Leading Pan-African law firm, Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group, has appointed Patricia Williams as partner in its Sandton Tax Practice to strengthen its tax dispute resolution offering. This follows the appointment of tax specialist, Ulla Murphy, previously head of the Africa Tax Practice at Barclays Africa, earlier this year.

Williams has exceptional skills, being a chartered accountant (SA) and an admitted attorney (LLB).  Furthermore, she holds a MBA (cum laude) (GIBS), an H-.Dip. Tax Diploma and is also a qualified chartered financial analyst (CFA).

Williams specialises in tax-related dispute resolution although her expertise extends to providing tax structuring advice within the context of mergers and acquisitions, including transactions in the private equity fund industry. Her accounting qualifications enable her to assist with financial modelling and pricing calculations in complex transactions. She also has extensive experience in tax due diligences, where her knowledge of accountancy and law gives her a unique advantage

Prior to joining the firm, Williams built a solid reputation as a tax dispute specialist while she was heading up Webber Wentzel’s Tax Dispute Resolution Practice.  She also spent several years in Deloitte’s Tax Practice and some time with SARS.

Chairman and senior partner, Robert Legh, says, "We are very pleased to welcome Patricia to our team. We see significant potential for growth within the specialist field of tax dispute resolution – both locally and internationally – due to the current economic climate as well as the changing way in which tax authorities and society in general perceive tax planning and tax avoidance. Patricia’s expertise will also supplement our general tax offering and enable us to expand our tax due diligence capacity.”

Other recent lateral hires made by the Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group include the appointment of Bonnie Steyn who specialises in dispute resolution, Warren Hamer who specialises in real estate law, and Zano Nduli who joined the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Practice.