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White & Case

South Africa

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Key practice areas
Banking and finance
Banking
Project finance
Capital markets
Capital markets : Debt
Capital markets : Equity
Financial and corporate
Corporate and M&A
M&A
Energy and infrastructure
Project development : Power
Project development : Mining
Project development : Infrastructure
Project development : Energy
Project development : Energy and infrastructure
Firm overview

As the first international firm to open an office in South Africa in 1995, White & Case has established itself as one of the region's leading law firms, serving clients across the African continent for more than 40 years.

Clients value our support and advice on their most complex African deals. We advise international companies investing in Africa, as well as local companies pursuing opportunities in Africa and beyond. We offer both local and English law capabilities, and are continually recognized for our work by independent sources including Chambers Global, EMEA Finance, The Legal 500 and IFLR1000.

Address:
Katherine Towers, 1st Floor 1 Park Lane
39 Wierda Rd W, Wierda Valley
Sandton, 2196
Tel:+27 11 341 4000 Web Address:https://www.whitecase.com/law/africa/south-africa
Rankings published in 2026
Banking
Tier 2
15 firms ranked
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Tier 1

Bowmans
15 practice areas
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ENS
15 practice areas
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Webber Wentzel
15 practice areas
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Tier 2

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr
15 practice areas
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Werksmans Attorneys
15 practice areas
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White & Case
15 practice areas
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Tier 3

DLA Piper
5 practice areas
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Deneys
11 practice areas
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Fasken
13 practice areas
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Tier 4

Baker McKenzie
13 practice areas
View profile
CMS
5 practice areas
View profile

Notable

Alchemy Law Africa
3 practice areas
View profile
Gwina Attorneys Incorporated
3 practice areas
View profile
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
12 practice areas
View profile
Poswa Incorporated
4 practice areas
View profile
Capital markets : Debt
Tier 3
8 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

Bowmans
15 practice areas
View full profile
ENS
15 practice areas
View full profile
Webber Wentzel
15 practice areas
View profile

Tier 2

Baker McKenzie
13 practice areas
View profile
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr
15 practice areas
View full profile
Werksmans Attorneys
15 practice areas
View profile

Tier 3

White & Case
15 practice areas
View full profile

Notable

Deneys
11 practice areas
View profile
Capital markets : Equity
Tier 4
8 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

Bowmans
15 practice areas
View full profile
ENS
15 practice areas
View full profile
Webber Wentzel
15 practice areas
View profile

Tier 2

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr
15 practice areas
View full profile
Werksmans Attorneys
15 practice areas
View profile

Tier 3

Baker McKenzie
13 practice areas
View profile

Tier 4

DLA Piper
5 practice areas
View profile
White & Case
15 practice areas
View full profile
M&A
Tier 3
20 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

Bowmans
15 practice areas
View full profile
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr
15 practice areas
View full profile
ENS
15 practice areas
View full profile
Webber Wentzel
15 practice areas
View profile

Tier 2

DLA Piper
5 practice areas
View profile
Werksmans Attorneys
15 practice areas
View profile

Tier 3

Baker McKenzie
13 practice areas
View profile
Deneys
11 practice areas
View profile
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
12 practice areas
View profile
White & Case
15 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 4

Fasken
13 practice areas
View profile

Tier 5

Alchemy Law Africa
3 practice areas
View profile
Dentons
7 practice areas
View profile
Eversheds Sutherland
8 practice areas
View profile

Notable

CMS
5 practice areas
View profile
Gwina Attorneys Incorporated
3 practice areas
View profile
Poswa Incorporated
4 practice areas
View profile
Primerio International
2 practice areas
View profile
Solaris Law
1 practice area
View profile
Zaakira Haffejee
1 practice area
View profile
Project development : Energy and infrastructure
Tier 3
17 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

Bowmans
15 practice areas
View full profile
Deneys
11 practice areas
View profile
ENS
15 practice areas
View full profile
Webber Wentzel
15 practice areas
View profile

