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The comprehensive guide to the world's leading tax firms

Deloitte's tax team in South Africa led by Nazrien Kader. The return of Suzanne Van der Merwe this year has reinforced the team's capabilities in indirect tax. She was just one of 10 additions this year, though the same number of practitioners did leave ... [more]

Deloitte's tax team in South Africa led by Nazrien Kader. The return of Suzanne Van der Merwe this year has reinforced the team's capabilities in indirect tax. She was just one of 10 additions this year, though the same number of practitioners did leave the firm. The result is that there are now 34 partners and 199 fee earners in the practice. The firm offers clients a full range of tax advisory services including M&A, cross-border structuring, corporate tax, indirect tax and tax controversy. The firm's transfer pricing department is highly regarded by competitors who acknowledge that Deloitte is well known in South Africa for its work in that area. The firm also offers South Africa-specific tax services such as its mining tax service line to cater for the number of metals and mining companies it has as clients.

The tax department of Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs is led by Bernard du Plessis in Johannesburg and Peter Dachs in Cape Town. The group has lost two partners since last year and now has 15 partners and 24 other fee earners. Though it offers clients a full ... [more]

The tax department of Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs is led by Bernard du Plessis in Johannesburg and Peter Dachs in Cape Town. The group has lost two partners since last year and now has 15 partners and 24 other fee earners. Though it offers clients a full range of tax services, cross-border structuring and restructuring and tax controversy have been areas of particular activity for the firm this year. The firm's clients comprise multinationals, financial institutions and South African companies, including Credit Suisse, Absa Capital, Old Mutual, South African Breweries and Fifa. This year, their work has included advising Credit Suisse on the restructuring of an issue of preference shares. To ensure that the dividends from the shares were tax exempt, the proceeds had to remain in South Africa. As such, the firm had to establish a structure to ensure the money was invested in South Africa and could subsequently be passed to foreign shareholders free of tax. Du Plessis also handled the restructuring of LifeHealthcare, a joint venture between Brimstone Investment and Mvelephanda Holdings. This was necessary to ensure that both parties could exit the joint venture without incurring any unnecessary tax liability. The firm expects its flow of cross-border work to remain high in the coming year as investment into Africa via South Africa picks up. The firm is beginning to see a lot of investment from Asia in this manner.

Martin Walbeck heads the tax practice of Ernst & Young in South Africa which has offices in five locations across the country. Justin Liebenberg leads the firm's international tax service line while Gary Miller is head of M&A tax, both of which have ... [more]

Martin Walbeck heads the tax practice of Ernst & Young in South Africa which has offices in five locations across the country. Justin Liebenberg leads the firm's international tax service line while Gary Miller is head of M&A tax, both of which have been busy areas for the firm this year. The tax department has grown significantly in the last 12 months, with four partners and three other fee earners joining the practice. Particularly notable is transfer pricing specialist Karen Miller who joined from SARS and has bolstered the firm's transfer pricing capability. The firm has recently secured a number of big-name clients comprising both multinational and South African companies. Particularly notable is IBM which has appointed Ernst & Young as lead adviser for its corporate income tax, indirect tax compliance and withholding tax compliance across 16 countries in Africa. The firm expects this to encompass many issues of international tax and structuring as well as issues relevant to the specific types of tax at issue. Other clients include Sasol, SABMiller, BT, Vodacom and Unilever Singapore. The team has also advised Wal-Mart this year on the tax considerations and implications of its purchase of a 51% stake of Massmart South Africa. The firm has increased its visibility in the market with such transactions, as competitors say they have noted Ernst & Young more frequently than in previous years.

KPMG's South African tax team offers advice to both South African and international clients on cross-border matters, corporate tax, transfer pricing and indirect tax. The firm is particularly renowned for its indirect tax advice and peers comment that ... [more]

KPMG's South African tax team offers advice to both South African and international clients on cross-border matters, corporate tax, transfer pricing and indirect tax. The firm is particularly renowned for its indirect tax advice and peers comment that Andre Meyburgh is a very capable adviser on those matters. Alan Field heads the tax department from the firm's Johannesburg office and service line leaders are Scott Berry for corporate and business tax, Dermot Gaffney for indirect tax and Robyn Nathan and Carolyn Freeman for the international corporate tax and international executive service lines respectively.

