Leading African law firm Webber Wentzel promotes 13 talented young lawyers to Senior Associate

The promotion of 13 talented associates from a variety of practice areas to Senior Associates, announced yesterday, is recognition of their hard work, dedication, and contribution to Webber Wentzel, says the leading, longstanding African law firm. 

Speaking with Africa Legal last March, Managing Partner Safiyya Patel and Senior Partner Gareth Driver shared a ‘big, hairy, audacious’ vision for Webber Wentzel to become Africa's leading and most trusted law firm. They also wanted to continue to transform the longstanding firm to be more representative, while embracing a modern world full of new technologies and fast-evolving challenges, enabling client success, and nurturing the “lifeblood of the firm” in terms of their rising legal talent. 

“We are custodians,” shared Patel with Africa Legal, as she became the first black female Managing Partner in Webber Wentzel’s prestigious 150+ year history. “The next generation is absolutely crucial to the legacy of others who’ve gone before.”

That ethos was on show once more this week, in the wake of Webber Wentzel picking up four trophies at the recent 2026 IFLR Africa Awards - two for Deals of the Year (M&A and Capital Markets), and two for Teams of the Year (Financial Services Regulatory - Regional and Capital Markets - Regional) - with yesterday’s announcement of the promotion of 13 talented lawyers to Senior Associate. 

The promotions span various practice areas at Webber Wentzel, and include several lawyers who began with the firm as Candidate Attorneys in 2020 and 2021.

The newly promoted senior associates are Ayanda Maseko (Banking and Finance), Carma Rossouw (Corporate), DJ van Wyk (Dispute Resolution), Gina Lodolo (Competition, Trade & Investment), Jos Venter (Public Interest), Justin de Wet (M&A and Private Equity), LouFrans Esterhuizen (Banking and Finance), Masai Buthane (Corporate), Mpendulo M Mbetse (Funds), Naledi Mbaba (Corporate), Natina Thumana (Corporate), Nikita Deib (Banking and Finance) and Raeesah Shaik (Tax). 

“Five years ago, I started at Webber Wentzel as a Candidate Attorney - eager to learn and find my footing,” says Buthane, whose practice focuses on the formation and structuring of alternative investment funds across asset classes, with a specific emphasis on funds investing in Africa. “It’s been five years of growth, steep learning curves, and meaningful wins along the way. Thank you to the people who’ve guided, challenged, and supported me - this milestone is as much yours as it is mine.”

Like Buthane, newly promoted Senior Associates Rossouw, Esterhuizen, Mbaba, and Thumana were all part of Webber Wentzel’s February 2021 intake of candidate attorneys - Thumana switching to legal practice after several years as an investment specialist and business development consultant in Johannesburg - while de Wet began with the firm as a candidate attorney in 2020, and Shaik in October 2021. 

“The support has been overwhelming,” says Esterhuizen. “Thank you to all the partners, colleagues, mentors and clients for your continued support, trust, guidance and encouragement. [I’m] grateful for the journey and excited for what lies ahead.”

Others among the new Senior Associates began with the firm more recently, after practicing elsewhere. Lodolo, who is on the Executive Committee of W@CompetitionZA, a platform for women competition professionals in South Africa, joined in 2024. Venter clerked at the Constitutional Court and was a Legal Researcher at Helen Suzman Foundation - which promotes liberal constitutional democracy, human rights and the rule of law - before joining three years ago. 

Mbetse joined last March after two plus years in the London office of leading New York-headquartered international law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP