
Werksmans Attorneys‘ ’phenomenal‘ team stands out for its expertise in handling complex merger transactions, and is equally strong in advising on abuse of dominance claims, cartel-related matters, and market inquiries. Paul Coetser, who heads up the practice, is a key name for competition litigation, and regularly acts for clients in the telecoms, e-commerce, financial services, and IT sectors. Ahmore Burger-Smidt is well versed in advising on merger approvals and regulatory issues in the telecoms arena, and Rudolph Raath is highly regarded for his extensive experience in handling cartel cases. Nkonzo Hlatshwayo advises on the competition law aspects of cross-border merger transactions. Nyiko Mathebula left the firm in December 2023.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'They have a great relationship with regulators.'
- 'Practical advice and approach.'
- 'They communicate effectively.'
- 'Ahmore Ahmore Burger-Smidt is fantastic.'
Key clients
- Audatex Proprietary Limited
- Heineken South Africa (RF) Proprietary Limited
- Karsten Namibia Agriculture (Proprietary) Limited
- MultiChoice South Africa Proprietary Limited
- Nedbank Limited
- Professional Provident Society Limited
- Samsung Electronics
- SuperSport International Proprietary Limited
- Vitol Holding II S.A.
Work highlights
- Providing ongoing assistance to Vitol Group with the merger approval processes for its acquisition of a 75% stake of Engen Limited across five African jurisdictions.
- Successfully defended Waco Africa before the Competition Tribunal in proceedings concerning the dismissal of cartel charges brought against the client.
Lawyers

Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Paul Coetser