Eben Smit
Eben Smit is a Director in our Corporate & Commercial practice. He is a specialist in insurance and financial-services law, with extensive expertise spanning the Insurance Act, FAIS Act, Policyholder Protection Rules, Long- and Short-term Insurance Acts, FICA and the broader regulatory framework governing South Africa’s financial sector. Eben's practice focuses on regulatory compliance, licensing, product structuring, governance, distribution, and prudential and conduct requirements affecting insurers, reinsurers, underwriting managers / binder holders, intermediaries and other commercial entities with insurance interests or products.
He also advises on how these frameworks interact with related corporate and commercial legislation, including the Companies Act and other statutes that shape the structuring and governance of regulated entities. His strength lies in translating complex legislative requirements into practical, business-aligned strategies - supporting clients in achieving both regulatory certainty and commercial agility.
About Eben
About Eben
With more than 13 years’ experience in the insurance and financial-services industry, Eben has held senior legal leadership positions across multiple insurance groups. He previously served as Group Legal Counsel and Group Company Secretary of a JSE-listed insurance group, and as Senior Legal Counsel to both the life and non-life divisions of one of South Africa’s top ten insurers.
In these roles, Eben provided end-to-end legal and regulatory guidance on corporate governance, funding arrangements, outsourcing, binder and intermediary arrangements, reinsurance, and section-50 portfolio transfers. His background equips him with a comprehensive understanding of the operational, regulatory and strategic dimensions of running a licensed insurer and financial services provider in South Africa’s evolving regulatory landscape.
Eben joined CDH as a Director in November 2025.
Credentials
Credentials
Education
- LLB (NWU)
- Post Graduate Diploma in Insolvency Law and Administration (UP) (Cum Laude)
- Post Graduate Diploma in Contract Drafting and Interpretation (UJ)
- RE 5 Regulatory Examination (Moonstone)
- Admitted Attorney (North-Gauteng High Court)
Languages
Languages
- Afrikaans
- English
About Eben
With more than 13 years’ experience in the insurance and financial-services industry, Eben has held senior legal leadership positions across multiple insurance groups. He previously served as Group Legal Counsel and Group Company Secretary of a JSE-listed insurance group, and as Senior Legal Counsel to both the life and non-life divisions of one of South Africa’s top ten insurers.
In these roles, Eben provided end-to-end legal and regulatory guidance on corporate governance, funding arrangements, outsourcing, binder and intermediary arrangements, reinsurance, and section-50 portfolio transfers. His background equips him with a comprehensive understanding of the operational, regulatory and strategic dimensions of running a licensed insurer and financial services provider in South Africa’s evolving regulatory landscape.
Eben joined CDH as a Director in November 2025.
Credentials
Education
- LLB (NWU)
- Post Graduate Diploma in Insolvency Law and Administration (UP) (Cum Laude)
- Post Graduate Diploma in Contract Drafting and Interpretation (UJ)
- RE 5 Regulatory Examination (Moonstone)
- Admitted Attorney (North-Gauteng High Court)
Languages
- Afrikaans
- English
Experience
Acted as principal legal counsel for 2x Large mergers between licensed life insurers.
Acted as principal legal counsel for 1x Intermediate merger between a licensed life- and micro-insurer
Acted as principal legal counsel in relation to 3x section-50 insurance policy transfers
Advised on the legal structure required to set up a multi-million Rand outsourced distribution network for an insurance group
Acted as principal legal counsel in relation to the structuring and finalisation of 2x multi-billion Rand white labelled investment venture between a licensed life insurer and two commercial banks
Acted as principal legal counsel in relation to 2x Tier II capital funding structures between licensed life insurers and two commercial banks
Identified, completed and filed several regulatory applications and notifications in relation to inter alia material disposal and acquisitions by insurers, policy transfers, insurer asset encumbrance, changes to insurance group structures, insurers issuing additional shares as well as loans or other financial assistance to directors.
Negotiated and finalised several reinsurance treaties between both life- and non-life insurers and reinsurers
Performed several regulatory due diligences in relation to section 50 policy transfers and insurance mergers
Expertise
Corporate & Commercial Law
Our strong legal team is well versed in legislative matters and provides support across all commercial disciplines.
Insurance Law
Our lawyers combine detailed knowledge of the law with a commercial awareness of the industry.
Financial Services
CDH’s lawyers works with clients in financial services to help them achieve their commercial aims.