Commended as a ‘very well oiled litigation machine‘, Bowmans is jointly led by Jonathan Sahli and Lyndal Anderson. Clement Mkiva, Jonathan Barnes and Adam Anderson are key contacts in this space, and they are adept at handling shareholder disputes and international arbitrations. Anderson is also singled out for his excellent track record in advising on contentious insurance, construction, and financial matters, while James McKinnell is ‘an excellent negotiator.’ Tim Gordon-Grant is a highly regarded practitioner in the dispute resolution space and Kelly Calvert-Evers is knowledgeable of constitutional and administrative law disputes. In September 2024 Kelly Mzobe joined the team;, whle Gerhard Rudolph, Callum O’Connor and Wihan Meintjes arrived at the firm in January 2025.

Led by Rishaban Moodley, the dispute resolution team at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr is highly regarded for its expertise in advising on complex, cross-border litigation. Moodley is well known for assisting with forensic investigations, and the ‘very professional‘ Tim Fletcher often handles commercial litigation. Corné Lewis is ‘an exceptional lawyer‘, who is experienced in mining, and insurance law matters. Lucinde Rhoodie is ‘extremely knowledgeable in her field of expertise and her advice is always pragmatic and commercially orientated‘; Anja Hofmeyr is ‘commercially astute‘; and Jackwell Feris is a key contact for domestic and international arbitration. Claudette Dutilleux is ‘a brilliant attorney with an in-depth knowledge of the law‘. In 2024 Mongezi Mpahlwa left the firm and Sentebale Makara recently joined the team.

At ENSafrica, the dispute resolution department is headed by commercial litigation expert George van Niekerk, who often acts for large private companies in a range of disputes. John Zieff is ‘an exceptional litigation attorney‘, and Shenaaz Munga is a key contact for clients in the media and financial services sectors. Aslam Moosajee‘s workload takes in administrative, commercial, and constitutional law disputes, while Rob Scott regularly handles disputes for clients in the insurance and construction sectors. Wim Steyn lends support on contentious contractual matters and shareholder disputes.

Headed up by Sarah McKenzie, the dispute resolution practice at Webber Wentzel is home to a ‘solution driven and very accessible‘ team. International and domestic arbitration is a key driver of work for the group, which is experienced in class action litigation and contentious business rescue proceedings. Trevor Versfeld is a highly regarded practitioner in the space, and specialises in handling disputes for clients in the financial services sector. Class action disputes are a key area of instruction for Nick Alp, and Lionel van Tonder brings extensive experience in advising on large, cross-border investigations. The ‘excellent‘ Maria Philippides fields expertise in contractual litigation and insurance disputes. Vlad Movshovich regularly handles complex international arbitration.

Headed up by Corlett Manaka, the dispute resolution practice at Werksmans Attorneys has an excellent track record in handling complex commercial disputes. The firm is also a key port of call for clients in the mining, telecoms, and financial services sectors in a wide range of contentious matters, and is very experienced in representing public sector bodies in disputes. Darren Willans counts pension fund litigation and insurance disputes as key areas of expertise, while Jennifer Smit is well versed in handling contentious property and construction mandates. Faith Sikhavhakhavha is active on investigations and Jones Antunes‘ expertise includes mining disputes, contractual litigation, and shareholder disputes.

The dispute resolution team at Clyde & Co LLP is well-regarded for its expertise in insurance litigation, and is adept at commercial disputes, investigations, business rescue proceedings, and shareholder disputes. Daniel Le Roux is ‘well known for his brilliant strategic thinking and negotiating abilities‘, and Tony Hardie, the managing partner of the firm’s South African office, regularly acts for insurers, reinsurers, regulatory entities, and brokers in contentious insurance matters. Alon Meyerov is instructed in construction and engineering disputes and is active in international arbitration, while Arthur James is a key contact for transportation and shipping disputes, with particular expertise in reinsurance issues. The ‘exceptional‘ Lauren Fine specialises in dispute resolution and often represents corporates, manufacturers, and property developers in a broad range of contentious work.

At Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, the 'dependable' disputes team handles construction and infrastructure litigation, often in the renewable energy sector. Jonathan Ripley-Evans, who heads up the practice, is active in international arbitration and litigation, while Cameron Dunstan-Smith, who leads the corporate crime and investigations department, is a key contact for compliance matters and domestic and cross-border investigations. Fiorella Noriega del Valle counts commercial dispute resolution as a core strength.

At Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa Inc, André Vos heads up the dispute resolution team, and has an excellent reputation for handling corporate investigations, mining disputes, as well as domestic and international arbitration. Riccardo Petersen leads the commercial litigation group and regularly acts for financial institutions, domestic and international banks, corporates and micro-lenders, while Donald Dinnie and David Kapelus are instructed by insurers and reinsurers in a wide range of contentious matters. Jeffrey Kron is well versed in mining, banking, and corporate disputes; John Bell is ‘an exceptional lawyer who always goes the extra mile‘; and Widaad Ebrahim-Fakier‘s workload includes cybersecurity disputes. Sentebale Makara left the firm in January 2024.

Adams & Adams garners praise for its ‘high-end expertise’ in commercial litigation. Practice head Jac Marais is praised for his ‘effectiveness and professionalism to every matter he handles', while Grégor Wolter is highly regarded for his expertise in commercial dispute resolution. Thando Manentsa‘s workload takes in competition litigation and contractual disputes, Demi Pretorius is well versed in representing corporate entities in arbitration, while Thandiwe Seboletswe fields experience in administrative and constitutional disputes. Chervaune Utermöhlen lends support on contractual disputes. Cohen Grootboom and Kelly Mzobe left the firm in August 2024.

The dispute resolution team at Fasken has an excellent track record in representing traditional communities in complex litigation, and is equally adept at advising on contentious infrastructure, administrative, engineering, and construction matters. Tania Siciliano, who heads up the practice, is noted for her strength in commercial litigation, and Rakhee Bhoora‘s workload takes in contentious infrastructure issues. Bianca Da Costa counts alternative dispute resolution as a core area of expertise, while Andricia Hinckemann-Dlamini regularly acts for mining and healthcare sector entities in commercial litigation. Barr-Mary Tyzack and Wesley Fletcher are key associates to note. Cohen Grootboom joined the team in September 2024.

Siphokazi Kayana heads CMS South Africa‘s dispute resolution practice, which is well known for assisting clients in the financial services, mining, telecoms, and insurance sectors with litigation. Bridget Letsholo and Innocentia Moela are key names for contentious business rescue proceedings, and Nomfundo Mkatshwa-Jackson is active In disputes involving company law, contract law, and administrative law.

At DLA Piper, the dispute resolution team is very experienced in assisting clients from the energy and natural resources, mining, consumer goods, and financial services sectors with a broad range of domestic and cross-border litigation and arbitration. Practice head Kirsty Simpson fields expertise in commercial litigation, and Waseeqah Makadam‘s workload includes contentious contractual matters and shareholder disputes. Construction litigation is a key pillar of Tumisang Mongae‘s practice.

Lawtons Africa’s dispute resolution practice is a key port of call for banking, oil and gas, telecoms, as well as construction and engineering clients. The ‘friendly and knowledgeable‘ team is equally strong in handling litigation for state-owned entities, prominent corporates, and clients in the higher education sector. Practice head Veronica Vurgarellis‘ workload includes international arbitration, commercial disputes, contentious administrative law issues, and regulatory-related litigation. Tamsin Tustin is a key contact for insurers, and Nicholas de Decker stands out for his experience in competition litigation. Tshavhungwe Tshivhase and Kobus de Beer left the firm in February and April 2024 respectively.

Led by commercial litigator Karabo Motshwane, the group at RAMS Attorneys is well versed in contentious business rescue issues for mining, agricultural, retail, and financial services sector clients.