Baker McKenzie Johannesburg

Antitrust and Competition

Lerisha Naidu is the managing partner and head of Baker McKenzie's Antitrust & Competition Practice Group in Johannesburg. She acts on a diverse array of matters across various industries spanning several African jurisdictions.

Lerisha advises and represents international and domestic clients in mergers and acquisitions, prohibited practices (including cartel-related matters), and compliance and risk mitigation. She has appeared before the Competition Tribunal of South Africa in merger proceedings, and has also worked on matters relating to clients involved in Tribunal proceedings.

Lerisha has acted in several high-profile matters involving industry-wide and global cartels (eg. in the construction, aviation and gas industries), interim relief applications, contested mergers and dawn raids. She has also participated in a number of compliance initiatives, including training sessions for firms' employees related to competition risk mitigation.

Lerisha was named Southern Africa Partner of the Year at the African Legal Awards in 2023 - cited for the legal excellence, innovation and leadership that embodies her work. She was also acknowledged on the 2019 list of 100 Most Influential Young South Africans as well as the Mail & Guardian list of Top 200 Young South Africans, and was commended in the Partner of the Year Private Practice category at the African Legal Awards in 2021.

Lerisha also leads the Diversity and Inclusion portfolio in Johannesburg, as well as its pro bono and corporate social responsibility pillars.

Advised ZCCM Investment Holdings plc in relation to the African merger control aspects of the proposed acquisition by Delta Mining Limited of 51% of Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) from ZCCM. MCM is a Zambian copper producer and exporter, operating two mine sites at Mufulira and Nkana, located on the Copperbelt Province. Advised Hong Kong-based Hutchison Ports Group in the COMESA merger notification of its proposed transaction with COSCO Shipping and CMA CGM for the establishment of a joint venture that will construct, develop, use, manage, operate, exploit, and maintain a container terminal on vacant land within the boundaries of the Ain Sokhna port in Egypt. Advised The Bidvest Group (UK) Plc, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Bidvest Group Limited, on the competition aspects in relation to its proposed acquisition of 100% of Citron Hygiene LP from Birch Hill Equity Partners and other investors. Advised Smile Telecoms Holdings Limited and Smile Telecoms IP Limited on the competition aspects in respect of a sale agreement to dispose of all its shares in Smile Communications Tanzania Limited (a Tanzanian telecommunications entity) to Vodacom Tanzania Public Limited company. Advised Varun Beverages Limited on the competition aspects of its acquisition of a 100% stake in the Beverage Company (Proprietary) Ltd, South Africa, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, valued at around ZAR 2.9 billion, with an option to accept minority co-investment from large equity funds, subject to regulatory and other approvals, from a consortium led by Ethos and Nedbank. This deal was shortlisted for the Catalyst Private Equity Deal of the Year by DealMakers 2023. Advised the Private Investment Fund, a Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund, in relation to the merger control aspects in COMESA of its proposed tyre manufacturing joint venture with Pirelli Tyre S.p.A. in Saudi Arabia. Advised Platinum Equity Group on obtaining unconditional clearance in relation to its proposed acquisition of Diversey Holdings Ltd, a global manufacturer and supplier of cleaning, sanitation, infection prevention and hygiene solutions to various industries globally, by negotiating tenaciously with the Competition Commission and advanced compelling competition and ESG arguments

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