CMS SA recognises ‘immense contribution’ by elevating van den Berg to Head of Banking and Finance

The elevation of CMS South Africa director Andre van den Berg to Co-Head of the firm’s Banking and Finance practice is “overdue recognition for his immense contribution” over several years where he has been integral to the success and management of the team, says CMS South Africa Managing Partner Riza Moosa. 

“I am excited by the prospect of working alongside him to build the best Banking and Finance practice in Africa,” added Moosa, who alongside being Managing Partner of CMS South Africa has been Head of the Banking and Finance practice. 

Moosa will continue to lead the team, alongside van den Berg. 

Van den Berg’s appointment as Co-Head of Banking and Finance follows a year of sustained investment in the practice, says CMS South Africa, including the lateral hire of Senior Associate Andrea McKaiser-Walbrugh from White & Case, further strengthening the team’s infrastructure and project finance capacity, alongside the internal promotions of Karabo Kanapi and Mbali Nene to Senior Associate.

“I’m proud to step into this role at a time when client expectations in the banking and finance arena are becoming ever more sophisticated, international and fast-paced, particularly on complex cross-border mandates that require deep sector knowledge, sound legal and commercial judgment and seamless execution,” says van den Berg.

“Our focus is on building a team that combines continuity, technical excellence and commercial judgement, so that clients continue to receive the high-quality support they have come to expect from us.”

A law and commerce graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand, van den Berg joined CMS South Africa as a Consultant in early 2022, after several years in in-house roles in the telecommunications and fintech sectors. That perspective has since shaped how the growing Banking and Finance team works, says CMS South Africa, with “a strong emphasis on commercial pragmatism and on understanding the internal pressures clients are managing when a transaction lands on their desk”. 

Van den Berg has spent more than a decade advising lenders, borrowers, and sponsors on financing transactions across South Africa and the wider region. He began his legal career as a Candidate Attorney at what is now Deneys, rising to Senior Associate before joining Celbux in July 2016 as a Legal Manager for the cloud-based transactional platform providing financial technology services.

Alongside his client work, van den Berg has played a significant role in developing junior lawyers within the Banking and Finance practice, supervising and mentoring associates who now form the core of the team's next generation.

Client expectations in banking and finance continue to evolve, particularly on complex and cross-border transactions, he said today when sharing his delight at his appointment “Our focus will be on building a team that combines technical excellence, commercial judgement, and a deep understanding of our clients’ businesses, while maintaining the continuity and quality of service they expect from us. Thank you to our clients, colleagues, and wider CMS team for the trust and support along the way. I’m excited about what we can achieve together.”