Big Five (law firms) in South Africa

The Big Five law firms is a term informally used in South Africa to refer to those law firms which, collectively, are perceived to be the leading law firms based in South Africa.

Location of South Africa

The following firms are usually seen as comprising the "Big Five" (listed alphabetically):[1][2][3]

Name Date founded Offices Lawyers
Bowmans 1885 Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Durban, Johannesburg, Kampala, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Moka, Nairobi (9) (July 2020)[4] 400+ (July 2020)[5]
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr1 1853 Cape Town, Johannesburg, Stellenbosch (3) (July 2020) [6] 350+ (July 2020)[7]
Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs, trading as ENSafrica 1905 Accra, Alexandra (pro bono office), Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Kampala, Kigali, Mitchells Plain (pro bono office), Nairobi, Port Louis, Stellenbosch, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Windhoek (14)[8] 600+ (July 2020)[9]
Webber Wentzel in alliance with Linklaters2 1868 [10] Cape Town, Johannesburg (2) (July 2020)[11][12] 450+ (July 2020)[13]
Werksmans3 1917[14] Cape Town, Johannesburg, Stellenbosch (3) (July 2020) [15] 175+ (July 2020)[16]

Note1: Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr was formerly allied with DLA Piper. Its affiliation with DLA Piper ended at the end of August 2015.[17]

Note2: On 1 February 2013, the firm entered into a collaborative alliance with global law firm Linklaters.[18]

Note3: Deneys Reitz Inc, and then Norton Rose Fulbright, was formerly considered to form part of the big five law firms. Due to its decline, Werksmans, which was not part of the big five law firms, took its place.

Rankings

Chambers and Partners Global Rankings

Chambers and Partners Global Rankings of the number of departments recognised as leaders in their respective fields in South Africa in 2020. This list is non-exhaustive.

Rank1 Name Band 1 Band 2 Band 3 Band 4
1 Webber Wentzel 13[19] 3[20] 4[21] None[22]
2 Bowmans 12[23] 4[24] 2[25] 1[26]
3 ENSafrica 9[27] 8[28] 2[29] None[30]
4 Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr 6[31] 10[32] 3[33] None[34]
5 Werksmans 3[35] 7[36] 4[37] 2[38]
Allen & Overy South Africa 1[39] 2[40] 2[41] 1[42]
Clyde & Co South Africa 1[43] None[44] 2[45] None[46]
Adams & Adams 1[47] None[48] None[49] None[50]
Spoor & Fisher 1[51] None[52] None[53] None[54]
Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa None[55] 6[56] 2[57] 3[58]
Fasken Martineau South Africa None[59] 2[60] 1[61] 3[62]
Herbert Smith Freehills South Africa None[63] 1[64] None[65] 4[66]
Shepstone & Wylie None[67] 1[68] None[69] None[70]
Baker McKenzie South Africa None[71] None[72] 4[73] 4[74]
DLA Piper South Africa None[75] None[76] 2[77] None[78]
Fluxmans None[79] None[80] None[81] 3[82]
Knowles Husain Lindsay None[83] None[84] None[85] 1[86]
Lawtons Africa None[87] None[88] None[89] None[90]

Note1: Based on Band 1 rankings.

Law firms included in the Global 100 aren't assigned a specific ranking.

Year Firm3
2013 ENSafrica[91]
2013, 2014[92] Webber Wentzel[93]

Note3: firms listed alphabetically

Year Firm
2015 Webber Wentzel[93][94]
2013 Webber Wentzel
2012 Webber Wentzel[95]
2011 Webber Wentzel[95]

Midsized law firms

Firms with more than 50 attorneys are generally viewed as midsize law firms.[96][97]

Name Founded (South Africa) No. of offices (South Africa) No. of attorneys (South Africa)
Adams & Adams 1908[98] 4 (22 associated offices in the rest of Africa) (July 2020)[99] 138 (July 2020)[100]
Fairbridges Wertheim Becker 1812[101] 2 (July 2020)[102] 51 (July 2020)[103]
Fasken Martineau South Africa (formerly Bell Dewar) 1901 [104] 1 (July 2020)[105] 67 (July 2020)[106]
Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa1 1922 3 (July 2020) [107] 75 (July 2020) [108]
Shepstone & Wylie 1872[109] 5 (July 2020)[110] 69 (July 2020)[111]
Spoor & Fisher 1920[112] 4 (July 2020)[113] 94 (July 2020)[114]
STBB - Smith Tabata Buchanan Boyes 1900[115] 11 (July 2020) [116] 91 (July 2020) [117]

Note1: On 1 June 2011, Deneys Reitz Inc joined UK based firm Norton Rose.[118] Deneis Reitz, and then Norton Rose Fulbright, was formerly considered to form part of the big five law firms. Due to its decline, Werksmans, which was formerly outside of the big five law firms, took its place.

See also

References
  1. Law Firms of South Africa: Webber Wentzel, Spoor and Fisher, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs (ENSafrica). Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2011. Big Five Law Firms
  2. "Africa's top Corporate Lawyers Retrieved 4 March 2010". Africanbusinessreview.co.za. Archived from the original on 14 November 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  3. "Assets" (PDF). Dnaeconomics.com.
  4. Bowmans Contact Us Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.bowmanslaw.com/contact-us/
  5. Bowmans Who we are Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.bowmanslaw.com/our-firm/company-profile/
  6. Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Contact Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.cliffedekkerhofmeyr.com/en/contact/
  7. Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr About Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.cliffedekkerhofmeyr.com/en/about/
  8. Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Contact Us Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.ensafrica.com/contact-us/
  9. Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs About Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.ensafrica.com/about-us/
  10. "The Firm: a Biography of Webber Wentzel Bowens" (PDF). Sabar.co.za. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  11. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 June 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Webber Wentzel Retrieved 31 December 2010
  12. Webber Wentzel Contact Us Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.webberwentzel.com/Pages/Contact-us.aspx
  13. Chambers and Partners Webber Wentzel Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/webber-wentzel-global-2:3753
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. Werksmans Contact Us Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.werksmans.com/contact/
  16. Werksmans Our People Accessed 9 July 2020https://www.werksmans.com/our-people/?rl=0&pr=0&lc=0&tl=&sw=ALL
  17. Michael West (7 August 2015). "DLA Piper ends South African alliance as it eyes Jo'burg launch for first foray into Africa". Legal Business. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  18. "Webber Wentzel". Webberwentzel.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  19. Chambers & Partners Webber Wentzel Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/webber-wentzel-global-2:3753
  20. Chambers & Partners Webber Wentzel Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/webber-wentzel-global-2:3753
  21. Chambers & Partners Webber Wentzel Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/webber-wentzel-global-2:3753
  22. Chambers & Partners Webber Wentzel Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/webber-wentzel-global-2:3753
  23. Chambers & Partners Bowmans Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/bowmans-global-2:2677
  24. Chambers & Partners Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/cliffe-dekker-hofmeyr-global-2:3733
  25. Chambers & Partners Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/cliffe-dekker-hofmeyr-global-2:3733
  26. Chambers & Partners Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/cliffe-dekker-hofmeyr-global-2:3733
  27. Chambers & Partners ENSafrica Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/ensafrica-global-2:132639
  28. Chambers & Partners ENSafrica Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/ensafrica-global-2:132639
  29. Chambers & Partners ENSafrica Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/ensafrica-global-2:132639
  30. Chambers & Partners ENSafrica Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/ensafrica-global-2:132639
  31. Chambers & Partners Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/cliffe-dekker-hofmeyr-global-2:3733
  32. Chambers & Partners Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/cliffe-dekker-hofmeyr-global-2:3733
  33. Chambers & Partners Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/cliffe-dekker-hofmeyr-global-2:3733
