Copyright : Re-publication of this article is authorised only in the following circumstances; the writer and Africa Legal are both recognised as the author and the website address www.africa-legal.com and original article link are back linked. Re-publication without both must be preauthorised by contacting editor@africa-legal.com
CMS South Africa promotes rising banking and finance star Karabo Kanapi to senior associate
CMS South Africa is a leading commercial law firm based in Johannesburg, part of future-facing global firm CMS, with more than 90 offices in 50-plus countries. It has promoted talented banking and finance lawyer Karabo Kanapi to Senior Associate.
Being promoted this month to Senior Associate at CMS South Africa is a “particularly meaningful” milestone, given she began as a candidate attorney five years ago with the Johannesburg office of global legal organisation CMS, said Karabo Kanapi.
“Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working on complex and high-value banking and finance transactions, alongside exceptional colleagues and clients who continually challenge and support me,” added Kanapi, who as an associate was nominated for Private Practice Most Promising Newcomer at the prestigious African Legal Awards 2023. “This promotion reflects not only my own hard work, but also the mentorship, collaboration, and support I’ve received throughout my journey.”
A member of CMS South Africa's internationally recognised Banking and Finance team, led by Riza Moosa, Kanapi has cross-border expertise ranging across Africa, Asia, and Europe. She has acted for a number of local and international banks, development finance institutions (DFIs), funds, and corporate borrowers in complex transactions, across various industries. Her experience spans leveraged and asset finance, general corporate finance, structured finance, fund financing, Islamic finance, plus insolvencies and restructurings in listed and unlisted environments.
In 2025, Kanapi was recognised as a Key Lawyer by Legal 500.
Before joining CMS South Africa in January 2021, she worked in in-house legal roles for an innovative South African-born, global financial services business.
Congratulating her on her promotion, Andre van den Berg, a Director in the Banking and Finance team at CMS South Africa, said Kanapi was “a critical part” of their highly regarded team, and that they were looking forward to seeing her reach new heights.
“Thank you to everyone who has played a part in my development,” shared Kanapi on social media. “I look forward to continuing to grow, contribute, and deliver high-quality, client-focused work in this next chapter.”