As the Ansarada DealMakers Annual Gala Awards approach on 19 February 2026, South Africa’s leading corporate law firms continue to dominate the country’s most complex and high-profile transactions.
Across M&A, private equity, BEE and restructuring categories, firms such as Bowmans, Webber Wentzel, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr and ENS have emerged repeatedly, underscoring their central role in shaping the 2025 deal landscape.
Deal of the Year
The prestigious Deal of the Year category features several landmark transactions. Bowmans and Webber Wentzel appear prominently for their roles in Aspen Pharmacare’s Asia-Pacific transaction, the demerger and accelerated placement of Valterra Platinum and the Coca-Cola Company and Gutsche Family Investments deal involving Coca-Cola Beverages Africa.
The Coca-Cola transaction in particular stands out for the breadth of legal advisers involved, including Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and ENS.
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr is also recognised for its role in the Curro acquisition by Jannie Mouton Stigting and the Vodacom acquisition of an additional stake in Safaricom.
Private Equity Deal of the Year
In the private equity category, Bowmans and Webber Wentzel again feature strongly, including for the exit by Apis Partners and others from iKhokha.
Webber Wentzel is also nominated for the Capitalworks exit and for Norfund and Mahlako’s investment in Anthem. Other firms involved in the Capitalworks exit were DLA Piper and Primerio International. While Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr also advised on the Norfund and Mahlako’s investment in Anthem.
The STANLIB Infrastructure investment has drawn nominations for Bowmans, Fasken, Alchemy Law and Werksmans.
BEE Deal of the Year
Transformation-focused transactions remain a core part of the awards. The MultiChoice BEE transaction sees nominations for Webber Wentzel, Werksmans, Bowmans, Herbert Smith Freehills and TGR Attorneys.
The Exxaro acquisition of manganese assets from Ntsimbintle and OMH Mauritius places Webber Wentzel, Werksmans and ENS among the recognised advisers.
While Bowmans is also nominated for its role in AECI’s empowerment transaction through the AECI Foundation.
Business Rescue and Turnaround
In the restructuring category, Webber Wentzel and CMS are nominated for their work on SGB Smit Power Matla, while Baker McKenzie and ENS are recognised for Langeberg & Ashton Foods. ENS and Cox Yeats also appear for their roles in the Concour Group matter.
Individual DealMaker of the Year
At an individual level, Ezra Davids of Bowmans and Jesse Watson of Webber Wentzel are nominated for Individual DealMaker of the Year 2025, recognising leadership in some of the year’s most significant transactions.
As the awards ceremony approaches, the nominations make it clear that the leading firms continue to advise on the country’s most strategic and transformative corporate transactions.
