Peter Hesseling

Director

Peter Hesseling is a Director of our Corporate & Commercial practice and is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Peter has extensive experience in capital markets transactions, local and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, private equity transactions, company law, REITs, corporate restructuring, transaction structuring, black economic empowerment, the investment industry (including the design and implementation of fund structures for various asset classes), various types of financing, selected areas of tax law, and insolvency law.

Peter Hesseling

About Peter

About Peter

Peter began his career in 1993 as a Candidate Attorney at Herbsteins (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) and became a Director in 1997. Before completing his articles, Peter trained in the South African Navy (where he served as a legal officer) and resided and worked in the Netherlands.

Credentials

Credentials

Education

  • BCom LLB, University of Stellenbosch
  • Hdip (Tax), University of Cape Town
  • Diploma in Insolvency Law
  • Year of admission as an attorney: 1995
  • Registered with the Legal Practice Council

About Peter

Peter began his career in 1993 as a Candidate Attorney at Herbsteins (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) and became a Director in 1997. Before completing his articles, Peter trained in the South African Navy (where he served as a legal officer) and resided and worked in the Netherlands.

Credentials

Education

  • BCom LLB, University of Stellenbosch
  • Hdip (Tax), University of Cape Town
  • Diploma in Insolvency Law
  • Year of admission as an attorney: 1995
  • Registered with the Legal Practice Council

News

Director removals: Is there any reason to give reasons?
Corporate & Commercial Law

Director removals: Is there any reason to give reasons?

Navigating the inconsistencies in the manner in which our courts and regulators apply the law regarding director removals at the instance of the shareholders.

Does the market sometimes not know best? Determining the “fair value” of publicly traded shares when a dissenting shareholder exercises its appraisal rights
Corporate & Commercial Law

Does the market sometimes not know best? Determining the “fair value” of publicly traded shares when a dissenting shareholder exercises its appraisal rights

In line with international trends, it is now commonplace for South African companies wishing to undertake major corporate actions to have to contend with minority shareholders seeking...

Take-private transaction roadmap: Getting your delisting transaction off the ground and across the line
Corporate & Commercial Law

Take-private transaction roadmap: Getting your delisting transaction off the ground and across the line

Today’s market is primed for take-private transactions. Private equity funds and similar investment houses are sitting on committed funds they’ve been reluctant to deploy in uncertain...

COVID-19 Corporate & Commercial Legal Considerations Webinar | 9 April 2020: More answers to your questions
Corporate & Commercial Law

COVID-19 Corporate & Commercial Legal Considerations Webinar | 9 April 2020: More answers to your questions

Since early 2020, the world has been confronted with the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly since early March 2020, many countries have requested or enforced social distancing,...

Claiming “COVID-19 made me do it” simply isn’t good enough when deciding to defer or cancel the declaration or payment of a dividend
Corporate & Commercial Law

Claiming “COVID-19 made me do it” simply isn’t good enough when deciding to defer or cancel the declaration or payment of a dividend

The national lock-down and the international effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have wreaked havoc on companies’ cash flows and have in many cases made it very difficult to predict their...

Market recognition

  • The Legal 500 EMEA series 2019-2023 listed Peter in commercial, corporate and M&A. He was also recommended for banking & finance in 2022. In 2008 and 2009 rated Peter as "Outstanding" by peers who considered him to be on top of his game and recommended him Tier 2 for established Corporate/Commercial team.
  • Chambers Global 2017 - 2023 ranks Peter Band 2 in Corporate/M&A. In 2023 Peter was ranked Band 3 for Capital Markets: Equity. Chambers Global 2016 ranked Peter Band 4 within Corporate/M&Aand Chambers Global 2014 and 2015 ranked Peter Band 5 within Corporate/M&A. "Peter is highly regarded among peers. He led the firm's work for Distell Group, advising on the South African aspects of its acquisition of Burn Stewart Distilleries."
  • Who’s Who Legal 2019 ranked Peter as a leading lawyer in M&A and Governance. Who's Who Legal 2017 named Peter as a leading lawyer for Capital Markets. In 2010 and 2011 it selected Peter Hesseling as being among the world's leading Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyers.
  • International Law Office (ILO) Client Choice Awards 2013 and 2014 named Peter the exclusive winner of the General Corporate category in South Africa.
  • Practical Law CompanyPLC Which Lawyer 2011 and 2012 endorsed Peter as a Leading Lawyer in Corporate/M&A.
  • IFLR1000 2018 - 2022 recommended Peter as a highly regarded lawyer for restructuring & insolvency and mergers & acquisition

Market recognition

  • The Legal 500 EMEA series 2019-2023 listed Peter in commercial, corporate and M&A. He was also recommended for banking & finance in 2022. In 2008 and 2009 rated Peter as "Outstanding" by peers who considered him to be on top of his game and recommended him Tier 2 for established Corporate/Commercial team.
  • Chambers Global 2017 - 2023 ranks Peter Band 2 in Corporate/M&A. In 2023 Peter was ranked Band 3 for Capital Markets: Equity. Chambers Global 2016 ranked Peter Band 4 within Corporate/M&Aand Chambers Global 2014 and 2015 ranked Peter Band 5 within Corporate/M&A. "Peter is highly regarded among peers. He led the firm's work for Distell Group, advising on the South African aspects of its acquisition of Burn Stewart Distilleries."
  • Who’s Who Legal 2019 ranked Peter as a leading lawyer in M&A and Governance. Who's Who Legal 2017 named Peter as a leading lawyer for Capital Markets. In 2010 and 2011 it selected Peter Hesseling as being among the world's leading Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyers.
  • International Law Office (ILO) Client Choice Awards 2013 and 2014 named Peter the exclusive winner of the General Corporate category in South Africa.
  • Practical Law CompanyPLC Which Lawyer 2011 and 2012 endorsed Peter as a Leading Lawyer in Corporate/M&A.
  • IFLR1000 2018 - 2022 recommended Peter as a highly regarded lawyer for restructuring & insolvency and mergers & acquisition