Led by Tholinhlanhla Gcabashe, the M&A practice at Bowmans is ‘distinguished by its deep expertise and extensive experience in handling complex transactions‘. Ezra Davids regularly advises domestic and international blue-chip clients on complex transactions, and Nanga Kwinana has a solid track record in handling corporate finance, cross-border securities matters, restructuring, and equity capital markets issues. Ryan Wessels‘ workload includes BEE matters, and James Westgate counts private equity work as a core strength.

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr‘s ‘exceptional‘ corporate and commercial team is ‘extremely efficient‘, with ‘deep knowledge of deals structuring‘ and ‘extensive experience in M&A‘. Ian Hayes, who heads up the practice, is highly regarded for his expertise in advising on the full range of commercial and corporate matters, often for clients in the retail, telecoms, and mining sectors. Willem Jacobs is sought after for his excellent track record in M&A, and is well versed in handling transactions with cross-border elements. Jaco Meyer‘s workload includes assisting with the acquisitions and disposals of companies and businesses in South Africa. Roxanna Valayathum garners praise for her ‘exceptional responsiveness and commitment‘. Shameegh Allen brings experience in corporate restructurings. Justine Krige left the firm in October 2023.

Under the leadership of Doron Joffe and Sanjay Kassen, the corporate team at ENSafrica is well versed in advising clients in the financial services, private equity, and manufacturing sectors on domestic and multi-jurisdictional M&A deals. Matthew Morrison has expertise in handling corporate finance and private equity matters and Nkosi Tshabalala is a key contact for BEE transactions and equity capital markets issues. Corporate restructurings form a key pillar of Lebusa Meso‘s practice, Madison Liebmann‘s workload includes public and private M&A, and Gosego Moroka is experienced in advising on shareholder agreements.

Webber Wentzel‘s corporate team garners praise for its ‘in-depth understanding‘, and has a strong offering in transactional and advisory corporate matters. BEE transactions are prominent in practice head Safiyya Patel‘s workload, and Gareth Driver is well known for handling securities, corporate finance, joint ventures and corporate governance work. Firm managing partner Sally Hutton is sought after for her private equity expertise, and Jesse Watson is a key contact for consumer and retail sector clients for equity capital markets and securities regulatory matters. Christo Els is highly regarded for his strength in handling large-scale, cross-border transactions across sub-Saharan Africa.

DLA Piper’s corporate group continues to handle a high volume of work for financial services entities, and is well versed in assisting with cross-border M&A matters. Practice head Peter Bradshaw has established expertise in representing clients in the media, retail, hospitality, and food and beverages sectors in public and private M&A deals. Johannes Gouws advises on securities issues and corporate finance matters, André Visser‘s workload includes corporate restructurings, while Marita van der Walt is noted for her experience in private equity matters. Brian Malcomess is knowledgeable of capital markets work.

At Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, the corporate and M&A team has established strength in cross-border M&A transactions and often advises mining, energy, and financial services clients with a broad range of corporate matters. Ross Lomax continues to assist telecoms, renewable energy, and mining entities with BEE transactions. Private equity, joint ventures, and corporate restructurings form the backbone of Patrick Leyden‘s practice. New practice head Ziyanda Ntshona joined from Poswa Incorporated in March 2025, augmenting the firm’s strength on the M&A front, following Rudolph du Plessis‘ departure in February 2025.

The ‘responsive and helpful‘ team at Werksmans Attorneys continues to handle a high volume of complex takeovers and corporate transactions. Kevin Trudgeon heads up the practice and counts high-profile M&A deals, corporate finance, and private equity as key areas of strength. David Gewer regularly acts for mining clients, and Roelof Bonnet advises construction, technology, and manufacturing sector entities on private equity matters. Banking and finance expert Lureshan Naidoo handles corporate restructurings, joint ventures, and M&A matters.

At White & Case LLP, the corporate and M&A group in the South African office works in tandem with the firm’s broader network in order to handle a wide range of multijurisdictional corporate issues. Gary Felthun, who heads up the practice, has a solid track record in advising mining sector entities on domestic and international transactional matters, while Tiaan De Wit is highly regarded for his expertise in public M&A deals. Sandile Mathebula was promoted to partnership in January 2024, and Craig Atkinson relocated to the firm’s office in Riyadh.

Fasken‘s corporate and commercial practice has a solid track record in advising on large-scale M&A mandates. Practice head Werner De Waal fields extensive expertise in handling corporate restructurings, joint ventures, and private equity transactions, while Samantha van Breda assists with private M&A issues. Janke Strydom is well versed in handling corporate and commercial real estate transactions. Navisha Ghansoon regularly acts for healthcare, mining, insurance, telecoms, and aviation sector entities. Dimitri Cavvadas left the firm in April 2024.

The corporate M&A and securities team at Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa Inc has an established track record in advising financial services, mining, energy, as well as technology and infrastructure sector entities on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters. Stephen Kennedy-Good, who heads up the practice, actis for clients from the financial services arena, and Willem de Villiers is well versed in advising on restructurings, M&A, and takeovers. Amber Kardamilakis is ‘very good on the South African BEE landscape‘, and Christina Pretorius is sought after by clients in the mining, healthcare, life sciences and banking sectors. Tamara Gerwel left the firm in March 2024, while Rudolph du Plessis joined the team in February 2025.

At Baker McKenzie Johannesburg, the corporate and M&A team handles domestic and cross-border acquisitions and disposals, often acting for clients in the mining, consumer goods, telecoms, and financial services sectors. Lydia Shadrach-Razzino heads up the practice and is a highly regarded M&A expert and Verushca Pillay has solid expertise in advising on BEE transactions, M&A deals, and private equity transactions. Ashlin Perumall is versed in fintech M&A mandates. Marc Yudaken has left the firm.

Gasant Orrie and Ernie Van Der Vyver jointly head the corporate practice at Clyde & Co LLP, which is well versed in assisting clients from the insurance, financial services, and real estate sectors with high-value acquisitions. Nicole Britton specialises in financial regulatory law, and is a key contact for insurers for a broad range of commercial and corporate transactional matters. Raeesah Gani brings experience in handling commercial contracts and M&A-related corporate transactions, and Zahrah Ebrahim assists with due diligence and structuring issues.

Under the leadership of Kabelo Dlothi and Yushanta Rungasammy, the corporate and commercial practice at CMS South Africa has solid expertise in handling cross-border corporate mandates, and continues to assist with disposals, corporate restructurings, BEE transactions, corporate finance and regulatory issues. Dlothi is a key contact for clients in the private equity, energy, infrastructure, and financial services sectors, and Rungasammy has experience in handling pan-African matters, as well as assisting Indian and Chinese clients with a broad range of corporate and commercial work. Sihle Bulose regularly acts for telecoms, mining, consumer goods, and public sector entities.

Led by the ‘highly experienced‘ Jeff Buckland, the corporate team at Lawtons Africa counts M&A transactions as a core area of instruction, and is equally adept at handling joint ventures, BEE transactions, private equity transactions and corporate regulatory and compliance issues, which form a key pillar of Zaakira Haffejee‘s practice.