Contact

Vivien Chaplin

Director

Vivien Chaplin is a Director in our Corporate & Commercial practice. Vivien has over 20 years' experience in advising on local and cross border mergers and acquisitions, company law and corporate governance issues and drafting specialised commercial contracts.

+27 (0)11 562 1556
vivien.chaplin@cdhlegal.comJohannesburg
Vivien Chaplin

About Vivien

About Vivien

Vivien is a corporate commercial lawyer with over 20 years' experience in advising on local and cross border mergers and acquisitions, company law and corporate governance issues and drafting specialised commercial contracts.

Before joining Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, Vivien led the Corporate Commercial Team at Hogan Lovells Johannesburg, and prior to that she was a Corporate Partner at ENSafrica.

Credentials

Credentials

Education

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

About Vivien

Vivien is a corporate commercial lawyer with over 20 years' experience in advising on local and cross border mergers and acquisitions, company law and corporate governance issues and drafting specialised commercial contracts.

Before joining Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, Vivien led the Corporate Commercial Team at Hogan Lovells Johannesburg, and prior to that she was a Corporate Partner at ENSafrica.

Credentials

Education

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

Experience

Advising companies across various industries

Vivien’s experience includes advising companies across various industries on mergers and acquisitions (including the structuring, due diligence and drafting of all transaction documents), Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) transactions and advice, Employee Share Ownership Plans (ESOP) and corporate restructures.

Setting up and doing business in South Africa

Vivien assists her clients on all aspects of setting up and doing business in South Africa, including BEE, corporate governance and Companies Act compliance as well as specific regulatory advice in the mining, aviation, IT, film, industrial and logistics sectors. 

Major mining companies

Vivien also assisted major mining companies with the drafting of  high value long-term supply and offtake agreements and many large companies with the drafting of their standard form and bespoke agreements for all steps of the supply chain, as well as corporate documents such as shareholders' agreements, memoranda of incorporation, committee charters and resolutions.

Contract drafting for private and public companies

In addition, Vivien provides training on BEE, corporate governance, procurement and supply chain contract drafting to private and public companies. She regularly speaks on these topics at conferences and has published numerous articles on corporate law and BEE developments. Vivien has also assisted several non-profit organisations in the education and health sectors.

News

Defamation and the rights of companies to claim general damages: A discussion of the Constitutional Court’s judgment in Reddell and Others v Mineral Sands Resources
Corporate & Commercial Law

Defamation and the rights of companies to claim general damages: A discussion of the Constitutional Court’s judgment in Reddell and Others v Mineral Sands Resources

In terms of South African law, “ defamation ” is the intentional, wrongful publication of a defamatory statement concerning a person. A defamatory statement is generally considered...
Drawing lines in the sand: The promulgation of new Preferential Procurement Regulations and what it means for organs of state and the public
Dispute Resolution

Drawing lines in the sand: The promulgation of new Preferential Procurement Regulations and what it means for organs of state and the public

On 4 November 2022, the Minister of Finance promulgated the Preferential Procurement Regulations, 2022 (2022 Regulations) in terms of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework...
Ongoing compliance checklist for private companies
Corporate & Commercial Law

Ongoing compliance checklist for private companies

Registering a new private company, or acquiring an existing one, is usually accompanied by a level of excitement for the new business venture being pursued. To ensure that it develops...
Taking flight: Recent amendments to the Civil Aviation Act
Corporate & Commercial Law

Taking flight: Recent amendments to the Civil Aviation Act

On 6 April 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa assented to the Civil Aviation Amendment Act 22 of 2021 (Amendment Act). Once its commencement date is proclaimed, the Amendment Act will...
Conundrum of nominee directors: The tug of war relating to fiduciary duties owed to the two masters
Corporate & Commercial Law

Conundrum of nominee directors: The tug of war relating to fiduciary duties owed to the two masters

The appointment of nominee directors is a common practice in the local business sphere. A nominee director is a director who is appointed to safeguard an interest of a particular shareholder...

Recognition

2018-2023

  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2021-2023 recommended Vivien for Mining, and Corporate and M&A. She was ranked for Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Legal 500 EMEA, 2018-2019

2022

IFLR1000

  • IFLR1000 2022 recommended Vivien as a highly regarded practitioner for M&A.

2019

Lexology ILO Client Service Award

  • Winner of Lexology ILO Client Service Award for Corporate Law: South Africa (2019)

2010

Businesswoman of the Year

  • Finalist: Businesswoman of the Year (Legal): 2010

  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2021-2023 recommended Vivien for Mining, and Corporate and M&A. She was ranked for Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Legal 500 EMEA, 2018-2019

IFLR1000

  • IFLR1000 2022 recommended Vivien as a highly regarded practitioner for M&A.

Lexology ILO Client Service Award

  • Winner of Lexology ILO Client Service Award for Corporate Law: South Africa (2019)

Businesswoman of the Year

  • Finalist: Businesswoman of the Year (Legal): 2010

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