Alchemy strikes gold as it scoops leading South African litigator John Bell as a new partner

The appointment of leading South African litigator John Bell as a new partner at Alchemy Law strengthens the firm’s ability to support clients through the most complex and high-stakes disputes, says Pierre Burger, Alchemy Dispute Resolution partner. “His depth of experience and sector knowledge will further enhance our capacity to deliver strategic, solutions-driven advice to our growing client base.”

Established in November 2021 by highly experienced South African lawyers Wildu du Plessis and Morné van der Merwe, both former Managing Partners of Baker McKenzie South Africa, Alchemy brings together “a niche team of internationally recognised and globally ranked lawyers that is well-known and regarded for providing tailor-made strategic legal advice and solutions that actually work”.

A globally ranked litigator, Bell adds to the high level of experience and expertise at the firm, which boasts “over 100 years of collective knowledge” across the partners.

A law graduate of Stellenbosch University, who has spent the last decade as a partner or director in the Johannesburg offices of global law firms Baker McKenzie and Norton Rose Fulbright, Bell is an experienced dispute resolution practitioner with expertise across complex commercial and corporate litigation, domestic and international arbitration, adjudication, mediation, commissions of enquiry, and statutory tribunals, including the Financial Services and Competition Tribunals.

He has advised multinational clients across the industrial, mining, agriculture, construction, engineering, and financial sectors, as well as auditors, financial advisors, liquidators and business rescue practitioners.

“With a career spanning high-profile matters in insolvency, financial restructuring and business rescue, post-merger disputes, banking and finance litigation, major contractual and corporate disputes, administrative and public procurement challenges, auditors’ liability, and construction and engineering claims, John brings a unique breadth of technical capability and commercial insight,” says Alchemy. “We look forward to the expertise and value John will bring to our clients and our firm.”