mining, environmental & resources€¦ · mining & resources lawyers will attest to the...

Mining & resources lawyers will attest to the fact that few industries have changed as dramatically as South Africa’s mining and energy sector. Once dominated by a handful of private mining companies, the sector has seen private ownership of mineral rights converted to state custodianship, a new-order licensing regime and black economic empowerment obligations imposed on local and foreign players. The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 (MPRDA) that came into effect on 1 May 2004 has necessitated fundamental changes in the way mining companies operate in relation to ownership structures and the acquisition of rights to prospect and mine.

CLIENT-FOCUSSED SPECIALISTS APPLYING A BEST-PRACTICE APPROACH

The evolving regulatory landscape (including the Mining Charter, as amended, and the Codes of Good Practice for the Mineral Industry) has led to a growing number of administrative disputes over the granting of prospecting and mining rights. In addition, mining companies are subject to increasingly stringent environmental regulation, particularly around waste management and rehabilitation of the surface of the earth disturbed during prospecting and mining.

With a well-established international network, our mining & resources lawyers come with extensive experience in structuring mining transactions to meet legislative and regulatory requirements, including the impact of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Royalty Act. Mining clients include North American, European and Australian companies, as well as some of the major South African mining houses and empowerment mining companies. Our services include advising on the MPRDA, Mining Charter and Codes of Good Practice; black economic empowerment legislation and regulation; mergers & acquisitions; environmental law (including waste management);mine health and safety; Joint Venture and Pooling and Sharing agreements; mining and prospecting statutory and regulatory compliance; and processing and off-take agreements. We also advise on matters in the mining and energy sector relating to banking and finance; litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution; internal appeals; and due diligence exercises.

MINING, ENVIRONMENTAL& RESOURCESPRACTICE AREA

MEET THE MINING, ENVIRONMENTAL & RESOURCES TEAM

CHRIS STEVENS

Title: Director and practice area headOffice: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8467Email: cstevens@werksmans.com

NEIL KIRBY

Title: DirectorOffice: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8198Email: nkirby@werksmans.com

HENDRIK KOTZÉ

Title: DirectorOffice: TygervalleyDirect line: +27 (0)21 910 9018Email: hkotze@werksmans.com

STEPHAN LOCHNERTitle: DirectorOffice: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8345Email: slochner@werksmans.com

KATHLEENLOUW

Title: DirectorOffice: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8321Email: klouw@werksmans.com

BULELWA MABASATitle: DirectorOffice: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8309Email: bmabasa@werksmans.com

DAVID GEWER

Title: Director Office: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8142Email: dgewer@werksmans.com

ANELE KHUMALO

Title: DirectorOffice: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8114Email: akhumalo@werksmans.com

JANENEMEIRING

Title: DirectorOffice: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8251Email: jmeiring@werksmans.com

HELEN MICHAEL

Title: DirectorOffice: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8424Email: hmichael@werksmans.com

JONES ANTUNES

Title: DirectorOffice: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8138Email: jantunes@werksmans.com

JUSTIN TRUTER

Title: DirectorOffice: Cape TownDirect line: +27 (0)21 405 5232Email: jtruter@werksmans.com

JONATHAN STOCKWELL

Title: DirectorOffice: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8439Email: jstockwell@werksmans.com

JOHANTHERON

Title: DirectorOffice: Cape TownDirect line: +27 (0)21 405 5260Email: jtheron@werksmans.com

ADAM PYZIKOWSKI

Title: Director Office: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8253Email: apyzikowski@werksmans.com

DESWILLIAMS

Title: DirectorOffice: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8234Email: dwilliams@werksmans.com

MEET THE MINING, ENVIRONMENTAL & RESOURCES TEAM CONTINUED

BRONWYN PARKER

Title: Senior AssociateOffice: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8273Email: bparker@werksmans.com

TANIA VOLSCHENK

Title: Senior AssociateOffice: TygervalleyDirect line: +27 (0)21 910 9080Email: tvolschenk@werksmans.com

Established in the early 1900s, Werksmans Attorneys is a leading South African corporate and commercial law firm, serving multinationals, listed companies, financial institutions, entrepreneurs and government.

Operating in Gauteng and the Western Cape, the firm is connected to an extensive African legal alliance through LEX Africa.

LEX Africa was established in 1993 as the first and largest African legal alliance and offers huge potential for Werksmans’ clients seeking to do business on the continent by providing a gateway to Africa.

With a formidable track record in mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, and commercial litigation and dispute resolution, Werksmans is distinguished by the people, clients and work that it attracts and retains.

Werksmans’ more than 200 lawyers are a powerful team of independent-minded individuals who share a common service ethos. The firm’s success is built on a solid foundation of insightful and innovative deal structuring and legal advice, a keen ability to understand business and economic imperatives and a strong focus on achieving the best legal outcome for clients.

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ASANDA NGXONGO

Title: AssociateOffice: StellenboschDirect line: +27 (0)21 809 6157Email: angxongo@werksmans.com

REFILWE MOITSE

Title: AssociateOffice: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8449Email: rmoitse@werksmans.com