South Africa

Firm overview

Bowmans helps its clients manage legal complexity and unlock opportunity in Africa. Its enviable track record of providing legal services to the highest professional standards on the continent, spans corporate, finance, competition, taxation, employment, technology and dispute resolution matters.
 
With over 500 specialist lawyers, Bowmans draws on its unique knowledge of the business and socio-political environment in Africa to advise on a wide range of legal issues.
 
The firm delivers integrated legal services from seven offices (Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Durban, Johannesburg, Lusaka, Moka and Nairobi) in five countries (Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia).
 
Everywhere it operates, Bowmans offers its clients a service that uniquely blends expertise in the law, knowledge of the local market, and an understanding of their businesses. The firm’s aim is to assist its clients to achieve their objectives as smoothly and efficiently as possible while minimising the legal and regulatory risks.
 
The firm works closely with its Alliance firms Aman & Partners LLP in Ethiopia and Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie in Nigeria. Bowmans has special relationships with firms in Mozambique and Uganda; a non-exclusive co-operation agreement with French international law firm Gide Loyrette Nouel that provides access to lawyers in francophone west and north Africa; regularly works with other leading independent law firms across the rest of Africa; and is a representative of Lex Mundi, a global association independent law firms in more than 125 countries.
 
Clients include domestic and foreign corporates, multinationals, funds and financial institutions, across a range of industry sectors, as well as state-owned enterprises and governments.

With more than 300 lawyers and a total staff complement of over 550, Bowmans is widely regarded as one of the leading corporate law firms in South Africa.

Firm overview

The firm: Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) is a full-service law with more than 260 lawyers and a track record spanning over 170 years. CDH believes the right partnerships lead to great achievements. The partnerships it cherishes and values most are those it has forged through time and experience with its clients and, of course, its people. In April 2021, CDH joined forces with Nairobi-based boutique corporate law firm, Kieti Law LLP (Kieti), in a move to bolster the capabilities of both firms in the continent’s East African economic hub and better service East African clients’ needs in Southern Africa.

We are able to provide experienced legal support and an authentic knowledge-based and cost-effective legal service for clients looking to do business in key markets across Africa. Our Africa practice brings together the resources and expertise of leading business law firms across the continent that have direct experience acting for governments, state agencies and multinational organisations. This combined experience across the continent produces an extensive African capability. We also partner with other professional disciplines such as audit, business consulting or corporate finance disciplines to provide a seamless and integrated solution for projects that have a multi-disciplinary dimension.

We focus on a number of key sectors which are active and thriving in Africa, including Mergers & Acquisitions; Agriculture, Aquaculture & Fishing; Commercial Real Estate; Consumer Goods, Services & Retail; Energy and Power; Oil & Gas; Financial Institutions, Services & Fintech; Business Rescue, Restructuring & Insolvency; Government & State-owned Entities; Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals; Hospitality & Leisure; Gambling & Regulatory Compliance; Industrials, Manufacturing & Trade; Infrastructure, Transport & Logistics; Mining & Minerals; Private Equity; and Technology & Communications.

With first-hand, in-depth experience, CDH is able to offer sector-specific expertise and knowledge of regulatory nuances to provide an exceptional integrated service across Africa. This includes a proven track record and deal experience across multiple jurisdictions in Africa, a practical and commercial approach, a multidisciplinary team of experts managed from a single point, extensive sector experience, and dedicated, partner-led teams.

Areas of practice: The firm’s corporate and commercial offering covers the full spectrum of business legal services, which it delivers through core practice areas and sector teams. 

CDH has 11 esteemed core practice areas: Corporate & Commercial; Competition law; Dispute Resolution; Employment law; Environmental law; Finance & Banking; Pro Bono & Human rights; Real Estate law; Tax & Exchange Control; and Trusts & Estates. Whether needing seamless coordination across a number of jurisdictions or delivery in a single location, the firm’s clients can rely on advice that is underpinned by a solid understanding of both local and international considerations.

Diversity: CDH values diversity, respect for the individual and equal opportunity. At CDH, transformation is considered the shared responsibility of everyone in the firm. The firm puts a great deal of energy and time into its ongoing initiatives which aim to achieve CDH’s greater transformation aspirations.  

