The team works seamlessly, as an integrated unit, with skilled corporate, finance and tax lawyers and chartered accountants from the firm’s various practice areas. With one of the largest private equity teams, we have a full-service offering in South Africa and the sub-Saharan region, with a depth of skill and extensive experience in all prominent sectors attractive to private equity investors in Africa.

The specialist practice areas at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr that are principally involved in providing these services are Corporate and Commercial, Tax and Exchange Control, Competition and Finance and Banking. To the extent necessary, we call on professionals with specialist knowledge in areas such as regulatory, projects, employment, intellectual property and public law.

Our services include:

• Fund formation.
• Portfolio acquisitions and exits.
• Legal and tax due diligence.
• BEE and management participation structures.
• Follow-on acquisitions.
• Debt and equity restructuring or refinancing.
• Business rescue processes.

• Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr is representing Entersekt Proprietary Limited and Entersekt International Limited, the South Africa-based fintech provider. Our client focuses on mobile-based security software protection; mobile banking and e-commerce transactions; and the protection of access to sensitive records and systems in healthcare, insurance, and government. Our fintech team has been leading work for this client in a round of private equity investments in the business by Rand Merchant Investment Holdings and BoE Private Equity Investments.

Sector rankings

• 2020 Catalyst Private Equity Deal of the Year
• M&A Legal DealMakers of the Decade 2010 – 2019 (Deal Flow)
• Dealmakers 2018 - Lead legal advisers on the Private Equity Deal of the Year.

Ranked Practitioners

• Chambers Global 2017–2022 ranked Mark Linington in Band 1 for tax: consultants. Chambers Global 2007–2016 ranked Mark in Band 2 for tax: consultants. The Legal 500 EMEA 2019-2021 recommended Mark in investment funds. The Legal 500 EMEA 2013, 2016–2021 recommended Mark for tax. The Legal 500 EMEA 2016 recommended him for commercial, corporate/M&A. Mark was identified as a leading lawyer by Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Tax – Advisory for 2017. The Legal Experts EMEA 2012 listed him as an expert in his field. Mark was endorsed as a tax adviser by PLC Which Lawyer 2008–2012.
  
  
• Chris Charter is the National Practice Head of the Competition team. Chambers Global 2018 - 2022 ranked him in Band 1 for competition/antitrust. Chambers Global 2015–2017 ranked him in Band 2 for competition/antitrust. The Legal 500 EMEA 2017 – 2021 recommended Chris as a leading individual for competition. The Legal 500 EMEA 2012–2016 recommended him for competition. IFLR1000 2018 and 2020 recommended him as a highly regarded competition lawyer. IFLR1000 2011–2017 recommended Chris as a leading lawyer for competition. Who’s Who Legal identified Chris as one of world’s leading Competition lawyers for 2017 – 2019. He was identified in The International Who’s Who of Competition Lawyers & Economists 2014 and The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers 2014.
  
  
• Willem Jacobs is the National Practice Head of the Corporate & Commercial team. Chambers Global 2014–2022 ranked Willem in Band 2 for corporate/M&A. The Legal 500 EMEA 2016–2021 recommended him as a leading individual for commercial, corporate/M&A. Willem was also recommended in 2012–2016 for mining; as well as commercial, corporate and M&A. IFLR1000 2018-2020 recommended Willem as a highly regarded lawyer for M&A and private equity. IFLR1000 2011–2015 and 2017 recommended him as a leading lawyer in this area. Who’s Who Legal 2019 ranked Willem as a leading lawyer in M&A and Governance. Who’s Who Legal 2017–2018 identified Willem as a leading lawyer for M&A. He was identified as a leading lawyer by The International Who’s Who of Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyers 2014 and was identified in The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers 2014.
  
  
• The Legal 500 EMEA 2019-2020 recommended John Gillmer  in investment funds. The Legal 500 EMEA 2018 and 2021 recommended John for commercial, corporate/M&A.
  
  
• Chambers Global 2014–2022 ranked Deon Wilken  in Band 3 for banking & finance. The Legal 500 EMEA 2013–2021 recommended him for banking and finance. IFLR1000 2018-2020 recommended Deon as a highly regarded lawyer for capital markets: debt, energy and infrastructure and for project finance. IFLR1000 2014–2015 and 2017 recommended him for capital markets: debt, energy and infrastructure and for project finance.