Tier 2

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr
15 practice areas
View full profile
Fasken
13 practice areas
View profile
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
12 practice areas
View profile
Werksmans Attorneys
15 practice areas
View profile

Tier 3

Baker McKenzie
13 practice areas
View profile
Dentons
7 practice areas
View profile
Pinsent Masons
5 practice areas
View profile
White & Case
15 practice areas
View full profile

Notable

Alchemy Law Africa
3 practice areas
View profile
Beech Veltman
6 practice areas
View profile
CMS
5 practice areas
View profile
Gwina Attorneys Incorporated
3 practice areas
View profile
Sitef & Co
2 practice areas
View profile
White & Case
Linked Reviews
Financial and corporate

First opening in South Africa in 1995, White & Case's South African office serves clients across the African continent.The firm has a particularly strong practice in banking, achieving tier 2 status in this practice During the research period the firm worked on acquisitions, investments, project financings, loans and investments as well as bond, sukuk, green note and structured bond issues and energy and mining projects.

 

Highlights 

The firm advised VDC JNB 12 Propco Proprietary, VDC JNB 12 Opco Proprietary, VDC JNB 11 Propco Proprietary, VDC JNB 11 Opco Proprietary and VDC JNB 21 Proprietary with acquiring funding from FirstRand Bank Limited and Investec Bank Limited in order to fund the development, construction and commissioning of certain data centres. 

The firm advised Harith InfraCo on the $360 million acquisition of the Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund’s (PAIDF) interests in an infrastructure portfolio with significant stakes in assets across six Sub-Saharan African countries. 

 

Key clients 

African Development Bank, International Finance Corporation, MTN Group, Nedbank, and The Standard Bank South Africa. 

 

Testimonials 

“Willingness to work around the clock - important for an investment bank and also to find client solutions.” - Banking and finance Client 

“Find client solutions.” - Lindani Mthembu 

(2024/2025) 

“WC is dedicated and top tier.” - Banking and finance Client 

“Gary is a very able solution and detail-oriented lawyer who has been with us for over 15 years.” - Gary Felthun 

