Insight

Announcing the 2021 Best Lawyers in South Africa

For the 12th Edition, Best Lawyers recognizes the top 2 percent of practicing lawyers in the nation.

2021 Best Lawyers in South Africa
Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers

November 19, 2020 12:00 AM

For the 12th Edition of The Best Lawyers in South Africa, Best Lawyers surveyed the country's legal community to identify the top 2 percent of practicing lawyers in the nation. We've partnered with Business Day,—a national daily newspaper in South Africa—to provide breaking coverage of these results to the South Africa audience.

Johannesburg was the top metropolitan area with the greatest number of lawyers recognized. Of the 51 practice areas, Corporate Law was the most searched in South Africa. Banking and Finance Law, Litigation, and Labor and Employment Law followed. Corporate Law also had the greatest number of recognized lawyers. The next practice areas were Litigation, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Labor and Employment Law.

In the 2021 Edition, 13 law firms received the "Law Firm of the Year" award.

The 2021 South Africa "Law Firm of the Year" Honorees:


Banking and Finance Law
ENSafrica

Competition / Antitrust Law
Nortons

Construction Law
Lawtons Africa

Corporate Law
Webber Wentzel

Insurance Law
Clyde & Co

Intellectual Property Law
Adams & Adams

Labor and Employment Law
ENSafrica

Litigation
Werksmans Attorneys

Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Bowmans

Mining Law
Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa

Project Finance and Development Practice
Fasken

Real Estate Law
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr

Tax Law
Webber Wentzel

Interested in seeing Best Lawyers honorees from South Africa? Use our Find a Lawyer tool to search by location and specialty.

Access the full report of Best Lawyers international releases, updated continuously.

Related Articles

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers in South Africa™


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms.

Announcing 2022 Best Lawyers in South Africa

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Germany™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Germany.

Black, red and yellow stripes

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Switzerland™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Switzerland.

Red flag with white cross

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Austria™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Austria.

Red and white stripes

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Italy™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Italy.

Green, white and red stripes

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers in Colombia™


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms.

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers in Colombia™

Summer Voting Season Is Here!


by Best Lawyers

Summer 2021 voting is open to all lawyers listed in Best Lawyers in Chile, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa and Spain.

How To Vote On Your Best Lawyers Ballot

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Switzerland


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms.

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Switzerl

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Germany


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms, including our inaugural Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recipients.

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Germany

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Austria


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms.

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Austria

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Russia


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms.

2022 Best Lawyers™ in Russia | Top Lawyers and Firms

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Australia


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms.

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Australi

Announcing the 2021 Best Lawyers in Portugal


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms.

2021 Best Lawyers in Portugal

Announcing the 2021 Best Lawyers in Mexico


by Best Lawyers

For the twelfth year, honoring the top lawyers and firms in Mexico.

2021 Best Lawyers in Mexico

Announcing the 2021 Best Lawyers in Spain


by Best Lawyers

Featuring the nation's top 2 percent of practicing lawyers.

2021 Best Lawyers in Spain

Announcing the 2021 Best Lawyers in Brazil


by Best Lawyers

Featuring the top firms and lawyers in Brazil.

2021 Best Lawyers in Brazil

Trending Articles

Introducing the 2026 Best Lawyers Awards in Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore


by Jennifer Verta

This year’s awards reflect the strength of the Best Lawyers network and its role in elevating legal talent worldwide.

2026 Best Lawyers Awards in Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore

Revealing the 2026 Best Lawyers Awards in Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria


by Jamilla Tabbara

These honors underscore the reach of the Best Lawyers network and its focus on top legal talent.

map of Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria

Effective Communication: A Conversation with Jefferson Fisher


by Jamilla Tabbara

The power of effective communication beyond the law.

 Image of Jefferson Fisher and Phillip Greer engaged in a conversation about effective communication

The 2025 Legal Outlook Survey Results Are In


by Jennifer Verta

Discover what Best Lawyers honorees see ahead for the legal industry.

Person standing at a crossroads with multiple intersecting paths and a signpost.

The Best Lawyers Network: Global Recognition with Long-term Value


by Jamilla Tabbara

Learn how Best Lawyers' peer-review process helps recognized lawyers attract more clients and referral opportunities.

Lawyers networking

Jefferson Fisher: The Secrets to Influential Legal Marketing


by Jennifer Verta

How lawyers can apply Jefferson Fisher’s communication and marketing strategies to build trust, attract clients and grow their practice.

Portrait of Jefferson Fisher a legal marketing expert

Is Your Law Firm’s Website Driving Clients Away?


by Jamilla Tabbara

Identify key website issues that may be affecting client engagement and retention.

Phone displaying 'This site cannot be reached' message

A Guide to Workers' Compensation Law for 2025 and Beyond


by Bryan Driscoll

A woman with a laptop screen reflected in her glasses

Best Lawyers Launches CMO Advisory Board


by Jamilla Tabbara

Strategic counsel from legal marketing’s most experienced voices.

Group photo of Best Lawyers CMO Advisory Board members

Common Law Firm Landing Page Problems to Address


by Jamilla Tabbara

Identify key issues on law firm landing pages to improve client engagement and conversion.

Laptop showing law firm landing page analytics

Changes in California Employment Law for 2025


by Laurie Villanueva

What employers need to know to ensure compliance in the coming year and beyond

A pair of hands holding a checklist featuring a generic profile picture and the state of California

New Employment Law Recognizes Extraordinary Stress Is Everyday Reality for NY Lawyers


by Bryan Driscoll

A stressed woman has her head resting on her hands above a laptop

Turn Visitors into Clients with Law Firm Website SEO That Converts


by Jamilla Tabbara

Learn how to create high-converting law firm landing pages that drive client engagement and lead generation.

Laptop screen displaying website tools to improve client conversion rates

SEO for Law Firms: Overcoming Common Challenges


by Jamilla Tabbara

Tackle common SEO challenges and take the next step with our guide, How to Make Your Law Firm Easier to Find Online.

Graphic image of a phone displaying SEO rankings, with positions 1, 2 and 3 on the screen

Best Lawyers Introduces Smithy AI


by Jamilla Tabbara

Transforming legal content creation for attorneys and firms.

Start using Smithy AI, a content tool by Best Lawyers

6 Steps to Finding the Right Keywords for Your Legal Content


by Jamilla Tabbara

Follow a practical guide to keyword research and boost your law firm’s SEO to reach more potential clients.

 letters symbolizing keywords for legal content