Location of 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.

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[19] 4[19] None[19]
2 Bowmans 12[20] 4[21] 2[21] 1[21]
3 ENSafrica 9[22] 8[22] 2[22] None[22]
4 Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr 6[21] 10[21] 3[21] None[21]
5 Werksmans 3[23] 7[23] 4[23] 2[23]
Allen & Overy South Africa 1[24] 2[24] 2[24] 1[25]
Clyde & Co South Africa 1[26] None[26] 2[26] None[26]
Adams & Adams 1[25] None[25] None[25] None[25]
Spoor & Fisher 1[27] None[27] None[27] None[24]
Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa None[28] 6[28] 2[28] 3[28]
Fasken Martineau South Africa None[29] 2[29] 1[29] 3[29]
Herbert Smith Freehills South Africa None[30] 1[30] None[30] 4[30]
Shepstone & Wylie None[31] 1[31] None[31] None[31]
Baker McKenzie South Africa None[32] None[32] 4[32] 4[32]
DLA Piper South Africa None[33] None[33] 2[33] None[33]
Fluxmans None[34] None[34] None[34] 3[34]
Knowles Husain Lindsay None[35] None[35] None[35] 1[35]
Lawtons Africa None[36] None[36] None[36] None[36]

Note1: Based on Band 1 rankings.

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

Year Firm3
2013 ENSafrica[37]
2013, 2014[38] Webber Wentzel[39]

Note3: firms listed alphabetically

Year Firm
2015 Webber Wentzel[39][40]
2013 Webber Wentzel
2012 Webber Wentzel[41]
2011 Webber Wentzel[41]

Midsized law firms

Firms with more than 50 attorneys are generally viewed as midsize law firms.[42][43]

Name Founded (South Africa) No. of offices (South Africa) No. of attorneys (South Africa)
Adams & Adams 1908[44] 4 (22 associated offices in the rest of Africa) (July 2020)[45] 138 (July 2020)[46]
Fairbridges Wertheim Becker 1812[47] 2 (July 2020)[48] 51 (July 2020)[49]
Fasken Martineau South Africa (formerly Bell Dewar) 1901[50] 1 (July 2020)[51] 67 (July 2020)[52]
Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa1 1922 3 (July 2020)[53] 75 (July 2020)[54]
Shepstone & Wylie 1872[55] 5 (July 2020)[56] 69 (July 2020)[57]
Spoor & Fisher 1920[58] 4 (July 2020)[59] 94 (July 2020)[60]
STBB - Smith Tabata Buchanan Boyes 1900[61] 13 (September 2022)[62] 111 (September 2022)[63]
Strauss Daly Incorporated 1984 9 (October 2021) 52 (October 2021)

