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Vivien Chaplin

Sector Head, Director

Vivien Chaplin is a Director in our Corporate & Commercial practice and Head of the Mining & Minerals sector. 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

Languages

Languages

  • English

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

Languages

  • English

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

Developments in the Mining Industry in South Africa: The Draft Mineral Resources Development Bill, 2025 published for comment
Mining & Minerals

Developments in the Mining Industry in South Africa: The Draft Mineral Resources Development Bill, 2025 published for comment

Yesterday, the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (Minister), Gwede Mantashe, published the draft Mineral Resources Development Bill, 2025 (Draft Bill) and invited interested...
A quick guide to B-BBEE ownership transactions in South Africa
Corporate & Commercial Law

A quick guide to B-BBEE ownership transactions in South Africa

The element of ownership is regarded as one of the most important elements of the broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) scorecard, as set out in the Codes of Good Practice...
Seized and suspended: Is your mining investment safe from political crises?
Corporate & Commercial Law

Seized and suspended: Is your mining investment safe from political crises?

Earlier this year, Barrick Gold, a leading Canadian mining company, temporarily suspended operations at its Loulo-Gounkoto mine in Mali following the seizure of gold stocks by the...
Industry update on Rail Sector Private Sector Participation: RFIs for PSP Projects in terms of Transnet's Network Statement are now available
Transport & Logistics

Industry update on Rail Sector Private Sector Participation: RFIs for PSP Projects in terms of Transnet's Network Statement are now available

On 22 January 2025, Vivien Chaplin and Gaby Wesson wrote an alert on the finalisation of Transnet’s Network Statement. You can find it here . Below is an update on the alert in respect...
CDH and Thungela shine the spotlight on the potential of the South African mining sector
Mining & Minerals

CDH and Thungela shine the spotlight on the potential of the South African mining sector

Cape Town, 4 February 2025 - Leading corporate and commercial law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) together with the Junior Mining Council (JMC) was deeply honoured to host Thungela...

All articles by Vivien
Companies Act Developments Seminar
Corporate & Commercial Law

Companies Act Developments Seminar

On Tuesday, 30 January 2024, our Corporate & Commercial practice hosted a seminar on Companies Act Developments.

All videos by Vivien

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 2021–2024 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 2021–2024 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

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