By Kgomotso Ramotsho

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) features in the recently released Chambers Global 2020 rankings. In a statement released by CDH, it stated that the Chambers Global identifies and ranks the most outstanding law firms and lawyers in over 190 jurisdictions across the globe. This is based on research conducted by full-time editors and researchers employed at Chambers’ head office in London. The statement added that the assessment of rankings includes –

• technical and legal ability;
• professional conduct;
• clients service;
• commercial astuteness; and
• diligence and commitment.

Highlights for CDH in the Chambers Global 2020 include:

• Achieving rankings across all major practice areas in the 2020 guide, with Capital Markets, namely –

– equity;

– corporate/mergers and acquisitions;

– dispute resolution;

– IT and telecommunications;

– real estate; and

– tax.

• Achieving 44 practitioner rankings in this year’s edition, with nine of the firm’s experts achieving the highest ranking of Band One, which include the following partners –

– Ludwig Smith (Banking and finance);

– Johan Latsky (Capital markets: Equity);

– Chris Charter (Competition/antitrust);

– David Pinnock (Corporate/mergers and acquisitions; private equity);

– Preeta Bhagattjee (IT and telecommunications);

– Attie Pretorius (Real estate);

– Emil Brincker (Tax);

– Mark Linington (Tax: Consultants); and

– Gerhard Badenhorst (Tax: Indirect tax).

The statement added that in addition to CDH’s rankings in Chambers Global 2020, the organisation achieved top rankings in the Chambers FinTech 2020 guide, which has now expanded its research from 22 jurisdictions to 37 in response to the global growth of that sector. CDH maintained its Band One ranking, one of only two South African law firms to claim a place at the top of the table. The statement added that three of CDH’s FinTech experts were in the FinTech guide, making CDH the South African law firm with the most specialists featured in the guide.

The statement stated that CDH’s FinTech Expert and National Practice Head of Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Christoff Pienaar, was ranked in Band One – the only FinTech legal practitioner in SA to achieve this top ranking. Chief Executive Officer of CDH, Brent Williams, believes that the result of the Chambers Global ranking is a statement to the high-quality and professional services delivered by CDH’s practitioners. ‘Since Chambers’ research relies heavily on client feedback, these results evidence our strong and longstanding strategic partnerships with our clients. Our notable achievements in Chambers Global and Chambers FinTech thus speak to the firm’s ethos at the centre of everything we do,’ Mr Williams said.