Beech Veltman continues to mine a rich vein of legal talent with promotion of Mbuyi Katumba and Jason Hunter to Senior Associate

The promotions of Mbuyi Katama and Jason Hunter to Senior Associate reflect their continued growth and impact within Beech Veltman, Inc, and the significant value each of them has brought to clients and transactions across the mining, natural resources, energy and infrastructure sectors, says the leading South African firm. 

A law and commerce graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand, Mbuyi joined Beech Veltman as a Candidate Attorney in July 2021, the year after the specialist firm was established by leading mining lawyers Warren Beech and Nicholas Veltman. 

Jason, a science and law graduate of the University of Pretoria who completed a dissertation on the Finance of Mine Closure Activities under proposed NEMA regulations, joined Beech Veltman as an Associate in September 2024, after completing his articles and working as an associate at another South African firm. 

Both Mbuyi and Jason have been recognised by The Legal 500 as key members of the Beech Veltman team, noted the firm when announcing their promotions today. 

Mbuyi has developed a strong and well-rounded practice, with experience spanning environmental, regulatory, commercial and corporate governance matters, said the firm. Career highlights have included secondments to Samancor Chrome and AngloGold Ashanti, both of which have repeatedly requested his services. 

“Mbuyi’s promotion to Senior Associate is thoroughly deserved,” says Beech, the CEO of Beech Veltman, who has worked in African mining for three decades. “The fact that leading clients have requested his return for secondments speaks volumes about the trust and confidence they place in him. Mbuyi is a valued member of our team, and we look forward to his continued growth and contribution to the firm.”

In prior conversations with Africa Legal, Beech has emphasised the value of lawyers not only having a deep understanding of the extensive legal landscape that applies to the industry, but also grasping the challenges facing the mining and natural resources sector by staying up to date with operational and business requirements, and having a proper appreciation of the impact of the legal advice given.

“Legal advice cannot be given in a vacuum, and the deeper the understanding of operations and challenges, the better the advice will be,” said Beech. “Focusing on practical, implementable advice is critical. It is also important to ‘get our hands dirty’ and spend more time at the operations than behind the desk in a suit!”

The firm noted Jason had played an important role in advising on several complex deals, supporting clients through corporate structuring, regulatory requirements and the negotiation of critical commercial agreements, with his work spanning mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, and major mining and energy projects. 

“Jason’s promotion is a testament to the quality of his work and his growing influence within our projects and transactional practice,” says Beech, who spent the decade prior to his co-founding of Beech Veltman as head of mining and infrastructure in large South African and international law firms. “He has been instrumental in a number of important matters across the mining and energy sectors, consistently demonstrating strong commercial insight and technical capability. We look forward to seeing him continue to develop and contribute at this next level.” 

Acknowledging today’s news of his promotion to Senior Associate, Jason shared on social media that he couldn’t be happier “to be part of such a great team at Beech Veltman”, and that he was “looking forward to what is to come”.