Baker McKenzie Johannesburg’s competition practice is home to a team praised for its ‘top-level expertise’ in the space. The group reports an uptick in instructions focusing on the competition law aspects of high-profile mergers and acquisitions. Firm managing partner Lerisha Naidu heads the department, and is well versed in handling cartel-related matters, compliance and risk mitigation work, and interim relief applications. Angelo Tzarevski and Sphesihle Nxumalo are key figures in the practice.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The competition practice at Baker McKenzie is well resourced and I value the expertise in the team.'
'I can always trust that the advice I receive is well considered. I also appreciate the team's ability to offer commercial solutions and not just "dry" legal interpretation. I also like their responsiveness; they are also highly pro-active and will brainstorm with the client to explore various solutions. The team approaches the client relationship as a win-win partnership.’
'The team is young and dynamic, always willing to help and clearly know their area of law really well.'
'Lerisha Naidu is very dynamic and well versed in her area of expertise.'
Key clients
- Unilever South Africa
- Blantyre Capital
- Sika AG
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Platinum Equity Advisors
- Henry Schein Inc.
- Suez Group
- Bidvest Group
- Nike
Work highlights
- Acting for Unilever in ongoing proceedings before the Competition Tribunal involving allegations that Unilever had, between 2004 and 2013, engaged in cartel conduct in the edible oils and fats industry.
- Advised Greenpoint Capital and Blantyre Capital on the competition aspects of the clients' acquisition of Ster-Kinekor Theatres.
- Advised Sika, a Swiss multinational specialty chemical company, on the competition aspects of its global acquisition of MBCC Group.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Lerisha Naidu