Tessa began her career as a Candidate Attorney in 1999 and was appointed as an Associate in 2002. She was the programme manager of the Non-Profit Law Programme at the Non-Profit Consortium from 2003 to 2006. Tessa joined Cliffe Dekker (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) as an Associate in 2007, was promoted to Senior Associate in 2008 and became a Director in 2011. Tessa completed her LLB in Belgium and lived and worked in London prior to commencing articles.

• Advised Phakwe Power in respect of the acquisition of 39% in the Witkop Solar Project in 2018.
• Advised the Central Energy Fund in respect of the acquisition of equity in the Redstone Concentrated Solar Project in 2018.
• Advised the shareholders of Intikon Energy (Pty) Ltd, which owns interest in the Lesedi, Letsatsi and Jasper solar PV projects, on the disposal of Intikon to Tri-Alpha (2015-2018).
• Advised Slimsun and Slimsun Too in respect of submission of bids in Rounds 1 and 2 of the renewable energy IPP Procurement Programme.
• Advised EDPR in respect of submission of bids in Round 3 of the renewable energy IPP Procurement Programme.
• Advisor to Africa Clean Energy Developments on a number of Round 1, 2 and 3 projects including the Cookhouse Wind Farm project.
• Advised AFPOC shareholders in respect of disposal of shares in AFPOC to Inspired Evolution.
• Advised New Symphony Energy in respect of the various projects submitted pursuant to the Small IPP Procurement Programme.
• Advised Southern Energy in respect of commercial aspects of 660MW coal-fired power station in Zimbabwe.
• Advised Aurora Power Solutions in respect of the installation and lease of solar PV panels on commercial and residential buildings.
• Advised Windlab Systems Pty Ltd in respect of the land use agreements for a wind farm situated near Bedford in the Eastern Cape, South Africa pursuant to the Department of Energy's renewable energy IPP Procurement Programme.
• Advised on, structured and negotiated numerous mergers and acquisitions, complex due diligence investigations, downstream private equity transactions, joint ventures and corporate restructures including advising on share sale agreements, sale of business agreements, shareholders agreements, MOIs, option agreements, funding and security agreements, restraint of trade undertakings and advising on various commercial arrangements relating to renewable energy projects.
• Advised Distell in respect of the acquisition of Poison City Brewery in 2018.
• Advised Distell in respect of the acquisition of Best Global Brands which carries on business in Angola, Nigeria, Kenya and elsewhere in Africa and lead the due diligence investigation process, in 2017.
• Advised to EnviroServ on the Vissershok Landfill site notarial lease in 2017.
• Advised Distell in respect of a joint venture in the USA in 2016.
• Advised Fruit and Veg City on the acquisition of the Glen Aire Butcheries and lead the due diligence investigation process in 2016.
• Advised the Dentsu Aegis Network on the acquisition of media businesses in South Africa, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania and lead the due diligence investigation process, in 2016.
• Advised Takealot in respect of a capital raise in 2016.
• Advised ABAX Investments Proprietary Limited on investment by Affiliated Managers Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation in 2015.
• Advising OneLogix in respect of a number of acquisitions and joint ventures.
• Member of the team that advised Metier Investment and Advisory Services on acquisition of the Harbour House Group and lead the due diligence investigation process in 2015.
• Advised Takealot on the acquisition of Kalahari and lead the due diligence investigation process in 2015.
• Advised Takealot on the acquisition of Superbalist and lead the due diligence investigation process in 2015.
• Member of the team that advised Independent News and Media Plc. in respect of its disposal of Independent News and Media South Africa in 2014
• Advised Takealot on the acquisition of Mr Delivery.
• Advisor to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) on numerous matters including establishment of an entity in South Africa.

• The Legal 500 EMEA 2021-2022 recommended Tessa for Projects & Infrastructure.
• IFLR1000 2022 recommended Tessa as a highly regarded practitioner for Project Development.

Publications

• Beware of excluding liability for consequential damages in confidentiality agreements - 7 November 2016: Discusses the consequences of excluding liability for consequential damages in confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

Education

• B Comm LLB, University of Stellenbosch
• International Legal Studies Certificate, University of Antwerp (Belgium)
• LLM, Aberdeen University (Scotland)
• Year of admission as an attorney, notary public and conveyancer: 2001
• Registered with the Legal Practice Council