Described by clients as “undoubtedly the firm we would choose”, due to the “impressive spread of senior and junior banking and finance partners”.

Chambers & Partners 2003 / 2004

The Bowman Gilfillan Banking and Finance Group (“the Group”) provides high quality legal and transactional advice to financial institutions, corporates, parastatals and Governments.

The Group’s expertise and skill base has been built up over a substantial period of time in representing a number of South Africa’s and the rest of the world’s blue-chip financial institutions and corporates on a broad range of transactions within the banking and finance sector.

The award winning Group (Best Corporate Law Firm in Africa 2003/2004 – Chambers & Partners) has a track record of providing clear and concise legal advice which enables clients to conclude transactions successfully. The Group is able to do this as it comprises lawyers who have a wealth of experience in the banking and finance sector as well as a number of committed and talented junior lawyers. This blend of professionals ensures that transactions are appropriately staffed having regard to the level of complexity and, in addition, that the Group has sufficient depth, in the sense that there is cover and back-up at each point. Bowman Gilfillan’s strong commitment to transformation in the South African context also ensures that transactions are appropriately staffed from a transformation perspective as the context may require.

The Group’s practice can be roughly divided into work that has an international element and work that is purely domestic. These areas require slightly different approaches and analysis, but both are of great importance to the Group and Bowman Gilfillan. Whether your deal is a multi-jurisdictional asset financing and currency hedging transaction, on the one hand, or a more straightforward domestic lending transaction, on the other hand, you can be sure that we will be committed to ensuring that it is concluded successfully. We find that our experience gained in each area greatly assists in dealing with the other area. By way of example, our experience in closing complex transactions across different jurisdictions and time zones means that we have a “can-do” approach that often sets us apart when we are working on domestic transactions. Further, the acknowledged sophistication of the domestic banking and finance sector (including the innovative solutions that are required in relation to Black Economic Empowerment transactions) means that the Group is quickly up to speed when working on even the most demanding international transactions.

Members of the Group regularly contribute to a number of banking and financial publications and Bowman Gilfillan is the South African contributor to the Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law.