Tessa Brewis

Tessa began her legal career in 1999 as a Candidate Attorney and was admitted as an attorney, notary public, and conveyancer in 2001. She served as Programme Manager of the Non-Profit Law Programme at the Non-Profit Consortium from 2003 to 2006, demonstrating her commitment to public interest law and governance. She joined Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (then Cliffe Dekker) as an Associate in 2007, quickly rising through the ranks to become a Senior Associate in 2008 and Director in 2011. Her diverse international background, including legal studies in Belgium and Scotland, and professional experience in London, enriches her global perspective and ability to advise clients with cross-jurisdictional needs.

• Lead adviser to AMEA Power, the leading Dubai-based developer, owner and operator of renewable energy projects with a pipeline of over 6GW across 20 countries with the financial close of the 120MW Doornhoek Solar Project which was bid in BW6 of REIPPP, with a transaction value in excess of ZAR2 billion in 2024.

• Lead advisor to Enernet Global on the 15MW (with possible expansion to 50MW) solar PV facility for Black Mountain Mining 

• Lead advisor to Broadreach Energy who designed the Energy System for the Newinbosch Housing estate in Stellenbosch, around a custom-built microgrid for the neighbourhood and energy sources include solar, grid supply, batteries and generators to ensure uninterrupted power.

• Lead advisor to Longyuan Renewables and Atlantic Energy Partners on the project development and bidding of the 240MW Bothasig Project in Round 7 of REIPPP.

• Lead advisor to G7 Renewable Energy in respect of the disposal of a wind farm development.

• Part of the team advising Merchant Energy on acquiring and bringing to financial close five utility scale solar PV projects.

• Part of the team advising Standard Bank on the financial close and debt funding of Cullinan Solar PV C&I Project

• China Harbour Engineering Company Limited in respect of its proposed private participation in the Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 project, with Transnet as the co shareholder.

• Arcelor Mittal in respect of the development of a 200MW embedded generation Solar PV Project.

• Scatec in respect of its bid submissions for 9 Solar PV projects in BW 5 of REIPPP.

• Pele Green Energy in respect of its bid submissions for the Grootpoort and Sonvanger Projects in BW 5 of REIPPP.

• The Energy Exchange of Southern Africa in respect of embedded generation private sector renewable power projects, wheeling and trading arrangements.

• Atlantis Foundries in respect of embedded generation private sector renewable power projects.

• Shell Downstream South Africa (Pty) Ltd in respect of embedded generation private sector renewable power projects.

• As part of the sponsor counsel team, Frog Foot Proprietary Limited in respect of embedded generation private sector renewable power projects.

• As part of a team, Vutomi Energy (Pty) Ltd in respect of embedded generation private sector renewable power projects.

• Broadreach Energy in respect of utilities management services to body corporates and home owners' associations.

• Broadreach Energy in respect of an energy and water efficiency and cost savings product offering.

• Old Mutual in respect of the due diligence and bid to acquire equity in a wind, solar and battery hybrid project that was appointed as a preferred bidder in the Risk Mitigation IPP Procurement Programme.

• Phakwe Power in respect of the acquisition of the Richards Bay Gas Power 2 Project and advising Richards Bay Gas Power 2 Proprietary Limited in respect of its bid in the in the RMIPPP.

• AIIM in respect of the due diligence of the Richards Bay Gas Power 2 Project.

• Phakwe Power in respect of the acquisition of 39% in the Witkop Solar Project in 2018.

• Member of the team that advised Metier Investment and Advisory Services on acquisition of the Harbour House Group and lead the due diligence investigation process in 2015.

• Advisor to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) on numerous matters including establishment of an entity in South Africa. 

• The Legal 500 EMEA 2021 - 2025 recommended Tessa for projects & infrastructure.
• IFLR1000 2022 and 2024 recommended Tessa as a highly regarded practitioner for Project Development.