Stephanie Goncalves

Stephanie's responsibilities range from curating and developing know-how collections, precedents and training programmes, to embedding legal technology and data-driven solutions across the practice and firm. She plays an integral role in piloting and implementing new technologies, optimising the firm’s existing tech stack, and ensuring adoption through structured change management. Stephanie also contributes to data management and reporting initiatives, transforming information into meaningful insights for decision-making and client value.

Beyond knowledge and technology, Stephanie is deeply involved in training and professional development — from onboarding candidate attorneys to designing eLearning and partnership programmes that build skills and strengthen the firm’s talent pipeline. She ensures that the firm continues to deliver legal services that are innovative and client-centric.

Stephanie joined CDH as a Candidate Attorney in 2016. She was appointed as an Associate in 2018. Stephanie was promoted to Senior Associate in 2021 and in 2022, she was appointed Professional Support Lawyer.

• Assisted various major financial institutions in respect of debt facilities arrangements including the drafting and implementing security arrangements and loan agreements.

• Assisted in advising financial institutions in respect of aspects of the Companies Act 71 of 2008 and the Exchange Control Regulations.

• Assisted in due diligences in the finance field and prepared the due diligence reports.

• Drafted, analysed and reviewed commercial agreements and company secretarial documents including resolutions and constitutional documents.

• Drafted applicable pricing supplements and related documents for the issue of debt instruments on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

• Analytically reviewed relevant legislation such as the Companies Act, Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, Protection of Personal Information Act, National Credit Act, Consumer Protection Act, Financial Markets Act, Financial Intelligence Centre Act, Financial Sector Regulation Act etc. in order to provide well-reasoned legal opinions to clients.

• Assisted in advising 4 Africa Exchange Proprietary Limited with an application to review the Financial Services Board decision for an exchange licence to operate a stock exchange.

• Assisted in advising and facilitating NWK Limited and NWK Holdings Limited listing on 4 Africa Exchange Pty Ltd and drafting the relevant agreements regulating the relationship between all interested parties.

• Assisted 4 Africa Exchange Proprietary Limited with reviewing and amending its exchange rules and listing requirements.