Werksmans Attorneys stands as a leading law firm in South Africa, recognized for its comprehensive legal expertise across a broad spectrum of practice areas. With a rich history dating back more than a century, the firm is distinguished by its deep industry knowledge, innovative solutions, and strategic approach to complex legal matters. Leveraging the skills of a highly experienced team, Werksmans provides clients with insights tailored to meet the dynamic challenges facing businesses in today's evolving economic and regulatory landscape.

The firm's reputation is built on a track record of high-profile cases and significant transactions, both locally and internationally. Werksmans Attorneys is consistently acknowledged by respected legal directories and industry peers for its technical proficiency and the caliber of its legal professionals. Its services cover a wide array of sectors, including corporate and commercial law, dispute resolution, banking and finance, competition law, and more, reflecting its status as a trusted advisor to some of South Africa's leading corporations and institutions.

Client service is at the heart of Werksmans Attorneys’ philosophy. The firm is known for fostering long-term partnerships through a commitment to responsiveness, integrity, and a thorough understanding of each client’s business objectives. By combining legal excellence with a personalized approach and an unwavering commitment to delivering results, Werksmans ensures that clients receive practical guidance and decisive representation at every stage of their legal affairs.

About Werksmans Attorneys

Founded in 1917


Practice areas
Business
Civil & Human Rights
Employment & Labor
Intellectual Property
Lawsuits & Disputes

Languages spoken
English

Social media

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Practice areas

Business

Werksmans Attorneys' Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions practice offers comprehensive legal services in both public and private M&A transactions, private equity, and cross-border deals. The team provides expert guidance on related legal areas such as taxation, exchange control, competition, environmental compliance, employment, and black economic empowerment, ensuring seamless transaction execution. Their reputation for effectively completing complex deals is recognized by various independent industry rankings.
Accounting & Auditing
Administrative
Admiralty & Maritime
Agriculture
Antitrust
Aviation
Banking & Finance
Business Registration
Communications & Media Law
Contract
Due Diligence
Employer
Environment
Franchising
Gaming
Government Contract
Health Care
Investment
International
Legal Document
Licensing
Merger & Acquisition
New Business Formation
Office Solutions
Oil, Gas & Energy
Securities
Tax
Transportation
Venture Capital
Nonprofit & Charitable Organizations
International Trade Law
Government Relations & Lobbying
Financial Services Regulation
Tax Increment Financing

Civil & Human Rights

Werksmans Attorneys' Pro Bono Practice is dedicated to advancing civil and human rights by providing free legal services to indigent individuals and non-profit organizations engaged in human rights, public interest, or social justice work. Their services encompass staffing law clinics, offering legal advice and representation, supporting advocacy initiatives, conducting informational seminars, and engaging in strategic litigation. The practice focuses on areas such as disability rights, labor rights, environmental rights, healthcare rights, and access to justice, ensuring that marginalized communities receive the legal support necessary to uphold their rights and effect positive societal transformation.
Civil Rights
Constitutional Law
Disability
Disability Insurance
Social Security Disability
Discrimination
Native People
Education Law
Military Law
Animal Law
Faith-Based Law
State, Local, and Municipal Law
Veterans Benefits

Employment & Labor

Werksmans Attorneys' Employment & Labour practice offers comprehensive legal services to both domestic and multinational clients, focusing on employment, health and safety, and pension fund matters. The team specializes in dispute resolution and managing employment aspects of commercial transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, company sales, and outsourcing arrangements, which often affect employee pensions, benefits, and service conditions. They provide guidance on executive appointments and terminations, local operation restructurings, and employee-related disputes. Additionally, the practice assists with organizational and pension fund restructuring, collective bargaining, drafting employment contracts and agreements, and developing fair, commercially viable policies and procedures. Their dispute resolution experience spans private and statutory forums, including bargaining councils, the Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), civil and labour courts, and the pension funds adjudicator.
Employment Rights
Hiring & Firing
Job Discrimination
Labor Law
Pension
Retirement
Sexual Harassment
Social Security
Wage & Hour
Wrongful Termination
Whistleblower & Qui Tam
Employment Benefits & Executive Compensation

Intellectual Property

Werksmans Attorneys' Intellectual Property team offers comprehensive services to protect and manage clients' IP assets, including the registration and enforcement of trademarks, patents, designs, copyrights, domain names, and plant breeders' rights across Africa and internationally. The team provides strategic portfolio assessments, development guidelines, and management, ensuring clients' IP rights are safeguarded. In cases of infringement, they conduct litigation, including interdicts, injunctions, and damages claims, and handle domain name dispute proceedings. Additionally, they negotiate and draft agreements related to IP aspects of commercial transactions, such as licensing and franchising, and offer services in anti-counterfeiting, e-commerce, IT law, and due diligence investigations.
Copyright
Patent
Trademark
Art & Cultural Property Law

Lawsuits & Disputes

Werksmans Attorneys' Disputes practice, led by Corlett Manaka, specializes in efficiently resolving complex commercial disputes through mediation, arbitration, adjudication, and court litigation. The team, recognized as a Tier 1 leader by global rating agencies, offers services encompassing all aspects of commercial disputes, cross-border litigation, insolvency and liquidation disputes, intellectual property-related disputes, insurance and pension fund disputes, and regulatory and administrative matters. Their client portfolio includes sectors such as mining, telecoms, and financial services, as well as public sector bodies. The practice is noted for its high competency, responsiveness, and proactive approach, aiming to achieve outcomes that are intelligent, appropriate, and in the best interests of the client.
ADR Mediation & Arbitration
Appeal
Class Action
Litigation
Ethics and Professional Responsibility

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