Paul Coetser is Director and Head of Competition, advising in the Business Crimes & Investigations and Telecommunications, Media & Technology practice areas. He advises on appearances before Competition Commission; the Competition Tribunal; the Competition Appeal Court; and ICASA. Paul also provides expert advice on obtaining approval for mergers and takeovers from the competition authorities; and laying and defending of complaints of alleged anti-competitive conduct (e.g. cartels, abuse of dominant position and price discrimination). His expertise includes advising on applications for leniency and for exemption from the Competition Act.
Competition
Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions
Digital Media & Electronic Communications
Technology & Innovation
Being a Competition lawyer providing an exceptional range of legal services for the Competition law practice area
Appearances before Competition Commission, Competition Tribunal, Competition Appeal Court and ICASA
Obtaining of approval for mergers and takeovers from the competition authorities
Laying and defending of complaints of alleged anti-competitive conduct e.g. cartels, abuse of dominant position and price discrimination
Applications for leniency and for exemption from the Competition Act
Conducting compliance audits and developing compliance programs
Responding to summonses from the Competition authorities and search and seizure operations (dawn raids)
Defending individuals against allegations of participation in cartels
Paul has advised in a number of industries and sectors including Information Technology, Media and Financial Services
B Juris LLB LLM (University of South Africa)
LLM (Virginia University)
H Dip Tax Law
2009: Director, Werksmans
Head of the Competition Law Practice Area
Highlights
Ranked Leading Lawyer by Chambers Global | Band 3 | Competition/Antitrust | 2025
Ranked in Hall of Fame by Legal 500 | Competition | 2024 - 2025
Founding chairperson of the Competition Law Committee of the Law Society of the Northern Provinces
Chairman of the Standing Committee on Competition Law of the Law Society of South Africa
Africa Regional liaison of the International Bar Association’s Antitrust Committee (2009 - 2010)
Convenor, speaker and participant at local and international conferences and seminars on competition law
Appeared before Parliament’s Committee on Trade and Industry, proposing amendments to the Competition Act (2002 and 2008)
Participated in several Focus Groups Workshops assisting the Competition Commission in developing new legislation, rules and regulations
One of South Africa’s delegates to International Competition Network annual conferences (2006 - 2008)
Comments regularly on Competition Law developments in the media
Legal Media Group’s Guide to the World’s Leading Competition and Antitrust Lawyers (2008)
Ranked Leading Lawyer by Chambers Global | Band 2 | Competition/Antitrust | 2007, 2019 – 2022, 2024
Ranked practitioner by Chambers Global | Corporate/M&A | 2009
Ranked as a recommended practitioner by Who’s Who Legal | Competition | 2022
Ranked as a highly regarded practitioner by IFLR 1000 | Competition | 2011 – 2019
Ranked as a highly regarded practitioner by IFLR 1000 | Technology, Media and Telecommunications | 2022
Ranked as a recommended lawyer by Legal 500 | Competition | 2011 - 2018
Ranked as a leading lawyer by Legal 500 | Competition | 2019 - 2022
Johannesburg 
+27 11 535 8290 
