ENSafrica‘s team stands out for its ’excellent knowledge and expertise in competition law, and ability to advise on strategy on complex competition issues‘. Led by Jocelyn Katz, the group handles the full spectrum of competition law matters for prominent clients drawn from a wide range of sectors. Justin Balkin assists financial services, insurance, mining, healthcare, private equity and retail companies with merger control matters, abuse of dominance claims, prohibited practice issues and cartel investigations. Natalia Lopes’ workload includes merger filings and leniency applications; Derushka Chetty is well-versed in advising on prohibited practices litigation and merger notifications; Aidan Scallan acts on horizontal prohibited practices proceedings; and Lizél Blignaut specialises in competition economics. Aziza Mdee, Jessica de Kock and Lameez Mayet are singled out for their contributions to the practice group.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘The practice brings vast and deep experience on acquisitions and mergers. It has a wide base of skilled practitioners and has a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks, requirements and demands in different markets. A trusted, knowledgeable and dependable service provider.’
‘Very experienced. Very reactive. Good team work.’
'Jessica de Kock - reactive, experienced and competent.'
‘Very good team.'
'Wealth of knowledge and experience in the team is amazing.'
‘Justin Balkin was excellent in driving us through the features of South African merger control and helped us think strategically.’
‘Justin Balkin is our attorney of first choice. He has become a trusted legal partner because of his immense expertise in competition law. He is approachable and always makes time and goes the extra mile to ensure that we, as his client, receives the best legal service. ’

Key clients

A.P. Moller–Maersk Group
Adcock Ingram
Advent International, Cinven and RAG-Stiftung (the consortium)
AkzoNobel
AngloGold Ashanti
Beefmaster Holdings Pty Ltd (“Beefmaster")
Carlyle Group
CDK Global Inc.
CEVA Logistics
Cipla Limited
CMA CGM
Comair Business Rescue Consortium
Consolidated Infrastructure Group LTD
Corobrik
Dis-Chem Pharmacies Limited
Discovery Limited
Distell Group Holdings Limited (“Distell”)
DSV South Africa Proprietary Limited
Edcon
Emerging Capital Partners
enX Group Limited
Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium Limited
Experian
Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa
G4S plc
General Partner Proprietary Limited
Grindrod Group Limited
Hoegh Autoliner AS
Hollard Holdings Limited
IDC
Imerys
Investec Group
Invicta Holdings Limited
Kleoss Fund 1 en commandite Partnership (“Kleoss”)
Konecranes PLC
LafargeHolcim
Massmart
Mediterranean Shipping Company SA
Microsoft Corporation
Netflix
Nestle SA
Old Mutual Insure
RZ Murowa Holdings Limited
PG Group
RMB Corvest
RWC Co Gmbh
Sanlam
Sasol
Sibanye Stillwater
South 32
Stuttafords and Pickfords
Tarsus Technology Group Limited
Tetrad Investments Holdings Proprietary Limited
Teraco Data Environments (Pty) Ltd
Vivo Energy Namibia
The Government Employees Pension Fund (“GEPF”)
Tiger Brands Limited
Totalgaz Proprietary Limited.
ThyssenKrupp AG
Vodacom Proprietary Limited
Absa
Air France KLM
Nedbank
Santam
Vivendi
Health Funders Association

Work highlights

Advising Distell Group Holdings Limited on a transaction involving the acquisition by Heineken International of a further interest in Namibia Breweries and the combination of Heineken’s current South African business.
Advising Vivendi S.E. and Lagardère S.A. on the competition aspects concerning the acquisition of sole control by Vivendi S.E. over Lagardère S.A. by way of a public offer.