Vivien Chaplin

Sector Head, Director

Vivien Chaplin is a Director in our Corporate & Commercial practice and Head of the Mining & Minerals sector. She brings over 25 years of experience advising on local and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, company law and corporate governance issues, and the drafting of specialised commercial contracts.

Vivien Chaplin

About Vivien

About Vivien

Vivien is an accomplished corporate and commercial lawyer with over 25 years of experience, focusing on mergers and acquisitions and all aspects of corporate law. She has extensive expertise advising on both local and cross-border M&A transactions, corporate governance, and company law matters, as well as drafting and negotiating specialised commercial contracts.

Before joining Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, Vivien was the head of the Corporate Commercial Team at Hogan Lovells in Johannesburg. Before that, she served as a Corporate Partner at ENSafrica, further cementing her reputation as a trusted advisor in the field.

Vivien is a recognised thought leader in the mining industry and its intersection with the logistics which support mining in South Africa.

Credentials

Credentials

Education

  • BA/LLB, University of Cape Town
  • Registered with the Legal Practice Council

Memberships

  • Registered member of the Commission of Experts for the Supervisory Authority of the Luxembourg Protocol to The Convention.

Languages

Languages

  • English

About Vivien

Vivien is an accomplished corporate and commercial lawyer with over 25 years of experience, focusing on mergers and acquisitions and all aspects of corporate law. She has extensive expertise advising on both local and cross-border M&A transactions, corporate governance, and company law matters, as well as drafting and negotiating specialised commercial contracts.

Before joining Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, Vivien was the head of the Corporate Commercial Team at Hogan Lovells in Johannesburg. Before that, she served as a Corporate Partner at ENSafrica, further cementing her reputation as a trusted advisor in the field.

Vivien is a recognised thought leader in the mining industry and its intersection with the logistics which support mining in South Africa.

Credentials

Education

  • BA/LLB, University of Cape Town
  • Registered with the Legal Practice Council

Memberships

  • Registered member of the Commission of Experts for the Supervisory Authority of the Luxembourg Protocol to The Convention.

Languages

  • English

News

Market recognition

  • Chambers Global 2024 - 2025 ranked Vivien in Band 5 for corporate/M&A.
  • Chambers Global 2025 ranked Vivien in Band 4 for energy & natural resources: mining.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2021–2025 recommended her for commercial, corporate/M&A.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2021–2025 also recommended her for mining.
  • IFLR1000 2021–2025 ranked Vivien as highly regarded in M&A.
  • Winner of Lexology ILO Client Service Award for Corporate Law: South Africa (2019)
  • Finalist: Businesswoman of the Year (Legal): 2010

Market recognition

  • Chambers Global 2024 - 2025 ranked Vivien in Band 5 for corporate/M&A.
  • Chambers Global 2025 ranked Vivien in Band 4 for energy & natural resources: mining.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2021–2025 recommended her for commercial, corporate/M&A.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2021–2025 also recommended her for mining.
  • IFLR1000 2021–2025 ranked Vivien as highly regarded in M&A.
  • Winner of Lexology ILO Client Service Award for Corporate Law: South Africa (2019)
  • Finalist: Businesswoman of the Year (Legal): 2010