MARKETPLACE ACCOLADES


Werksmans has received a variety of local and international accolades acknowledging the firm’s leadership in the field of corporate and commercial law in South Africa.

INDUSTRY RECOGNITION

Our firm has been recognised by the following credible international rankings organisations:

  • Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business - Werksmans is recognised in Banking & Finance, Competition/Antitrust, Corporate/M&A, Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, Media & Broadcasting and Tax.
  • IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms – the firm is recognised in Banking & Project Finance, Capital Markets, Competition and Mergers & Acquisitions.
  • Legal 500: Werksmans is recognised in Banking and Finance, Competition, Corporate and M&A, Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, Labour and Employment, Mining, Projects and Infrastructure and Tax.
  • PLC Which Lawyer: The firm is recommended in Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Competition/Antitrust, Corporate/M&A, Corporate Real Estate, Dispute Resolution, Energy, Intellectual Property, Labour & Employee Benefits, Outsourcing/IT, Private Equity/Venture Capital, Restructuring & Insolvency, Tax and Telcommunications/Media.

Our leadership in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) has been recognised by diversity of respected national and international research institutions including:

  • DealMakers: Werksmans is consistently recognised as leading adviser in the categories of M&A and corporate finance. The firm achieved an unsurpassed record of being recognised as the leading corporate law firm in M&As by deal flow for three consecutive years - 2006, 2007 and 2008.
  • Ernst & Young M&A Review of Activity: Werksmans was recognised as the leading law firm in South African M&A by deal flow in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and was also top ranked by deal value in 2008. In 2009, the firm was acknowledged as the second most active law firm in M&A by deal flow. This research has since been discontinued.
  • MergerMarket’s South Africa M&A Round-up: Werksmans was recognised as South Africa’s most active law firm in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

LEADERSHIP ACCOLADES

Our directors’ legal expertise has been widely acknowledged by various international industry bodies and research organisations.

  • Best Lawyers International: Werksmans lawyers are recognised in the fields of Antitrust, Arbitration & Mediation, Banking, Capital Markets, Construction, Corporate, Finance, Health Care, Insolvency & Reorganization, International, Litigation, Media, Mergers & Acquisitions, Regulatory, Tax, Trusts and Estates.
  • International Who’s Who Legal: Werksmans lawyers are recognised in the fields of Arbitration, Banking, Capital Markets, Commercial Litigation, Competition, Corporate Governance, Corporate Tax, Mergers & Acquisitions, Mining and Regulatory Communications.

AMANDA ARMSTRONG

  • Named as a leading lawyer in the speciality of Media by Best Lawyers International (2008 – 2010).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Media & Broadcasting by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2008 - 2011).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Regulatory Communications by the International Who’s Who Legal (2007 - 2011).
  • Named as a leading lawyer (2007), a recommended lawyer (2010), and an endorsed lawyer (2011) in Media; and as a highly recommended lawyer in Telecommunications (2007) by PLC Which Lawyer.
  • Named as a leading lawyer in the PLC Cross Border Media & Communications Handbook (2009/10).
  • Named as a leading expert in Legal Media Group’s Guide to the World’s Leading Telecommunications Lawyers (2008).

AMELIA HEEGER

  • Named as a leading lawyer in Finance by Best Lawyers International (2010).
  • Named as an up-and-coming lawyer (2007 - 2009) and as a leading lawyer (2010 and 2011) in Banking and Finance by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
  • Named as a recommended lawyer in Banking and Finance by the Legal500 (2010).
  • Named as a recommended lawyer (2007 - 2009), as a leading lawyer (2010) and as an endorsed lawyer (2011) in Banking and Finance by PLC Which Lawyer.

ANASTASIA VATALIDIS

  • Named as a recommended lawyer in Labour and Employment by the Legal500 (2010).
  • Named as a recommended lawyer (2009), a leading lawyer (2010), and an endorsed lawyer (2011) in Labour and Employee Benefits by PLC Which Lawyer.

BERNARD HOTZ

  • Recognised as the leading Litigation specialist in South Africa by the International Law Office in their Client Choice Awards 2010 and 2011 (chosen from more than 2,000 individual assessments received from corporate counsel worldwide).

BRIAN KEW

  • Named as a recognised lawyer (2009 and 2010) and an endorsed lawyer (2011) in Real Estate by PLC Which Lawyer.

DAVE WALKER

  • Named as a leading lawyer in Corporate by Best Lawyers International (2009 and 2010).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Outsourcing by PLC Which Lawyer (2010 and 2011).

