Thomson Wilks continues growth, bolstering its ‘formidable team’ with addition of a strong office in Durban

The addition of a strong team with today’s announcement of a merger between Thomson Wilks Attorneys and the former Durban office of global firm Eversheds Sutherland provides the critical mass Thomson Wilks has been seeking in Durban for some time, and allows the innovative law firm to deliver a broader, more comprehensive offering to clients in KwaZulu-Natal, says CEO Stephen Thomson. 

“The move of the former Eversheds Sutherland Durban office to Thomson Wilks is an exciting next step in our evolution, and we are thrilled to welcome them as part of the Thomson Wilks team,” says Thomson, who founded the forward-thinking, innovative firm in 1995 in Sandton. “This merger is strategic for the growth trajectory of Thomson Wilks and its commitment to recruiting top quality attorneys.”

The firm says it’s delighted to welcome “an exceptional group” of new directors, associates, and candidate attorneys thanks to the merger. Their arrival will strengthen Thomson Wilks corporate and commercial, dispute resolution, and fiduciary capability, and deepens the support it can offer clients across the region. 

New director Andrew Turner, the former managing partner of Eversheds Sutherland Durban, is likewise excited by the merger. “While we have benefited from robust offshore opportunities provided by our decade-long association with Eversheds Sutherland International, we look forward to the more holistic approach to business in South Africa provided by Thomson Wilks, while also benefiting from the global footprint provided by its global alliance partner, London-based DWF Legal.”

Other leading lawyers joining Thomson Wilks as directors following the merger include Donovan Avenant, whose practice focuses on commercial litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution; Lara Jansen van Rensburg, who advises clients on structuring, negotiating, and implementing complex deals; and Glynn Kent, who has a focused practice in commercial litigation and environmental and administrative law, strongly aligned with regulatory, sustainability, and ESG-related matters.

Turner, who has deep experience in M&A, private equity, and Africa-focused transactions, will continue to lead the Durban office, which will be supported by Thomson Wilks offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town. 

“The very best part of this merger is getting the opportunity to work with some of the most talented lawyers in Durban,” shared Thomson on social media today. “Andrew is an exceptional attorney and will add incredible value to Thomson Wilks.”

The merger was effective 1 January. 

Thomson Wilks’ pioneering business model and impressive growth trajectory resonated with Turner and his team. “Thomson Wilks is truly committed to providing world-class legal services at scale and has been steadily building a formidable team across its offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Dubai, and now Durban. We look forward to a relationship that will see us sharing intellectual property and clients to the benefit of the wider Thomson Wilks network and its clients.”

The merger news augments Thomson Wilks’ significant addition of South African legal talent over the past year or more. Last month it scooped up mining, health and safety, ESG and corporate governance expert Stephen Thibedi Nthite, who has three decades of experience, including at the Constitutional Court and top-level governance roles in both the public and private sectors, as a Senior Consultant.

Earlier in 2025 it built its medico-legal expertise with the hiring of Director Julia Penn and associate Justine Paries, and further bolstered its top-level talent with insolvency specialist Zanele Macalagh joining as a Director in its Sandton office.

Thomson Wilks’ fresh approach, says the firm, includes a decentralised model, which empowers specialist lawyers to operate independently, supported by sophisticated centralised infrastructure. The firm’s emphasis on technology drives efficiency and cost savings, translating into more competitive fees for clients. 

Thomson Wilks has an exclusive alliance with the London-based DWF Group, a leading global provider of integrated legal and business services, and is also committed to developing the next generation of legal talent through dedicated mentorship. Along with its four new directors in Durban, the merger adds associates Nirashni Naidoo. James van der Meulen, and Caitlin Hardnick, and candidate attorneys Sandhika Sannipershad, Layyah Kharwa, and Nicole Padayachee.