Note1: On 1 June 2011, Deneys Reitz Inc joined UK based firm Norton Rose.[64] 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). ASIN 1157393721. 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 Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.bowmanslaw.com/contact-us/
  5. ↑ Bowmans Who we are Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.bowmanslaw.com/our-firm/company-profile/
  6. ↑ Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Contact Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.cliffedekkerhofmeyr.com/en/contact/
  7. ↑ Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr About Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.cliffedekkerhofmeyr.com/en/about/
  8. ↑ Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Contact Us Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.ensafrica.com/contact-us/
  9. ↑ Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs About Retrieved 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Webber Wentzel Retrieved 31 December 2010
  12. ↑ Webber Wentzel Contact Us Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.webberwentzel.com/Pages/Contact-us.aspx
  13. ↑ Chambers and Partners Webber Wentzel Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/webber-wentzel-global-2:3753
  14. ↑ "Careers | About Us | Werksmans Attorneys - Werksmans Attorneys". Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  15. ↑ Werksmans Contact Us Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.werksmans.com/contact/
  16. ↑ Werksmans Our People Retrieved 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. 1 2 3 4 Chambers & Partners Webber Wentzel Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/webber-wentzel-global-2:3753
  20. ↑ Chambers & Partners Bowmans Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/bowmans-global-2:2677
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Chambers & Partners Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/cliffe-dekker-hofmeyr-global-2:3733
  22. 1 2 3 4 Chambers & Partners ENSafrica Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/ensafrica-global-2:132639
  23. 1 2 3 4 Chambers & Partners Werksmans Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/werksmans-attorneys-global-2:3754
  24. 1 2 3 4 Chambers & Partners Allen & Overy Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/allen-overy-llp-global-2:7
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 Chambers & Partners Adams & Adams Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/adams-adams-global-2:3944
  26. 1 2 3 4 Chambers & Partners Clyde & Co Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/clyde-co-llp-global-2:85
  27. 1 2 3 Chambers & Partners Spoor & Fisher Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/spoor-fisher-global-2:22363558
  28. 1 2 3 4 Chambers & Partners Norton Rose Fulbright Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/norton-rose-fulbright-global-2:309
  29. 1 2 3 4 Chambers & Partners Fasken Martineau Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/fasken-global-2:3695
  30. 1 2 3 4 Chambers & Partners Herbert Smith Freehills Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/herbert-smith-freehills-global-2:189
  31. 1 2 3 4 Chambers & Partners Shepstone & Wylie Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/shepstone-wylie-global-2:2889
  32. 1 2 3 4 Chambers & Partners Backer Mckenzie Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/baker-mckenzie-global-2:2692
  33. 1 2 3 4 Chambers & Partners DLA Piper Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/dla-piper-llp-global-2:22401592
  34. 1 2 3 4 Chambers & Partners Fluxmans Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/fluxmans-global-2:1914
  35. 1 2 3 4 Chambers & Partners Knowles Husain Lindsay Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/knowles-husain-lindsay-inc-global-2:131820
  36. 1 2 3 4 Chambers & Partners Lawtons Africa Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://chambers.com/law-firm/lawtons-africa-global-2:23190829
  37. ↑ "The Latest Legal News, Research and Legal Profiles – Who's Who Legal". Whoswholegal.com.
  38. ↑ "Who's Who Legal: 100 – The Latest Legal Community News, Research and Legal Profiles – Who's Who Legal". Whoswholegal.com.
  39. 1 2 "Country Awards – The Latest Legal News and Law Firm Information – Who's Who Legal". Whoswholegal.com. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  40. ↑ "Webber Wentzel". Webberwentzel.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  41. 1 2 "Cambrient Contentsuite Login". Webberwentzel.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  42. ↑ Michael H. Trotter, Profit and the Practice of Law: What's Happened to the Legal Profession (Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 1997), 46.
  43. ↑ "THE 2010 MIDSIZE HOT LIST – National Law Journal". Law.com.
  44. ↑ "Our Heritage". Adams.africa.
  45. ↑ Adams & Adams Contact Us Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.adams.africa/contact-us/
  46. ↑ Adams & Adams Our People Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.adams.africa/firm-overview/our-team-list/
  47. ↑ Fairbridges Wertheim Becker About us Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.fwbattorneys.co.za/about-us/#history
  48. ↑ Fairbridges Wertheim Becker Contact Us Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.fwbattorneys.co.za/contact-us/
  49. ↑ Fairbridges Wertheim Becker People Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.fwbattorneys.co.za/our-people/
  50. ↑ "Our History Retrieved 6 March 2011". Belldewar.com.
  51. ↑ Fasken Martineau Offices Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.fasken.com/en/offices#contact-us
  52. ↑ Fasken Martineau People Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.fasken.com/en/people/lawyer#sort=%40flastname75392%20ascending&f:_48DFBF78-54F8-4FEC-9C91-A346C4EAB4B0=[Johannesburg]
  53. ↑ Norton Rose Fulbright Global Coverage. Retrieved 9 July 2020
  54. ↑ Norton Rose Fulbright People Search. Retrieved 9 July 2020
  55. ↑ "Expert Guides – Page moved". Expert Guides.
  56. ↑ Shepstone & Wylie Contact Us Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.wylie.co.za/contact/
  57. ↑ Shepstone & Wylie All Lawyers Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.wylie.co.za/lawyers
  58. ↑ "History of Spoor & Fisher Retrieved 6 March 2011". Spoor.com.
  59. ↑ Spoor & Fisher Offices Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.spoor.com/en/offices/
  60. ↑ Spoor & Fisher People Retrieved 9 July 2020 https://www.spoor.com/en/people/#slide-414=0
  61. ↑ "Welcome to STBB - We deal with every legal matter". Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  62. ↑ STTB Contact Retrieved 14 September 2022 https://stbb.co.za/contact/
  63. ↑ STTB People Retrieved 14 September 2022 https://stbb.co.za/find-a-lawyer/
  64. ↑ "Norton Rose Group - Ogilvy Renault and Deneys Reitz to join Norton Rose Group". Archived from the original on 22 January 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2010. Ogilvy Renault and Deneys Reitz to join Norton Rose Group Retrieved 31 December 2010
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