector.
We have advised on some of the largest and most complex cross-border restructurings, business rescues and insolvencies, including the African Bank restructure. This multijurisdictional matter, which was unprecedented on the African continent, also highlighted the benefits of our relationship with our alliance partner, Linklaters, and firms across Africa.
Contacts: Khurshid Fazel, Partner ([email protected]) and Julian Jones, Partner ([email protected]).
Chambers Review
Webber Wentzel houses a robust restructuring team spanning its Cape Town and Johannesburg offices, providing comprehensive advice to both business rescue practitioners and distressed companies. Drawing on the strength of its stellar banking and finance practice, the firm offers a wealth of experience concerning financial restructuring. The team has played a significant role in high-profile restructuring files in the aviation, agricultural and construction sectors, acting for major financial institutions and lenders.
Work Highlights
- Webber Wentzel advised the Omnia Group regarding the South African aspects of the disposal of its Oro Agri business to European Crops Products.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The firm is well known for its ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters. They are considered subject matter experts when it comes to formal restructuring."
"The firm is well known for its ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters. They are considered subject matter experts when it comes to formal restructuring."
Notable Practitioners

Lara Kahn is a prominent lawyer with an established reputation for her representation of distressed entities and their rescue practitioners in all aspects of business rescue proceedings. She additionally assists with the subsequent restructuring and reorganisations of companies, as well as the sale of assets, and is based in Cape Town.
"Lara is a well-known and respected industry expert who is considered an extremely safe pair of hands when dealing with complex contentious matters."
"She has a very sound grasp of the legal matrix relating to distressed restructuring and business rescue. She is also very solution-driven."

Julian Jones is a Johannesburg-based lawyer who assists with business rescue proceedings as well as advising on liability issues associated with liquidation. He acts for both state-owned entities and private companies particularly in telecoms, mining and transportation.