Phetole began his career in 2009 as a CA at CDH and was appointed as a junior associate in January 2011 within our Finance & Banking practice. He re-joins the firm as a Director. Described by clients in the IFLR rankings as a “bold and dynamic breath of fresh air”, Phetole specialises in finance (debt and equity), general banking, and financial services. He primarily acts for financial institutions (both local and foreign) in respect of finance and security structures, which include structured leveraged and acquisition finance.

He also has acquired experience in certain specialist areas of finance, such as municipal and public finance, and has a working knowledge of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 and the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003. As a Director, Phetole is committed to high performance and has a proven track record of mentoring junior lawyers and building a pipeline of future partners.

Joining the Finance & Banking practice as a Director, Pitso has developed extensive experience in both domestic and cross-border general finance and debt capital market transactions across several jurisdictions on the African continent and continually advises clients doing transactions not only in South Africa and other African jurisdictions, but also in the United States, Europe, and Asia.

The specialist knowledge he has acquired in both debt capital markets, and general finance has enabled him to advise a wider range of clients, which presents an opportunity in a market where not many lawyers provide dual finance and debt capital markets advice. Client feedback via IFLR is that Pitso “has a very high quality of work, professionally executed”.

As a Director, Sabelo focuses primarily on secured and syndicated lending, as well as acquisition finance, restructuring finance, financing for public offers, and leveraged finance (particularly LBOs, both as an advisor to senior and mezzanine funders). In addition, Sabelo has also acquired considerable experience in specialist areas like public finance, real estate finance in Africa, debt restructuring, aviation financing, commodity finance, inventory financing as well as treasury management.

New Director Mbali specialises in general finance and debt capital markets and has extensive experience representing investment banks, commercial banks, private and public borrowers, and issuers. Her expertise extends to both domestic and cross-border transactions in both general finance and debt capital markets and covers a broad range of transactions including acquisition financing, structured trade financing, leverage financing, medium-term note programmes, inward listed programmes, and standalone bond issuances and/or transactions.

“On behalf of CDH, I extend a warm welcome to Phetole, Pitso, Mbali, and Sabelo,” says Deon Wilken, Finance & Banking practice head.

“We know that the combination of their expertise and people-focussed approach will add immense value to our finance & banking practice, and our firm.”