13 results13 results
Craig Atkinson
Firm:
White & Case
Practice Area:
M&A
Jurisdiction:
Saudi Arabia
Bar Admission:
South Africa
England & Wales
Sboniso Cibane
Firm:
White & Case
Practice Area:
Banking
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Bar Admission:
South Africa
Alex Cullinan
Firm:
White & Case
Practice Area:
Banking
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Bar Admission:
South Africa
England & Wales
Gary Felthun
Firm:
White & Case
Practice Area:
Private equity
M&A
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Bar Admission:
South Africa
Elaine Langa
Firm:
White & Case
Practice Area:
Banking and finance
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Bar Admission:
South Africa
Mayiphephi Makhajane
Firm:
White & Case
Practice Area:
Banking and finance
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Bar Admission:
South Africa
Sandile Mathebula
Firm:
White & Case
Practice Area:
Corporate and M&A
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Bar Admission:
South Africa
Nonhlakanipho Mchunu
Firm:
White & Case
Practice Area:
Corporate and M&A
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Bar Admission:
South Africa
Lindani Mthembu
Firm:
White & Case
Practice Area:
Banking and finance
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Bar Admission:
South Africa
Matthew Richards
Firm:
White & Case
Practice Area:
Project development : Energy and infrastructure
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Bar Admission:
South Africa
Matthew Richards
Firm:
White & Case
Practice Area:
Project development : Energy and infrastructure
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Lulama Selele
Firm:
White & Case
Practice Area:
Project finance
Project development : Energy and infrastructure
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Bar Admission:
South Africa
Lionel Shawe
Firm:
White & Case
Practice Area:
Banking
Capital markets : Structured finance and securitisation
Jurisdiction:
South Africa
Industry Sector:
Mining
Bar Admission:
South Africa
Deal Highlights
6 results6 results
Deal Name Deal Date Firm Name Jurisdiction Deal Type Lawyer Names Client Names Client Role
Eskom Holdings SOC - Bond Issue
2021-07-01
White & Case
South Africa
Bond issue
Eskom Holdings SOC
Issuer
A.P. Moller Capital P/S - M&A
2023-03-29
White & Case
South Africa
M&A
Alexander Robinson, Asta Tukiainen, Benjamin Cripps, Claire Slunecko, Ewa Orpen, Gary Felthun, Joao Lacerda, Kenneth Barry, Lily Teh, Marc Israel, Oji Adoh, Sandile Mathebula, Sibusiso Zungu, Will Smith
A.P. Moller Capital P/S
Buyer
Danny’s Auto Body Parts Pty. Ltd. - M&A
2023-05-04
White & Case
South Africa
M&A
Gary Felthun, Melissa Mtolo, Preeti Nana
Danny’s Auto Body Parts Pty. Ltd.
Target
Carlyle Group LP - M&A
2022-11-24
White & Case
South Africa
M&A
Gary Felthun, Melissa Mtolo, Preeti Nana, Sandile Mathebula
Carlyle Group LP
Seller
Emira Property Fund Ltd. - M&A
2022-07-13
White & Case
South Africa
M&A
Craig Atkinson, Ewa Orpen, Lionel Shawe, Stef de Gouveia
Emira Property Fund Ltd.
Buyer
OUTsurance Group Ltd. - M&A
2023-09-12
White & Case
South Africa
M&A
Benjamin Cripps, Gary Felthun, Melissa Butler, Preeti Nana
OUTsurance Group Ltd.
Seller
M&A
Aerial view of intersection in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan at night.
White & Case nabs Freshfields M&A duo in Tokyo
Noah Carr and Gordon Palmquist joined the firm’s Japanese office, taking the firm’s M&A hires this week to four
Noemi Distefano, June 04 2026
M&A
Hong Kong Skyline from Victoria Peak in Hong Kong, China.
This week’s people moves: K&L Gates, Kirkland, White & Case and more
New hires and appointments were made in the corporate, M&A and finance practices at leading firms in Hong Kong, Tokyo, the US and the UK
Noemi Distefano, June 04 2026
Corporate
AdobeStock_164197298.jpeg
This week’s people moves: Hogan Lovells, HSF Kramer, Kirkland & Ellis and more
New hires made in regulatory, corporate, M&A and finance practices at leading firms across the US and the UK, while German Hengeler Mueller elected two new managing partners
Noemi Distefano, April 30 2026
M&A
aerial view of skyscrapers in financial district of new york city blue tint urban landscape photography
White & Case turns to Reed Smith and Freshfields for M&A hires
Andrea Basham and Jennifer Cheng have joined the firm as partners in its global M&A practice in New York
Noemi Distefano, April 09 2026
M&A
London- Upwards view of City Of London financial district
This week’s people moves: White & Case, Paul Hastings, Reed Smith and more
New hires were made across the M&A, corporate and finance teams at leading firms across the UK, Germany and Saudi Arabia
Noemi Distefano, April 02 2026
M&A
london-gherkin.jpg
White & Case M&A partner departs for Ashurst
Heidi Blomqvist joins Ashurst’s London office as partner as it boosts its private capital ,and energy and infrastructure offering
Noemi Distefano, March 10 2026
Corporate
Looking directly up at the skyline of the financial district in central London, modern architecture as a background
This week’s people moves: Sullivan & Cromwell, Clifford Chance and more
New hires were made across the PE, M&A, real estate, antitrust, finance and capital markets practices in the UK and the US
Noemi Distefano, March 05 2026
ESG
Row of EU Flags in front of the European Union Commission building in Brussels
IFLR weekly roundup: EU Omnibus I lands but questions still linger, lawyers say
After the European Council signed off its simplification package on sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements, lawyers say a sense of closure has been achieved but uncertainty isn’t over
Noemi Distefano, February 27 2026
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