Paul De Chalain leads PwC's South African tax practice which offers clients advice on corporate tax, M&A, indirect taxes, cross-border structuring and international tax and transfer pricing. The firm has a particularly distinguished transfer pricing ... [more]

Paul De Chalain leads PwC's South African tax practice which offers clients advice on corporate tax, M&A, indirect taxes, cross-border structuring and international tax and transfer pricing. The firm has a particularly distinguished transfer pricing practice and other advisers recommend several of its practitioners for this area. Both David Lermer and Mike Benetello are well spoken of by their contemporaries for their ability in the area. This will mean the firm is well placed to respond to SARS' continued focus on transfer pricing and frequent audits.

Bowman Gilfillan is identified by tax practitioners as having raised its profile this year, with one adviser noting that "they have really got a good tax practice there and they are pretty strong in other areas too". Wally Horak leads the tax department ... [more]

Bowman Gilfillan is identified by tax practitioners as having raised its profile this year, with one adviser noting that "they have really got a good tax practice there and they are pretty strong in other areas too". Wally Horak leads the tax department and Johan Kotze leads their dedicated tax dispute resolution practice. The firm can advise across a full range of tax issues, but cross-border structuring and capital markets are areas where it has a particularly good reputation. For both those areas, Horak is singled out by competitors as being a notable practitioner. Given their reputation for such matters, it is no surprise that the firm's clients include several financial institutions, such as Morgan Stanley, Standard Bank and Goldman Sachs, as well as South African and multinational companies such as SABMiller and Verizon. Recent work has included advising Davis Langdon on the sale of its assets and business to AECOM in South Africa and other African countries. The firm advised on all elements of the transaction on the African continent which was part of Davis Langdon's sale of its operations in Europe, America, Australasia, Africa and Asia. From a tax perspective, this involved coordinating cross-border tax issues to ensure compliance and to avoid any unnecessary tax liability accruing to the seller. The arrival of partner Lionel Shawe this year attracted attention. He is now head of the firm's banking and finance team and has significant experience in tax matters in those areas. Competitors expect his arrival to add to the strength of the firm's tax practice in capital markets and financial services where it already had a good reputation.

The tax team of Webber Wentzel has several practitioners who are recommended by their peers. Former KPMG transfer pricing leader Michael Honiball is highly respected by his competitors and was said by one adviser to be "one of the best advisers for international ... [more]

The tax team of Webber Wentzel has several practitioners who are recommended by their peers. Former KPMG transfer pricing leader Michael Honiball is highly respected by his competitors and was said by one adviser to be "one of the best advisers for international tax in South Africa". The firm has further enhanced its strength in that area with the addition of Anne Bennett, the former head of international tax at Deloitte. The firm also has a good reputation for indirect tax, with several practitioners identifying Des Kruger for his ability in that area. The team under department head Mark Linington is competent across all areas of tax, though the firm has handled some significant M&A transactions this year and advised the parties concerned on the tax issues involved. The firm advised Vox Telecom on its purchase and subsequent delisting by Lereko Metier Capital Growth Fund and Investec Bank. This required the firm to ensure that the R500 million ($74.3 million) purchase price could be received by the sellers in as tax efficient a manner as possible. The firm is also advising Kagiso Trust Investments and Tiso Group on the tax implications of their R13 billion ($1.93 billion) merger .

Werksmans' tax team provides a full range of tax services but is especially strong in M&A, cross-border structuring and tax advice related to capital markets transactions under department head Ernest Mazansky. The firm has added former Cliffe Dekker ... [more]