  34. Chambers & Partners Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/cliffe-dekker-hofmeyr-global-2:3733
  35. Chambers & Partners Werksmans Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/werksmans-attorneys-global-2:3754
  36. Chambers & Partners Werksmans Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/werksmans-attorneys-global-2:3754
  37. Chambers & Partners Werksmans Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/werksmans-attorneys-global-2:3754
  38. Chambers & Partners Werksmans Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/werksmans-attorneys-global-2:3754
  39. Chambers & Partners Allen & Overy Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/allen-overy-llp-global-2:7
  40. Chambers & Partners Allen & Overy Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/allen-overy-llp-global-2:7
  41. Chambers & Partners Allen & Overy Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/allen-overy-llp-global-2:7
  42. Chambers & Partners Adams & Adams Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/adams-adams-global-2:3944
  43. Chambers & Partners Clyde & Co Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/clyde-co-llp-global-2:85
  44. Chambers & Partners Clyde & Co Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/clyde-co-llp-global-2:85
  45. Chambers & Partners Clyde & Co Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/clyde-co-llp-global-2:85
  46. Chambers & Partners Clyde & Co Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/clyde-co-llp-global-2:85
  47. Chambers & Partners Adams & Adams Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/adams-adams-global-2:3944
  48. Chambers & Partners Adams & Adams Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/adams-adams-global-2:3944
  49. Chambers & Partners Adams & Adams Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/adams-adams-global-2:3944
  50. Chambers & Partners Adams & Adams Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/adams-adams-global-2:3944
  51. Chambers & Partners Spoor & Fisher Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/spoor-fisher-global-2:22363558
  52. Chambers & Partners Spoor & Fisher Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/spoor-fisher-global-2:22363558
  53. Chambers & Partners Spoor & Fisher Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/spoor-fisher-global-2:22363558
  54. Chambers & Partners Allen & Overy Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/allen-overy-llp-global-2:7
  55. Chambers & Partners Norton Rose Fulbright Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/norton-rose-fulbright-global-2:309
  56. Chambers & Partners Norton Rose Fulbright Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/norton-rose-fulbright-global-2:309
  57. Chambers & Partners Norton Rose Fulbright Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/norton-rose-fulbright-global-2:309
  58. Chambers & Partners Norton Rose Fulbright Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/norton-rose-fulbright-global-2:309
  59. Chambers & Partners Fasken Martineau Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/fasken-global-2:3695
  60. Chambers & Partners Fasken Martineau Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/fasken-global-2:3695
  61. Chambers & Partners Fasken Martineau Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/fasken-global-2:3695
  62. Chambers & Partners Fasken Martineau Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/fasken-global-2:3695
  63. Chambers & Partners Herbert Smith Freehills Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/herbert-smith-freehills-global-2:189
  64. Chambers & Partners Herbert Smith Freehills Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/herbert-smith-freehills-global-2:189
  65. Chambers & Partners Herbert Smith Freehills Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/herbert-smith-freehills-global-2:189
  66. Chambers & Partners Herbert Smith Freehills Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/herbert-smith-freehills-global-2:189
  67. Chambers & Partners Shepstone & Wylie Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/shepstone-wylie-global-2:2889
  68. Chambers & Partners Shepstone & Wylie Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/shepstone-wylie-global-2:2889
  69. Chambers & Partners Shepstone & Wylie Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/shepstone-wylie-global-2:2889
  70. Chambers & Partners Shepstone & Wylie Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/shepstone-wylie-global-2:2889
  71. Chambers & Partners Backer Mckenzie Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/baker-mckenzie-global-2:2692
  72. Chambers & Partners Backer Mckenzie Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/baker-mckenzie-global-2:2692
  73. Chambers & Partners Backer Mckenzie Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/baker-mckenzie-global-2:2692
  74. Chambers & Partners Backer Mckenzie Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/baker-mckenzie-global-2:2692
