Werksmans has received a variety of local and international marketplace accolades acknowledging the firm’s leadership in the field of corporate and commercial law in South Africa.

Our firm has been recognised with leading marketplace accolades by the following credible international rankings organisations:

Chambers’ Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business

In 2024 Werksmans was ranked by Chambers’ Global – an independent international legal ratings directory, ranking both individual lawyers and select practices on a regional basis. Within the South African section, Werksmans obtained rankings across 19 practice areas and 37 of our directors were ranked individually as leading lawyers in their respective fields.

Werksmans was ranked as follows:

  • Africa Wide – TMT: Band 3 (new ranking)
  • Administrative & Public Law: Band 3
  • Banking & Finance: Band 3
  • Capital Markets – Debt: Band 2
  • Competition & Antitrust: Band 3
  • Construction: Band 4
  • Corporate Investigations: Band 2
  • Corporate/M&A: Band 2
  • Dispute Resolution: Band 1
  • Employment: Band 3
  • Energy & Natural Resources – Mining: Band 2
  • Environment: Band 2
  • Intellectual Property: Band 3 (higher ranking)
  • International & Cross-Border Capabilities: Spotlight
  • Media & Broadcasting: Band 2
  • Projects & Energy: Band 4
  • Real Estate: Band 2
  • Restructuring & Insolvency: Band 1
  • Tax: Band 2
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IFLR1000: Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms

In 2022, Werksmans was ranked by IFLR1000, reflecting Werksmans market standing within the financial and corporate practice areas. This is a sector-specific guide which covers the Sub-Saharan African legal market and bases its annual rankings on both client and peer feedback as well as on analysis of our transactional highlights. In addition, 21 of our directors were ranked as ‘notable practitioners’ as well as ‘rising stars’.

Werksmans was ranked as follows:

  • Banking – Tier 2
  • Capital markets: Debt – Tier 2
  • Capital Markets: Equity – M&A – Tier 2
  • Project development : Infrastructure – Tier 2
  • Project development : Energy – Tier 2
  • Project finance – Tier 2
  • Project development : Mining – Tier 2
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Legal 500

In 2023, Werksmans was ranked by The Legal 500, regarded as one of the world’s largest and most reputable legal referral guides. The Legal 500 is an independent directory which assesses the strengths of law firms in over 100 jurisdictions. Firms and individuals are recommended purely on merit. A total of 9 of our lawyers were ranked as ‘leading lawyers’.

Werksmans was ranked as follows:

  • Dispute Resolution – Tier 1
  • Banking & Finance – Tier 3
  • Commercial, Corporate & M&A – Tier 2 (higher ranking)
  • Competition – Tier 2
  • Construction – Tier 4
  • Employment – Tier 2
  • Intellectual Property – Tier 3
  • Investment Funds – Tier 3
  • Mining – Tier 2
  • Projects & Infrastructure – Tier 2
  • Real Estate – Tier 2
  • Tax – Tier 2
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DealMakers

  • Legal adviser in the Deal of the Year: Life Healthcare Group’s disposal of Alliance Medical Group (2023)
  • Legal advisers: 4th by Deal Value (2023)
  • Legal adviser in the BEE Deal of the Year: Shoprite Checkers’ evergreen B-BBEE transaction (2022)
  • Legal adviser in the Business Rescue Transaction of the Year: Consolidated Infrastructure Group Limited (CIG) and Consolidated Power Projects Proprietary Limited (Conco) (2022)
  • Unlisted Deals: 2nd by Deal Flow (2022)
  • BEE Deals: 2nd by Deal Value and Deal Flow (2022)
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Intellectual Property Stars

In 2023 Werksmans was ranked by IP Stars – the leading specialist guide for companies or individuals looking for experienced legal practitioners to deal with contentious and non-contentious intellectual property issues. Managing IP has been covering IP law and practice worldwide since 1990. They assess and rank law firms and practitioners around the world in different IP practice areas.

Within the South African categories, Werksmans has been ranked in the following fields:

Firm Rankings

  • Intellectual Property Transactions | Highly Recommended
  • Trade Marks | Tier 3
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ITR World Tax

In 2023 Werksmans was ranked by ITR World Tax, a key resource in assisting tax professionals locate specialist advice. Each edition rates the tax expertise offered in various jurisdictions, giving tax executives the most comprehensive information about the market for tax advice. World Tax is unique among directories as it classifies professional services, law firms and other tax advice providers together, rather than looking at them separately, because they undoubtedly compete for work.

Werksmans was ranked as follows:

  • General Corporate Tax | Tier 2
  • Transactional Tax I Tier 2
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Careers at Werksmans

We focus on people. When you choose us, you will be joining an exceptional family of lawyers. Our investment in training and development of our team is insurmountable.

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