Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) announces significant leadership shifts in its industry-leading Corporate & Commercial (C&C) practice, and its Mining & Minerals sector, effective 1 July 2023.

Willem Jacobs, who has led the C&C team with unparalleled success, has decided to step down from this position after 11 years of dedicated service, to focus on the day-to-day running of his practice. 

According to CDH CEO Brent Williams, “Willem’s remarkable leadership has propelled our firm to success, consistently breaking records and securing the DealMakers Listed M&A Deal Flow award an impressive 10 out of 11 years. This extraordinary feat speaks to his ability to lead from the front, both transactionally and as practice head of the C&C team”. 

Additionally, he notes that Willem’s influential leadership and critical thinking skills have benefitted the broader firm, evidenced by his distinguished service on ExCo, FinCom, and the Directors Provident Fund Committee. “We express our heartfelt appreciation to Willem for his role in building the very fabric of the firm. While he steps down from the role of practice head, we are privileged to know that he will continue to serve on ExCo, FinCom, and the Directors Provident Fund Committee, providing us with his continued stewardship,” says Brent.

As Willem moves on from his leadership position within the C&C practice, an opportunity arose to continue his legacy. To fill these remarkable shoes, CDH appointed Ian Hayes as the new C&C Practice Head. 

Ian is a highly respected figure in the South African market and brings an impressive portfolio of blue-chip clients. He has a wealth of experience in law firm leadership, having served on ExCo and as C&C Practice Head of the legacy Cliffe Dekker (and newly merged CDH) for many years.

“Ian’s expertise spans various areas, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, corporate finance, capital markets, and business structuring and restructuring. ExCo fully believes in Ian’s leadership skills, strategic vision, and passion for our firm,” says Brent. 

With his extensive experience and proven track record, Brent believes Ian will drive the C&C practice and the firm into a new future, building upon the remarkable work done by Willem who will play a supporting role during the transition. “We are confident that Ian will continue to build the prowess of the C&C practice, with his client-centric mindset and his focus on the firm’s growth and success,” adds Brent.

In addition, CDH’s ExCo has appointed Vivien Chaplin as the new head of its Mining & Minerals sector. Vivien joined the firm in June 2020 and has, in a short space of time, demonstrated an enviable ability to lead her team on a series of complex and strategic matters, including ones of national importance. 

“Vivien has a wealth of experience in the mining sector and apart from considerable transactional M&A experience, she has assisted major mining companies with the drafting of high value, long-term supply and offtake agreements, standard form, and bespoke agreements,” says Brent.

Vivien picks up the reigns from Allan Reid and Fiona Leppan, who previously served as Joint Sector Heads since the adoption of the firm’s refreshed sector focus. Allan and Fiona will remain involved as advisors, given their storied track records as mining sector specialists in their respective disciplines. 

“We look forward to seeing our Corporate & Commercial practice, and Mining & Minerals sector go from strength to strength under Ian and Vivien’s guidance and leadership, as they apply their unparallel knowledge and experiences to the exhilarating challenges ahead,” concludes Brent.