Corporate responsibility: CDH undertakes to look after the communities in which it operates through pro bono and volunteer work. To this end, CDH’s dedicated pro bono and human rights practice facilitates access to justice for the disadvantaged and vulnerable.

Firm overview

ENSafrica

ENSafrica is Africa’s largest law firm, with offices in Eastern, Southern and Western Africa. With more than 600 specialist practitioners, we have deep expertise and the capacity to solve all your legal, tax, forensics and IP requirements, and help you navigate regulatory hurdles, no matter where in Africa you do business. We are entrusted by major local and international clients to handle and co-ordinate even their most complex and sensitive requirements quickly, efficiently and with excellence. As a result, our consistently high standards have been recognised by prestigious international ranking agencies. Because we have had many years of practical experience working on the ground throughout Africa, we have developed a proven track record and a solid understanding of local cultural, commercial and geopolitical contexts, as well as long-standing partnerships with trusted firms with whom we work.

For more information, visit www.ENSafrica.com or contact one of our offices:

ENSafrica | Ghana
5th Floor Vivo Place, Cantonments City, Rangoon Lane, Accra
tel: +233 30 225 3980
info@ENSafrica.com
www.ENSafrica.com  

ENSafrica | Kenya
15^th Floor, One Africa Place, Waiyaki Way, Westlands, Nairobi
tel: +254 205 007 000 
info@ENSafrica.com
www.ENSafrica.com

ENSafrica | Mauritius
18 Edith Cavell Street, Port Louis
tel: +230 212 2215
info@ENSafrica.com
www.ENSafrica.com

ENSafrica | Namibia
Shop 2 Ground Floor, Altstadthof, corner Libertina Amathila Avenue and Bismarck Street, Swakopmund
tel: +264 64 415 380
info@ENSafrica.com
www.ENSafrica.com

No 4 1^st Floor, The Business Park, Sam Nujoma Avenue, Walvis Bay
tel: +264 64 281 100
info@ENSafrica.com
www.ENSafrica.com

Unit 4 LA Chambers, Ausspann Plaza, Dr Agostinho Neto Road, Windhoek
tel: +264 61 379 700
info@ENSafrica.com
www.ENSafrica.com

ENSafrica | Rwanda
Kacyiru, KG 7th Avenue #35, Blue Star House, 1st Floor - Wing B, Kigali
tel: +250 252 551 500
info@ENSafrica.com
www.ENSafrica.com

​ENSafrica South Africa
​35 Lower Long Street, Foreshore, Cape Town
tel: +27 21 410 2500
info@ENSafrica.com
www.ENSafrica.com

1 Richefond Circle, Ridgeside Office Park, Umhlanga, Durban
tel: +27 31 536 8600
info@ENSafrica.com
www.ENSafrica.com

The MARC | Tower 1, 129 Rivonia Road, Sandton, Johannesburg
tel: +27 11 269 7600
info@ENSafrica.com
www.ENSafrica.com

La Gratitude, 97 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch
tel: +27 21 808 6620
info@ENSafrica.com
www.ENSafrica.com

ENSafrica | Uganda
4th Floor, Rwenzori Towers, Plot 6 Nakasero Road, Nakasero, Kampala
tel: +256 31 222 5500
info@ENSafrica.com
www.ENSafrica.com

Firm overview

Established in the early 1900s, Werksmans Attorneys is a leading corporate and commercial law firm, serving multinationals, listed companies, financial institutions, entrepreneurs and government.

Werksmans’ more than 200 lawyers, over 22 practice areas of law and a strong African alliance are a powerful team of independent-minded individuals who share a common service ethos. 

With a formidable track record in mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, and commercial litigation and dispute resolution, Werksmans is distinguished by the people, clients and work that it attracts and retains.

Ever aware of changing dynamics in corporate and commercial spheres, we remain at the cutting edge of legal developments across a broad range of industries, through insightful, pragmatic, solution-driven thinking. 

Our commitment is an unchanging one; to provide elegant, simple solutions to even the most complex of legal matters, and to do it with the client’s interests at heart.