Pre-eminent African law firm Bowmans has announced the appointment of Olwethu Gusha as a partner in its Johannesburg General Finance Practice.

Olwethu is an experienced transactional lawyer who specialises in leveraged and acquisition finance, which includes structuring debt for private equity deals and corporate acquisitions across multiple African jurisdictions. His expertise extends to asset and real estate finance and preference share financing, including designing complex capital raising and hybrid instrument structures.

Ezra Davids, Bowmans chairman and senior partner, says: ‘We are delighted to welcome Olwethu to the partnership. His arrival strengthens our ability to service complex lender-side mandates and supports our strategy to grow our African cross-border banking and finance capabilities.’

Olwethu has a track record of advising major South African and international financial institutions. Notably, he has successfully led complex USD-denominated transactions across the DRC, Kenya Mauritius and Zambia.

He is also an experienced mentor and has previously helped to develop trainee mentorship programmes for junior lawyers. He is expected to be instrumental in developing the firm’s junior associates and candidate attorneys.

He holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Cape Town and a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) from the University of the Western Cape.

Ulrike Naumann, head of General Finance, concludes: ‘Olwethu’s hands-on experience in complex debt finance and cross-border African transactions will be an asset to our clients within the continent's evolving regulatory environment.’