Nzimande practised at Webber Wentzel for almost 16 years, nine of those as a partner, then in 2018 he left to join the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) where he became the chief commissioner. 

So why return to private practice and Webber Wentzel right now? “My move from Webber Wentzel to ITAC was motivated by my desire to do national service.  I gave myself five years. Webber Wentzel has now established the Competition, Trade and Investment Practice Group, and I am excited about this development and  want to be part of this new journey,” he shared.

Nzimande feels the new CTI practice is a great fit for him personally because the intended output of this practice group dovetails with his expertise and his passion about contributing to the economic development of South Africa, the Southern African region, and Africa as a whole.

Asked about the difference between working in the public and private sectors, Nzimande said the private sector is nimble and, in a sense, more resourced than the public sector.  “This places it strategically in terms of the ability to produce outcomes which have a positive impact on the economy.  The public sector provided me with a vantage point to see and understand the full value chain in the productive sector of the economy. I hope to use this experience to offer more practical and strategic advice to clients which should help them realise their business targets, with the resultant economic benefits.”

Christo Els, Senior Partner at Webber Wentzel, is thrilled to have Nzimande back in the fold. "Welcome back Meluleki! It is good to have you home," he commented.

The CTI Practice is a perfect fit for Nzimande who specialises in all aspects of international trade and investment law across a range of sectors. His practice entails investigations into customs duty amendments including anti-dumping, safeguard and other trade remedies, and work involving bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Agreement, the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement, and the WTO Agreement. Nzimande also has expertise in matters relating to mergers and acquisitions, anti-corruption law and general corporate law.

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