Founded by Zama Ngcobo, WMN’s managing partner, the boutique commercial law firm provides specialist advice on the strategic delivery of mining, energy, infrastructure, oil & gas projects. Over the past year the WMN team advised in cross border transactions involving nine jurisdictions: Benin, Botswana, DRC, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Denmark, Germany and Japan. 

The firm’s presence was certainly felt at some high level awards in 2022, being shortlisted for five African Legal Awards, including African Law Firm of the Year (Small Practice), and shortlisted for four WOZA Africa Women in Law Awards where the firm was runner up in the category of Best South African Law Firm (with five women lawyers or less).

Another highlight for the team was having Ngcobo appointed to the board of the International Building Quality Centre (IBQC) in 2022.

“Zama is a very senior and award winning construction lawyer in South Africa. We have not appointed a new board member for over two years, and Zama’s appointment is in keeping with the IBQC’s philosophy of reputational pre-eminence in a built environment area of expertise,” read the IBQC statement. “Zama is a member of the IBQC dispute resolution coalition and helped with the development of the good practice guidelines for more cost effective construction dispute resolution delivery.”

In the two short years they have been operating WMN has drafted, reviewed and negotiated over 200 agreements, completed 320 opinions and reports, and advised on over 20 claims and disputes. The projects the team has advised on have a combined value of over R10 billion.  

The women-dominated team consists of Ngcobo, Kgomotso Mufamadi, Tamlynn Avis, Bongani Memani, Naledi Sebitlo and Nyaradzai Magumise, who recently graduated with her Masters of Laws. Magumise is making waves herself, being shortlisted in two categories at the Woza Awards – Candidate Attorney Top Achiever and Change Maker.

WMN is also making a name for themselves internationally, and the team was thrilled to attend the Centre of Construction Law & Dispute Resolution’s 35th Anniversary Conference at King’s College, London, where the panel discussion on the current topics in international construction arbitration was of particular interest.

Looking ahead to their plans for 2023, Ngcobo said, “We are looking forward to growing the firm and expanding its reach. We have some exciting initiatives and projects in the pipeline and are on the lookout for talent and new opportunities.”

To find out more about the firm and their achievements click here.

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