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South Africa

South Africa is one of Africa’s largest economies with a first-class infrastructure, constitutional democracy, strong financial services centre and independent judiciary. In addition, the country is a gateway to high growth economies to the north, with the financial and professional expertise to help guide international investors seeking to access these markets for the first time. CMS is based in South Africa with over 20 lawyers located in Johannesburg.

CMS South Africa is on a journey to modernize and transform the South African legal market anticipating on BEE, the South African government’s legislated programme to correct the apartheid legacy and to encourage participation and development of black people in the economy, a trend which is growing across the continent. We are a commercial law firm specialising in providing practical and innovative full spectrum legal, tax and transaction advisory services. We are committed to developing young African talent and are accredited as a BEE Level 1 law firm.

Following an analysis of the South African and sub-Saharan Africa legal market, we identified an opportunity to establish a new kind of legal business that capitalises on structural pressures on more established law firms, as well as opportunities arising from affirmative procurement based on the principle of BEE and its related concept of transformation.

Clients have said:

‘very responsive and proactive’
The team is experienced, efficient, well priced and professional.
‘extremely efficient, commercial, pragmatic and easy to work with’

The firm has been ranked in The Best Lawyers, our partners are recognized by The Legal 500, Who's Who Legal, Chambers, IFLR1000 and The Best Lawyers.

Our Expertise

We offer a unique combination of expertise including Banking & Finance, Commercial & Corporate/M&A, Consumer Products, Corporate Governance and Compliance, Corporate Investigations & Forensics, Dispute Resolution, Energy, Financial Restructuring & Insolvency, Real Estate & Conveyancing, Funds, Hotels & Leisure, Infrastructure & Projects, Insurance, Mining, Private Equity, Public Procurement, Tax and Technology, Media & Communications.

Our international practice focuses on advising national and multinational private and public companies and listed entities in complex financing operations, international companies in specific regulatory matters in various industry sectors in Africa and in merger & acquisition related transactions, as well as advising national and international companies in large-scale expansions.

We help our clients implement, improve and achieve their business strategies in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Contact us, if you would like to find out more.

07/10/2019
CMS expands in Africa
Frankfurt, 7 October 2019. CMS announces that RM Partners and Daly & Inamdar Advocates, based in South Africa and Kenya respectively, have today joined the leading global law firm. Going forward, they...
18/03/2020
#1expert1minute – CMS experts on the impact of Covid-19
In our series #1expert1minute, CMS experts talk about the impact of COVID-19 on business and what business leaders should do at the moment. Find the videos below

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12/10/2023
Global Life Sciences & Healthcare Forum 2023
Blurring Boundaries - Exploring the convergence of life sciences and law
03/10/2023
CMS Expert Guide to gambling laws in Africa
African opportunity continues to excite. As a general observation, there is and will continue to be a strong economic interest in African eco­nom­ics.  One area that is attracting the most interest is...
Comparable
02/10/2023
CMS Expert Guide to renewable energy law and regulation
Download our dedicated "Renewables guide" pdf by clicking on the link below Renewables guide Introduction This guide includes contributions from some of the most active lawyers in the renewables sector...
29/09/2023
CMS Expert Guide to International Arbitration
We live in a connected global environment where the number and complexity of international transactions is ever increasing.  As a consequence, the policies and activities in one area of the world can...
27/09/2023
CMS South Africa’s closes landmark acquisition as lead legal advisor that...
In recognition of World Rhino Day on 22 September CMS South Africa is proud to announce that we were very recently approached by African Parks Network to be the lead legal advisor on a critical acquisition...
27/09/2023
CMS now present in Mozambique
CMS signs with Maputo-based firm CGA
20/09/2023
CMS Hotels & Leisure Global Brochure
At CMS, we understand the Hotel & Leisure business environment. Our experience covers all aspects of the industry – we are there to guide you and help you grow and stay competitive in crowded markets...
19/09/2023
An economy in a crisis: Job cuts, cost cutting and restructuring
The convergence of a number of global issues including the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on economies around the world. South Africa, as with many other countries...
16/08/2023
CMS Expert Guide to whistleblower protection & reporting channels
In October 2019, in the wake of a number of whistleblower revelations (especially the industrial-scale tax avoidance schemes revealed in the LuxLeaks scandal), the European Union adopted the Whis­tleblower...
Comparable
14/08/2023
CMS Expert Guide to Digital Litigation
The CMS Expert Guide to Digital Litigation offers a focused comparative analysis of more than 27 jurisdictions worldwide, examining the implementation of digital tools and mechanisms, prevailing legal...
Comparable
01/08/2023
CMS Expert Guide to Dismissals and Termination of Employment
This year has seen unemployment reach historic lows in many economies. With inflation and interest rates rising, however, employers may face fresh pressures to review their workforce and see where efficiencies...
Comparable
31/07/2023
CMS Expert Guide to plastics and packaging laws
Plastics and packaging have at­trac­ted con­sumer, media and legislative interest over recent years with an array of laws being proposed to incentivise behavioural and design change. Significant reforms...
Comparable