DAVID HERTZ

  • Named as a leading lawyer in Litigation by Best Lawyers International (2008 - 2010).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Dispute Resolution by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2008 - 2011).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Commercial Litigation by the International Who’s Who Legal (2007 - 2011).
  • Named as a leading individual in Dispute Resolution by the Legal500 (2010 and 2011).
  • Named as a recognised lawyer (2009 and 2010) and an endorsed lawyer (2011) in Dispute Resolution by PLC Which Lawyer.

DES WILLIAMS

  • Appointed as the South African member of the Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce.
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Arbitration and Mediation, Construction and Litigation by Best Lawyers International (2008 - 2010).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Dispute Resolution by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2007 - 2011).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Commercial Litigation (2007 – 2011); in Arbitration (2010 and 2011); and in Commercial Litigation (2011) by the International Who’s Who Legal.
  • Named as a recommended lawyer in Dispute Resolution by the Legal500 (2010).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Dispute Resolution by PLC Which Lawyer (2007 - 2011).
  • Named as a leading expert in Legal Media Group’s Guide to the World’s Leading Litigation Lawyers (2008).

ERIC LEVENSTEIN

  • Named as a recommended lawyer (2007 - 2010) and an endorsed lawyer (2011) in Restructuring and Insolvency by PLC Which Lawyer.

ERNEST MAZANSKY

  • Named as a leading specialist in Corporate (2008 – 2009), Tax (2008 - 2010) and Trusts & Estates (2009 and 2010) by Best Lawyers International.
  • Named as a leading specialist in Tax by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2007 - 2011).
  • Named as a leading expert in the speciality of Corporate Tax by the International Who’s Who Legal (2010 and 2011).
  • Named as a recommended lawyer in Tax by the Legal500 (2010).
  • Named as a recommended (2010) and endorsed (2011) specialist in Tax by PLC Which Lawyer.
  • Named as a leading expert in Legal Media Group’s Guide to the World’s Leading Tax Advisers (2008).

GARETH DRIVER

  • Named as a leading lawyer in Antitrust, Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions by Best Lawyers International (2008 - 2010).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Corporate/M&A by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2003 - 2011).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in M&A by IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms (2007 - 2011).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in M&A and Corporate Governance by the International Who’s Who Legal (2011).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Private Equity: Buyouts by PLC Which Lawyer (2010 and 2011).
  • Named as a recommended lawyer in Competition/Antitrust (2007 and 2008) and in Corporate/M&A (2009 - 2010) by PLC Which Lawyer.
  • Named as a recognised lawyer in Competition/Antitrust (2009) by PLC Which Lawyer.
  • Named as an endorsed lawyer in Corporate/M&A by PLC Which Lawyer (2011).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in the Expert Guides’ Guide to the World’s Leading M&A Lawyers (2009).
  • Named as a leading expert in Legal Media Group’s Guide to the World’s Leading M&A Lawyers (2008).

GERHARD JOHANNES

  • Named as a leading lawyer in M&A by Best Lawyers International (2009 and 2010).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Corporate/M&A by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2007 - 2011).
  • Named as a recommended lawyer in Corporate and M&A by the Legal500 (2010).
  • Named as an endorsed lawyer in Mergers and Acquisitions by PLC Which Lawyer (2011).

JACQUES VAN WYK

  • Named as a recommended lawyer (2008) and an endorsed lawyer (2011) in Labour and Employee Benefits by PLC Which Lawyer.

JANINE HOLLESEN

  • Named as a leading lawyer in Intellectual Property by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2011).

KEVIN TRUDGEON

  • Named as a leading lawyer in Finance and M&A (2008 - 2010) and in Corporate (2009 and 2010) by Best Lawyers International.
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Banking and Finance (2007 - 2009) and in Corporate/M&A (2010 and 2011) by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
  • Named as a leading lawyer in M&A by IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms (2010 and 2011).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Capital Markets (2007 - 2010) and Banking (2007 - 2011) by the International Who’s Who Legal.
  • Named as a recommended lawyer in Corporate and M&A by the Legal500 (2010).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Banking and Finance by PLC Which Lawyer (2010).
  • Named as a recommended lawyer in Banking and Finance (2007 - 2009) and Corporate/M&A (2009 and 2010) by PLC Which Lawyer.

MORNÉ VAN DER MERWE

  • Named as a leading lawyer in the specialities of Corporate and M&A by Best Lawyers International (2009 and 2010).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Corporate/M&A by Chamber’s Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2007 - 2011).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in M&A by IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms (2010 and 2011).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Mining by the International Who’s Who Legal (2010 and 2011).
  • Named as a recommended lawyer in Corporate and M&A by the Legal500 (2010).
  • Named as a recommended lawyer (2007 - 2010) and as an endorsed lawyer (2011) in Corporate/M&A by PLC Which Lawyer.

