Webber Wentzel

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Webber Wentzel
WebberWentzel.gif
Headquarters Johannesburg, South Africa [1]
No. of offices2 [2]
No. of attorneys450+ (2015) [3]
No. of employees800+(2015) [2]
Major practice areasGeneral practice
Key peopleChristo Els (Senior Partner) Sally Hutton (Managing Partner) [4]
RevenueUnknown
Date founded1868 (Fort Beaufort) [5]
FounderEdward Solomon, Henry Charles Hull, Walter Webber, Henry Bowen and Charles Augustus Wentzel [6]
Company type Partnership [3]
Website www.webberwentzel.com

Webber Wentzel is an African law firm headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. The firm operates in a collaborative alliance with global law firm, Linklaters. [7]

Contents

The firm is considered a member of the "Big Five law firms" of leading South African law firms.

The firm is a level 1 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) contributor. [8]

History

Webber Wentzel was founded in 1868 and is the only large South African law firm to retain a traditional partnership organisation and not incorporate into a limited liability company.

In 1868, Edward Solomon starts a law practice in Eastern Cape. In 1904, Edward Solomon goes into partnership with Henry Charles Hull, Walter Webber and Charles Wentzel. In 1918, Webber & Wentzel amalgamates with Hudson & Frames to become Webber Wentzel Solomon & Friel. In 1972, Webber Wentzel Hofmeyr Turnbull and Co merges with Dumat Pitts & Blaine. In 1967, The Maitland Group, a fund administrator and fiduciary services specialist with over £140 billion of assets under administration in April 2015, was founded in Luxembourg in 1976 by former Webber Wentzel partner Eric Pfaff as the Luxembourg presence for Webber Wentzel. [9] In 1994, Webber Wentzel merges with Bowen, Sessel & Goudvis to become Webber Wentzel Bowens. In 2008, Webber Wentzel Bowens merges with Cape Town firm, Mallinicks, to become Webber Wentzel, and the Maitland Group and Webber Wentzel ended over 31 years of formal ties. [10] In 2012, Webber Wentzel affiliated with ALN. [11] On 1 February 2013, Webber Wentzel entered into a collaborative alliance with global law firm, Linklaters. [12]

Offices

Webber Wentzel's Johannesburg office at 90 Rivonia Road, Sandton Webber Wentzel, Johannesburg.jpg
Webber Wentzel's Johannesburg office at 90 Rivonia Road, Sandton
Webber Wentzel's Cape Town office is located in Convention Tower CTICC panorama Wesgro Wikimania bid.jpg
Webber Wentzel's Cape Town office is located in Convention Tower

Selected awards and accolades

YearAward
2013 [13] Mergermarket M&A Awards: Legal Advisor of the Year – Sub-Saharan Africa
2013, 2014Who's Who Legal, Global 100 [14]
2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015Who's Who Legal, South African Law Firm of the Year
2014 World Economic Forum, Global Growth Company [15]
2014The African Legal Awards, African Law Firm of the Year [16]
2015Africa Investor, Legal Advisor of the Year [17]
2015Private Equity Africa, Funds Legal Advisor of the Year [18]
2018CSR, Diversity, Transformation & Economic Empowerment Team of the Year, African Legal Awards [19]
2018Most Attractive Employers Awards in SA, Universum [20]
2018Top Employer, SAGEA Employers of Choice Awards [21]
2019Legal Dealmakers of the Decade (M&A – By Deal Value), Dealmakers Annual Awards [22]
2019African Law Firm of the Year, African Legal Awards [23]
2020More Tier 1 Rankings Than Any Other Firm in South Africa, Legal 500 [24]
2020More Band 1 Rankings Than Any Other Firm in South Africa, Chambers Global [25]
2020Only Firm in South Africa Ranked in Tier 1 Across All Categories, IFLR 1000 [26]

Notable deals

Notable cases

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of the firm include: [6]

Further reading

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