Chris Charter

After time spent at PriceWaterhouseCoopers London, Chris began his legal career as a Candidate Attorney at Cliffe Dekker (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) in 2001. He became an Associate in 2003 and was promoted to Senior Associate in 2005. In 2007 Chris became a Director.

• Chris' competition work spans a vast variety of industries, including private equity, telecommunications, construction, banking, mining, airlines, healthcare, grocery wholesale and retail, petroleum, fast moving consumer goods and financial services.

   

   

• Chris also has experience in general regulatory matters, including those pertaining to telecommunications and consumer law. Although now specialising in competition law, Chris has a strong background in corporate and commercial law which greatly assists clients in marrying competition law with commercial reality.

• Successfully acting for Massmart Holdings in general compliance matters and in relation to a number of horizontal mergers, including the acquisition of Finro Cash & Carry, which was opposed by the Commission.

• Advising Harmony Gold Mining Company in its hostile takeover bid for Gold Fields.

• Successfully defending Independent News and Media against allegations of abuse of dominance.

• Acting for Pioneer Foods in investigations into alleged collusion in the bread, maize and wheat industries.

• Acting for Aveng Limited an GrinakerLTA in regard to Commission investigations into collusion.

• Advising The Coca-Cola Company on compliance and in regard to various major acquisitions and restructures to its bottling system in South Africa and Africa

• Advising Investec Bank Limited in the restructure of its private equity division and the creation of Investec Equity Partnership (IEP) as well as ongoing advice to IEP.

• Advising Sinopec in regard to its proposed acquisition of Chevron South Africa.

• Advising Remgro in regard to its acquisition of Unilever's spreads business in South Africa and neighbouring countries.

• Advising ANZ Bank in regard to proceedings brought by the Commission against numerous banks alleged to have engaged in foreign exchange collusion.

• Advising Lonmin Plc in various matters including a proposed merger with Sibanye Stillwater.

• Advising a major pharmaceutical company in an excessive pricing investigation.

• Advising private equity firms including Brait, Metier, RMB Corvest, Abraaj, Capital Works, PSG Capital, Agile Capital, Stockdale Street and others on various acquisitions impacting South Africa and Africa.

• Chambers Global 2019 - 2026 ranks Chris Band 1 in Competition/Antitrust. Between 2015 - 2017 Chris was rated Chris Band 2 and has been ranked since 2012 after being recognized in 2009 and rated as "Up and Coming" in 2011. Chambers Global notes Chris Charter stands out to many commentators for the quality of his practice, his excellent service level and his fast turnaround times.  One source added: "I'm always impressed by him."
• The Legal 500 EMEA 2017 - 2025 recommended Chris as a leading individual for competition.
• FLR1000 2024 - 2025 has ranked Chris as highly regarded as a leading lawyer in Aviation. 
• FLR1000 2019–2023 recommended Chris as a highly regarded lawyer.
• IFLR1000 2011–2018 recommended Chris as a leading lawyer. 
• Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms 2017 to 2020 named Chris as a highly regarded leading lawyer for Competition.