Department profile
Werksmans Attorneys

Dispute Resolution

Global Guide 2026 : South Africa


Werksmans Attorneys

Rankings

About

Provided by Werksmans Attorneys

Werksmans is acknowledged for having one of South Africa’s top commercial litigation teams focused on resolving matters in clients’ best interests, as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Our litigation services area is both broad and deep, and our Dispute Resolution practice is among the country’s largest and most experienced. Focusing on disputes that either reach the High Court or are resolved by arbitration, our lawyers are involved in many high-profile commercial litigation and arbitration matters in South Africa and internationally. We have successfully concluded matters in numerous jurisdictions.

The team is involved in matters in a variety of sectors. This includes mining, IT, agriculture, banking and finance, pharmaceutical and healthcare, sport, retail, environmental, energy, media and communications, and aviation.

Our spectrum of litigation & dispute resolution services includes all aspects of commercial litigation, alternative dispute resolution (mediation and arbitration), business rescue and insolvency, tax and intellectual property related litigation.

Services include dealing with:

·       All aspects of commercial litigation;

·       Alternative dispute resolution (mediation and arbitration);

·       Insolvency practice;

·       Tax-related litigation; and

·       Intellectual property-related litigation.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Dispute Resolution - South Africa

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Werksmans is a market-leading law firm with an impressively broad practice encompassing considerable commercial litigation expertise, with further experience in cases concerning IP, tax and business rescues. The team acts for both public and private sector entities from sectors as diverse as banking, energy, mining, heavy industry and telecoms, with public clients including provincial government bodies and regulators. It is a founding member of the legal alliance Lex Africa, which provides the firm's clients with an extensive network of allied law offices across the continent.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The firm has a knowledgeable and experienced team.

    Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
  • Werksmans Attorneys is very organised and has very skilled litigators.

    Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
  • Werksmans offers specialist knowledge, decades of experience, a practical approach to issues and excellent response times and availability.

    Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
  • The strategic support provided on complex matters is exceptional.

    Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
  • The firm is solution-oriented and assists the clients in cost-effectively and timeously resolving disputes, with a refreshing and unique approach to dispute resolution.

    Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Senior StatespeopleDes Williams
    Senior StatespeopleDes Williams

    Des Williams

    Des Williams is a veteran lawyer with a strong reputation in South Africa's disputes market.

  • Eminent PractitionersDavid Hertz
    Eminent PractitionersDavid Hertz

    David Hertz

    Firm chairman David Hertz maintains his reputation as one of the market's most formidable litigators. He has significant experience in providing counsel on matters relating to corporate fraud and investigations, as well as competition law, with a notable track record acting for clients in the energy and infrastructure industries.

    • David Hertz has exceptional experience and skills.

      Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
  • Band 2Corlett Manaka
    Band 2Corlett Manaka

    Corlett Manaka

    Corlett Manaka heads the firm's litigation and dispute resolution practice from Johannesburg. He is equally well equipped to act for private companies in the banking and telecoms sectors, as well as public sector clients such as state regulators.
    • Corlett is a very accomplished attorney; he has a good turnaround time, he can give advice in layman terms. He is a strong litigator.

      Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
    • Corlett is punctual, available and he will give you the best advice.

      Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
    • Corlett Manaka is very dependable and reliable and he provides high-quality legal advice.

      Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
    • Corlett Manaka is very experienced in commercial litigation. He provides very good advice and is very responsive.

      Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal
  • Band 5Jones Antunes
    Band 5Jones Antunes

    Jones Antunes

    Jones Antunes acts across a wide range of litigation and arbitration mandates, including shareholder and contractual disputes. He has further expertise in administrative disputes and is a qualified CEDR mediator.

    • Jones Antunes has got experience and insight, is very organised and quick to respond.

      Dispute Resolution respondentGlobal

Ranked Individuals at Werksmans Attorneys (4)

South Africa

Members

Provided by Werksmans Attorneys

  • Eric Levenstein

  • Bernard Hotz

  • Sandile July

  • Tsholofelo Inno

  • Zania Oosthuizen

  • Lloyd Abraham

  • Peter Mosebo

  • Faith Sikhavhakhavha

  • Naledi Motsiri

  • Athi Jara

  • Neil Kirby

  • Anastasia Vatalidis

  • Marlaine Wiehahn

  • Anine van der Merwe

  • Roger Wakefield

  • Justin Truter

  • Darren Willans

  • Karabo Motshwane

  • Harold Jacobs

  • Jacqui Kallmeyer

  • Godwin Bossr

  • Sarah Passmoor

  • Kathleen Louw

  • Pierre Burger

  • Jonathan Stockwell

  • Monique Panesgrouw

  • Trevor Boswell

  • Marne Bronn

  • Johan Theron

  • Jennifer Smit

  • Bulelwa Mabasa

  • Khosi Mabaso

  • Sarah Moerane

  • Jaco Niemand

  • Bossau Boshoff

  • Dewald van den Berg

  • Rudolph Raath

  • Jeremy Gobetz

  • Rael Gootkin

  • Daniela Pisanti

  • Walid Brown

  • Frikkie van Tonder

  • Lisa Silberman

  • Gerhard Cloete

  • Brendan Olivier

  • Corlett Manaka

    Head of Department

    View profile of Corlett Manaka

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