NEIL KIRBY

  • Named as a leading lawyer in Healthcare by Best Lawyers International (2008 - 2010).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Dispute Resolution by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2008 - 2011).

PATRICK MCGURK

  • Named as a leading lawyer in the speciality of Tax by Best Lawyers International (2008 – 2010).
  • Named as a leading specialist in Tax by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2011).
  • Named as an endorsed lawyer in Tax by PLC Which Lawyer (2011).

PAUL COETSER

  • Named as a leading lawyer in Antitrust, Corporate and M&A by Best Lawyers International (2008 - 2010).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Competition/Antitrust (2007 - 2011) and in Corporate/M&A (2009) in Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Competition by IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms (2011).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Competition by the International Who’s Who Legal (2011).
  • Named as a highly recommended lawyer (2007), a recommended lawyer (2008 and 2009), a leading lawyer (2010), and an endorsed lawyer (2011) in Competition/Antitrust by PLC Which Lawyer.

PAUL WINER

  • Named as a highly recommended lawyer (2008 - 2010) and an endorsed lawyer (2011) in Restructuring & Insolvency by PLC Which Lawyer.

PIERRE LE ROUX

  • Named as a recommended lawyer in Corporate/M&A by PLC Which Lawyer (2009 - 2011).

PIETER STEYN

  • Named as a leading lawyer in Antitrust by Best Lawyers International (2008 - 2010).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Competition by IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms (2011).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Competition by the International Who’s Who Legal (2007 - 2011).
  • Named by PLC Which Lawyer as a highly recommended lawyer (2007), a recommended lawyer (2008 and 2009), a leading lawyer (2010), and an endorsed lawyer (2011) in Competition/Antitrust.
  • Named by PLC Which Lawyer as a highly recommended lawyer (2007), a recommended lawyer (2008 – 2010), and an endorsed lawyer (2011) in Corporate/M&A.
  • Named by PLC Which Lawyer as a highly recommended lawyer (2007) and a recommended lawyer in Private Equity/Venture Capital (2008 and 2009).
  • Named by PLC Which Lawyer as a recognised lawyer in Corporate Governance (2007 and 2009).
  • Named by PLC Which Lawyer as a recognised lawyer (2010) and an endorsed lawyer (2011) in Director’s Duties and Liabilities.

RICHARD ROOTHMAN

  • Named as a leading lawyer in Banking & Finance by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2011).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Capital Markets (2010 and 2011) and Banking and Project Finance (2011) by IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms.
  • Named as an endorsed lawyer in Banking & Finance and in Capital Markets by PLC Which Lawyer (2011).

ROGER WAKEFIELD

  • Named as a leading lawyer in Arbitration and Mediation by Best Lawyers International (2010).

ROUX DE VILLIERS

  • Named as a leading Patent & Technology Licensing lawyer in IAM Licensing 250: The World’s Leading Patent and Technology Licensing Practitioners (2010 and 2011).

SHAUN TEICHNER

  • Named as a leading lawyer in Corporate/M&A by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2011).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in M&A by IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms (2011).
  • Named as a recommended lawyer in Corporate and M&A by the Legal500 (2010).

STUART GARDINER

  • Named as a leading lawyer in Intellectual Property by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2011).
  • Named as a recommended lawyer in Intellectual Property by the Legal500 (2010).
  • Named as a recommended lawyer (2007 - 2010) and as an endorsed lawyer (2011) in Intellectual Property by PLC Which Lawyer.

WILDU DU PLESSIS

  • Named as a leading lawyer in the speciality of Banking, Capital Markets and Finance (2008 - 2010) and Corporate and Insolvency and Reorganisation (2010) by Best Lawyers International.
  • Named as a leading lawyer in the speciality of Corporate/M&A (2007) and Banking and Finance (2007 - 2011) by Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Capital Markets (2008 - 2010) and in Banking & Finance (2011) by IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms.
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Banking (2009 - 2011) and Capital Markets (2007 - 2011) by the International Who’s Who Legal.
  • Named as a leading individual in Banking and Finance by the Legal500 (2010).
  • Named as a highly recommended lawyer in Capital Markets: Debt Capital by PLC Which Lawyer (2008 and 2009).
  • Named as a leading lawyer in Capital Markets: Debt Capital and Banking & Finance by PLC Which Lawyer (2010).
  • Named as an endorsed lawyer in Capital Markets: Debt Capital and Banking & Finance by PLC Which Lawyer (2011).