  75. Chambers & Partners DLA Piper Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/dla-piper-llp-global-2:22401592
  76. Chambers & Partners DLA Piper Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/dla-piper-llp-global-2:22401592
  77. Chambers & Partners DLA Piper Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/dla-piper-llp-global-2:22401592
  78. Chambers & Partners DLA Piper Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/dla-piper-llp-global-2:22401592
  79. Chambers & Partners Fluxmans Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/fluxmans-global-2:1914
  80. Chambers & Partners Fluxmans Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/fluxmans-global-2:1914
  81. Chambers & Partners Fluxmans Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/fluxmans-global-2:1914
  82. Chambers & Partners Fluxmans Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/fluxmans-global-2:1914
  83. Chambers & Partners Knowles Husain Lindsay Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/knowles-husain-lindsay-inc-global-2:131820
  84. Chambers & Partners Knowles Husain Lindsay Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/knowles-husain-lindsay-inc-global-2:131820
  85. Chambers & Partners Knowles Husain Lindsay Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/knowles-husain-lindsay-inc-global-2:131820
  86. Chambers & Partners Knowles Husain Lindsay Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/knowles-husain-lindsay-inc-global-2:131820
  87. Chambers & Partners Lawtons Africa Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/lawtons-africa-global-2:23190829
  88. Chambers & Partners Lawtons Africa Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/lawtons-africa-global-2:23190829
  89. Chambers & Partners Lawtons Africa Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/lawtons-africa-global-2:23190829
  90. Chambers & Partners Lawtons Africa Accessed 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/lawtons-africa-global-2:23190829
  91. "The Latest Legal News, Research and Legal Profiles - Who's Who Legal". Whoswholegal.com.
  92. "Who's Who Legal: 100 - The Latest Legal Community News, Research and Legal Profiles - Who's Who Legal". Whoswholegal.com.
  93. "Country Awards - The Latest Legal News and Law Firm Information - Who's Who Legal". Whoswholegal.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  94. "Webber Wentzel". Webberwentzel.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  95. "Cambrient Contentsuite Login". Webberwentzel.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  96. Michael H. Trotter, Profit and the Practice of Law: What's Happened to the Legal Profession (Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 1997), 46.
  97. "THE 2010 MIDSIZE HOT LIST - National Law Journal". Law.com.
  98. "Our Heritage". Adams.africa.
  99. Adams & Adams Contact Us Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.adams.africa/contact-us/
  100. Adams & Adams Our People Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.adams.africa/firm-overview/our-team-list/
  101. Fairbridges Wertheim Becker About us Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.fwbattorneys.co.za/about-us/#history
  102. Fairbridges Wertheim Becker Contact Us Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.fwbattorneys.co.za/contact-us/
  103. Fairbridges Wertheim Becker People Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.fwbattorneys.co.za/our-people/
  104. "Our History Retrieved 6 March 2011". Belldewar.com.
  105. Fasken Martineau Offices Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.fasken.com/en/offices#contact-us
  106. Fasken Martineau People Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.fasken.com/en/people/lawyer#sort=%40flastname75392%20ascending&f:_48DFBF78-54F8-4FEC-9C91-A346C4EAB4B0=[Johannesburg]
  107. Norton Rose Fulbright Global Coverage Accessed 9 July 2020
  108. [Johannesburg Norton Rose Fulbright People Search] Accessed 9 July 2020
  109. "Expert Guides - Page moved". Expert Guides.
  110. Shepstone & Wylie Contact Us Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.wylie.co.za/contact/
  111. Shepstone & Wylie All Lawyers Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.wylie.co.za/lawyers
  112. "History of Spoor & Fisher Retrieved 6 March 2011". Spoor.com.
  113. Spoor & Fisher Offices Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.spoor.com/en/offices/
  114. Spoor & Fisher People Accessed 9 July 2020 https://www.spoor.com/en/people/#slide-414=0
  115. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  116. STTB Contact Accessed 9 July 2020 https://stbb.co.za/contact/
  117. STTB People Accessed 9 July 2020 https://stbb.co.za/find-a-lawyer/
  118. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 January 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Ogilvy Renault and Deneys Reitz to join Norton Rose Group Retrieved 31 December 2010
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.