Corné Lewis

Corné began his career in 2009 as a Candidate Attorney at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr. He was appointed as an Associate in January 2011. In 2013 Corné was promoted to Senior Associate. He was appointed as a Director in 2016.

• Extensive experience in advising mining houses in both South Africa, Lesotho and Namibia including but not limited to mining licenses, sale of material, Ferro Alloy, Chrome and commercial litigation.

• Conducted an investigation into allegations of bribery, fraud and procurement irregularities committed by a senior employee in a multinational oil and gas company. The work involved a review of information, internal policies and applicable legislation, analysing evidence including laptop and cellular phone data, leading interviews with persons of interest and preparing a report on the findings.

• Advise multinational mining corporations, in relation to an internal investigation into allegations of fraud, procurement irregularities and conflicts of interest. Providing legal advice in relation to various criminal offences as well as advising on the duty to report in terms of section 34 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004 and preparing a report on the findings.

• Advise and assist clients with registering criminal cases as well as fulfilling their reporting obligations in terms of section 34 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act No 12 of 2004

• Providing anti-bribery and corruption training to senior management of a state – owned company in relation to the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act No 12 of 2004.

• Advised both public and private companies on compliance with the Public Finance Management Act No 1 of 1999 in regards to entering of lease agreements with state organs.

• Advised client in a multinational dispute consisting of parties residing in Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, Malta, United Arab Emirates, Australia and China. The dispute pertains to allegations of siphoning monies out of the Republic of South Africa estimated at $1.9 billion. 

• Conduct forensic investigation at the South African Post Office Board on management of tender procedure, irregularities, Public Finance Management Act No 1 of 1999.

• Assisted in advising clients on customs and excise issues including tariff applications and advising on disputes and prepared detailed submissions to SARS in relation to customs and excise.

• Advising the National Health Laboratory Services in dispute resolution matters, as well as commercial, litigation, and contract resolution and drafting.

• Extensive experience in advising clients on National and Provincial Gambling Regulatory compliances both in the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho.

• Assists with a number of Review Applications on behalf of both South African corporates as well as Parastatals/State Owned Entities

• Experienced in the institution of liquidation and sequestration proceedings and setting aside of dispositions and the holding of enquiries into the affairs of the company.

• Advised and assisted the Industrial Development Corporation in a multi-billion rand mining project in the Mpumalanga.

• Member of team involved in multi-rand arbitration between major players in the primary energy sector of South Africa on coal supply agreements.

• Member of team involved in providing advice and comment to National Gambling Amendment Bill.

• Member of team involved in due diligence Investigations into risks with various coal supply agreements for Eskom.

• Extensive experience in the institution of both residential and commercial evictions proceedings.

• Chambers Global 2026 ranked Corné as an “Up & Coming” dispute resolution lawyer.
• The Legal 500 EMEA 2024 - 2025 recommended Corné as a leading individual for dispute resolution.
• The Legal 500 EMEA 2022-2023 recommended Corné for dispute resolution.
• The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 recognised Corné on its Arbitration Private Practice Powerlist - Africa Region.