At Bowmans, the banking and finance practice has a solid track record in advising on high-profile, complex restructurings, and sustainability-linked funding transactions. The team is noted for its strength in representing borrowers, however the group is equally adept at advising lenders such as investment banks in high-value matters. Shamilah Grimwood-Norley co-heads the department with Ulrike Naumann, who has extensive experience in mezzanine finance, secured and syndicated lending, and debt restructuring. Jan Kruger specialises in handling preference share funding arrangements. Jason Wilkinson and Michael Swartland are also singled out for their contributions to the team.

Led by structured trade and commodity finance expert Craig Saven, the banking and finance practice at ENSafrica is very well known for advising on cross-border mandates, and counts debt finance as the core strength of the department. The team is regularly instructed by domestic and international banks, large corporates and development finance institutions, and acts for borrowers, lenders, issuers and sponsors. Sean Lederman is highly regarded in the banking and finance space, with an excellent track record in advising on asset and leveraged finance and debt restructurings, with specialist expertise in aircraft financings. Anina Boshoff and Jessica Blumenthal are star names in the practice. Deborah Carmichael left the firm in March 2023.

Webber Wentzel‘s banking and finance practice is home to ‘a team of seasoned lawyers with a great amount of experience‘. The ‘incredibly dedicated‘ Khurshid Fazel is very experienced in advising on sustainability-linked loans and preference share funding transactions; she co-heads the banking and finance team with Lindi Marais, who regularly advises on debt work. Dawid de Villiers has ‘excellent knowledge of banking and financial services regulation‘, and Karen Couzyn is a highly regarded practitioner in the debt capital markets space. Kathy Shepherd acts for borrowers and lenders in syndicated lending matters and acquisition financings. Rashaad Carrim, Natasha Pather, and Faatimah Jaffer also play important roles in the department.

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr’s banking and finance team stands out for being ‘commercial and pragmatic with excellent industry knowledge‘. Cross-border mandates form a key pillar of the practice, and the group is well known for its strength in handling debt and equity capital markets and financial restructuring matters. Mashudu Mphafudi, who heads the department, represents financial institutions in corporate and project finance matters, and is well-versed in acting for agriculture, infrastructure, renewable energy and mining clients. Ludwig Smith, Jess Reid, and Michael Bailey play important roles in the practice. Jenni Darling left the firm in March 2023 and Pitso Kortjaas left in July 2024.

The team at DLA Piper Advisory Services (pty) Ltd has been kept especially busy advising on high-value debt restructuring matters. Practice head Jackie Pennington acts for lenders and borrowers in a range of banking and finance work, including acquisition, leveraged and asset financing, and syndicated lending; Jamie MacDonald has experience in cross-border financing, project finance and debt restructuring. Bridget King has expertise in derivatives and repo transactions. Pride Jani and Nick Goldberg also stand out for their contributions. Diana Messerschmidt left the firm in October 2022.

Project finance expert Jackie Midlane leads Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa Inc’s banking and finance team, which has been kept busy advising financial institutions and large corporations on green loans, asset financings, refinancing and cross-border financial mandates. Midlane combines her project finance experience with strength in handling development, asset and structured finance work for clients in the energy, mining and telecoms sectors. Michelle David is sought after for her track record in advising on financial services regulatory matters; Raghemah Hendricks specialises in real estate finance; Malibuye Cossie focuses on syndicated lending and project finance; and Shawn Barnett handles derivatives transactions.

Debt finance forms the backbone of White & Case LLP‘s practice. The team is well-known for its strength in assisting with asset-based lending, syndicated loan financings, sustainability-linked credit facilities, sovereign guaranteed financing, and regulatory capital loans. Practice head Lionel Shawe is a highly-regarded practitioner in the field, with an excellent track record in handling securitisation matters, structured and leveraged financing, capital markets work and credit derivatives issues for a client base of domestic and international banks and financial institutions. Lindani Mthembu is well versed in advising on cross-border transactions, and Sibusiso Zungu brings specialist expertise in handling refinancings for clients in the real estate sector. Alex Cullinan and Sboniso Cibane are singled out for their contributions.

Led by the ‘excellent‘ Ryan Nelson, the banking and finance practice at A&O Shearman draws on the capabilities of its established global network to advise on the full range of banking and finance matters, including cross-border debt financings and restructurings, leveraged and asset financings, and syndicated lending mandates. The ‘knowledgeable‘ team was bolstered by the arrival of the ‘eloquent‘ Deborah Carmichael in March 2023, who brings ‘deep expertise‘ in acting for borrowers and lenders in debt-related work. Amanda Jones is very experienced in handling preference share funding and leverage and acquisition financings.

CMS South Africa’s banking and finance practice reports an uptick in restructuring mandates, and had also been kept busy handling project finance, development finance and green financings for clients in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Riza Moosa is very experienced in representing development financiers in a broad spectrum of transactional matters, and is also noted for his strength in preference share funding. Moosa jointly heads the department with Bridgett Majola, a key practitioner in debt finance, who regularly acts on infrastructure and energy projects. Karabo Kanapi is singled out for her contributions.

Elliott Wood heads Werksmans Attorneys’ banking and finance practice, which is well known for representing major financial institutions, domestic and international banks and clients drawn from a range of sectors, including agriculture, commodities, retail and healthcare, in high-value debt refinancings, asset finance matters, acquisition and leveraged finance mandates, and project and limited recourse finance work. Richard Roothman ‘has vast experience and a depth of expertise in all areas of banking and finance‘, and Laura Alexander acts for lenders and borrowers in preference shared transactions and corporate debt restructurings. The department was bolstered by the arrival of Jenni Darling in March 2023.