Werksmans' tax team provides a full range of tax services but is especially strong in M&A, cross-border structuring and tax advice related to capital markets transactions under department head Ernest Mazansky. The firm has added former Cliffe Dekker Hoffmeyer practitioners Leon Rood, who now heads their Johannesburg tax practice, and Patrick McGurk as partners this year while Daleen Malan joined from Deloitte as an associate. The firm's capital markets expertise was central to preparations for the listing of British healthcare group Netcare in South Africa this year. Werksmans advised the group on the tax consequences of the listing, though it was put on hold until market conditions are more favourable. Netcare is a limited liability partnership (LLP)in the UK, but under South African law LLPs are treated as companies for tax purposes. The prospective listing required careful attention to differing tax status and treatments of the group in the UK and in South Africa. Partner Doelie Lessing is well regarded by competitors for her corporate tax work and the firm has been involved in some significant transactions recently. The firm advised the South African media group Avusa on their acquisition of Universal Print Group and Hirt & Carter. This was complicated by the SARS's change in approach to the deduction of interest on loans given for the purpose of acquiring shares. To ensure that interest on the loan would be deductible, the firm had to ensure that all elements of the deal were appropriately structured to the satisfaction of SARS which entailed substantial liaison with tax officials.

The head of tax at Bell Dewar is Blaize Vance who specialises in debt restructuring and M&A and has significant knowledge of tax issues in the mining and power sectors. Vance is supported by two other partners and three fee earners. The firm provides ... [more]

The head of tax at Bell Dewar is Blaize Vance who specialises in debt restructuring and M&A and has significant knowledge of tax issues in the mining and power sectors. Vance is supported by two other partners and three fee earners. The firm provides tax advice to clients in M&A, banking and finance, international tax, indirect tax and tax controversy. The firm is particularly well known in South Africa for its expertise in the mining and power sectors. Partner Conor McFadden specialises in international tax, including transfer pricing, and also has substantial experience of dealing with SARS in dispute resolution on behalf of clients.

DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr has added two partners to their tax department this year. However, the loss of two partners and three associates brings the total number of practitioners to six partners and four other fee earners under Emil Brincker. The firm ... [more]

DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr has added two partners to their tax department this year. However, the loss of two partners and three associates brings the total number of practitioners to six partners and four other fee earners under Emil Brincker. The firm has been active in contentious tax this year. One case completed in December 2010 saw the Supreme Court consider a definite test on the issue of simulation. The firm expects this case to be an important stepping stone towards a precedent judgment on the issue. The firm has a strong reputation within the financial sector and counts Nedbank and Standard Bank of South Africa among its clients, as well as several private-equity firms including PSG Capital. Brincker has a good reputation among competitors for his capital markets and financial services expertise. One of his rivals says: "He's probably the first tax adviser you think of when it comes to capital markets." The arrival of Johan Van der Walt from the SARS has also attracted comment from tax advisers as one partner noted: "He is a decent chap who may help steady the ship in light of recent departures there."

Glyn Marais is part of the SNR Denton network of firms and its tax department specialises in capital markets and financial products. Richard Glyn is noted by his peers for his work in that area and has particular expertise in structured finance. His ... [more]

Glyn Marais is part of the SNR Denton network of firms and its tax department specialises in capital markets and financial products. Richard Glyn is noted by his peers for his work in that area and has particular expertise in structured finance. His expertise also encompasses corporate income tax issues . Firm leader Francois Marais is a former merchant banker and his tax knowledge encompasses several areas, though M&A, capital markets and private equity are particular areas of expertise. The firm's clients include a number of banks and private equity houses as well as South African and international companies. The firm is confident that its new association with SNR Denton will enhance its cross-border abilities throughout Africa in particular given the firm's network across the continent.

The tax team of Deneys Reitz has been incorporated into the Norton Rose network this year. However, the tax practice is still led by Ernie Lai King with four other partners and two other fee earners divided between the firm's Cape Town and Johannesburg ... [more]

The tax team of Deneys Reitz has been incorporated into the Norton Rose network this year. However, the tax practice is still led by Ernie Lai King with four other partners and two other fee earners divided between the firm's Cape Town and Johannesburg offices completing the department. The team has a strong reputation in refinancing and restructuring, particularly for black economic empowerment (BEE) transactions, and their ability in cross-border issues is likely to be enhanced as part of the Norton Rose network. This year the firm has advised Swiss company the Holcim Group in restructuring its South African investments as part of a BEE transaction. This entailed transferring 85% of Holcim's subsidiary Afrisam to a BEE syndicate for which the Norton Rose tax team advised on the structured financing and tax aspects. Advice was also provided to a multinational financial institution on the status of an economic assistance agreement between its country's government the South Africa.