Chris Charter

Practice Head, Director

Chris Charter is a Director and Head of our Competition Law practice. Chris has over 20 years' specialist experience in African anti-trust and has advised numerous blue-chip South African and multinational businesses on all aspects of competition law compliance, including merger control, prohibited practice investigations, interim relief and litigation, and market inquiry work. 

Chris has advised in mergers involving major South African listed companies and has advised  a number of global companies in obtaining South African and African regulatory clearance in respect of multinational transactions. He and his team have extensive experience in a number of African jurisdictions including COMESA.

Chris Charter

About Chris

About Chris

After time spent at PriceWaterhouseCoopers London, Chris began his legal career at Cliffe Dekker (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) in 2001. He has been a Director since 2007.

Credentials

Credentials

Education

  • BA LLB, University of Stellenbosch
  • Year of admission as an attorney: 2003
  • Registered with the Legal Practice Council

Memberships

  • Chris has served as a member of the Executive Committee and as Chairperson of the Association of Competition Law Practitioners, the successor body to the Competition Law Committees of the Council of the Law Societies of the Western Cape and Northern Provinces

  • Co-Chair of the International Bar Association's Working Groups on Unilateral Conduct and Digital Markets

About Chris

After time spent at PriceWaterhouseCoopers London, Chris began his legal career at Cliffe Dekker (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) in 2001. He has been a Director since 2007.

Credentials

Education

  • BA LLB, University of Stellenbosch
  • Year of admission as an attorney: 2003
  • Registered with the Legal Practice Council

Memberships

  • Chris has served as a member of the Executive Committee and as Chairperson of the Association of Competition Law Practitioners, the successor body to the Competition Law Committees of the Council of the Law Societies of the Western Cape and Northern Provinces

  • Co-Chair of the International Bar Association's Working Groups on Unilateral Conduct and Digital Markets

News

Many hands make ‘light’ work: Draft block exemptions for energy suppliers and users published
Competition Law

Many hands make ‘light’ work: Draft block exemptions for energy suppliers and users published

With (another) national state of disaster in place since 9 February 2023, on 8 March 2023 the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) published for public comment draft...

Robust intervention recommended in the Commission’s preliminary report on the online platform inquiry
Competition Law

Robust intervention recommended in the Commission’s preliminary report on the online platform inquiry

On 13 July 2022, the Competition Commission of South Africa (Commission) released for public comment its provisional report (Report) following a 14-month inquiry into the online platforms...

Practical considerations when enforcing pledges and cessions of shares
Dispute Resolution

Practical considerations when enforcing pledges and cessions of shares

When providing funding to a borrower, lenders will typically require some form of collateral or security as credit support for the funding to be provided. One form that the security...

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire: The Competition Appeal Court clarifies when you have exited bid-rigging cartel
Competition Law

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire: The Competition Appeal Court clarifies when you have exited bid-rigging cartel

On 10 February 2022, the Competition Appeal Court (CAC) in the case of Cross Fire Management (Pty) Ltd v The Competition Commission of South Africa Cross Fire Management ( Pty ) CAC...

Education is the key to success – well, so is competition: The Competition Commission’s guideline on the procurement of school uniform and learning materials
Competition Law

Education is the key to success – well, so is competition: The Competition Commission’s guideline on the procurement of school uniform and learning materials

The Competition Commission has again weighed in on the market for the procurement and supply of school uniforms and other learning-related materials. The Commission reports that since...

Market recognition

  • Chambers Global 2019-2023 ranks Chris Band 1 in Competition/Antitrust. Between 2015 - 2017 Chris was rated Chris Band 2 and has been ranked since 2012 after being recognized in 2009 and rated as "Up and Coming" in 2011. Chambers Global notes Chris Charter stands out to many commentators for the quality of his practice, his excellent service level and his fast turnaround times .One source added: "I'm always impressed by him."
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2017–2023 recommended Chris as a leading individual for competition.
  • IFLR1000 2022 ranked Chris highly regarded leading lawyer for Aviation.
  • Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms 2017 to 2020 named Chris as a highly regarded leading lawyer for Competition. The IFLR1000 - Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms 2010 to 2016 lists Chris as a leading lawyer in Competition/Aviation sector.
  • Who's Who Legal - The International Who's Who of Competition Lawyers and Economists 2012 to 2017 lists Chris among the leading Competition lawyers in South Africa. Who's Who Legal listed Chris among Competition Future Leaders 2017.

Market recognition

  • Chambers Global 2019-2023 ranks Chris Band 1 in Competition/Antitrust. Between 2015 - 2017 Chris was rated Chris Band 2 and has been ranked since 2012 after being recognized in 2009 and rated as "Up and Coming" in 2011. Chambers Global notes Chris Charter stands out to many commentators for the quality of his practice, his excellent service level and his fast turnaround times .One source added: "I'm always impressed by him."
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2017–2023 recommended Chris as a leading individual for competition.
  • IFLR1000 2022 ranked Chris highly regarded leading lawyer for Aviation.
  • Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms 2017 to 2020 named Chris as a highly regarded leading lawyer for Competition. The IFLR1000 - Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms 2010 to 2016 lists Chris as a leading lawyer in Competition/Aviation sector.
  • Who's Who Legal - The International Who's Who of Competition Lawyers and Economists 2012 to 2017 lists Chris among the leading Competition lawyers in South Africa. Who's Who Legal listed Chris among Competition Future Leaders 2017.