Herbert Smith Freehills expands South Africa team with Corporate M&A partner hire

Ziyanda is a M&A/private equity lawyer with two decades of experience and expertise in all aspects of M&A including reorganisations, private equity and general corporate transactions in South Africa and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa. 

She has advised clients across a range of sectors including mining, health, financial services, pharma, telecommunications, real estate and private equity. Her experience also extends to cross-border transactions and transactions that involve leveraged buyouts and where issues of Black Economic Empowerment are pertinent.

Ziyanda joins from Johannesburg-based law firm Poswa Incorporated where she is currently an executive consultant in the corporate and commercial practice. Prior to Poswa, Ziyanda was a partner at Webber Wentzel and the head of the Corporate Business Unit. 

Her technical ability and expertise have been recognised by top legal directories including Chambers Global in which she is noted for being "highly experienced and knowledgeable". In 2023, she was awarded Up and Coming Lawyer of the Year by Chambers Africa. 

She will be joining Herbert Smith Freehills with a team of two associates. 

Jean Meijer, Johannesburg Managing Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills, commented: 

"We are delighted that Ziyanda and her team are joining us and look forward to working with them to tap into the tremendous growth opportunities across the African continent and globally."

Mike Flockhart, Global Co-head of Corporate, Herbert Smith Freehills, said: 

"We welcome Ziyanda and her team to the firm. She is a highly rated, respected lawyer with excellent experience who will be a strong addition not only to our Africa practice but also to our top-tier global Corporate M&A offering."

Herbert Smith Freehills recently announced plans to combine¹ with Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel in the US and to open an office in Luxembourg² alongside the hire of three partners in the funds, M&A and tax teams within its Corporate practice. These moves are driven by the firm's commitment to further strengthen capability and quality in the world's key markets, offering unparalleled support for clients in complex transactions and high-stakes litigation. 

Ziyanda Ntshona said: 

"I am excited to join Herbert Smith Freehills which offers a truly global platform for me to further develop and grow my practice, and service clients. I look forward to growing the team, collaborating with my colleagues across the firm and to the cross-selling opportunities the network provides." 

Opened in 2015, Herbert Smith Freehills in Johannesburg now boasts a team of more than 50 lawyers including nine partners, and has grown significantly in the past 12 months. Ziyanda is the latest senior hire in Johannesburg following Patrick Hirsch's appointment as partner in August 2024. In March 2024, Lesetja Morapi was appointed as a competition and antitrust director and in May 2024, Ernst Muller was promoted to director specialising in ESG.  

Notes to editors

¹ The proposed combination is subject to customary closing conditions, including a vote of the Partners of each of the respective firms.
² The firm plans to open the Luxembourg office in early 2025, subject to approval by the Luxembourg Bar.