Global law firm Baker McKenzie announced that leading Banking & Finance lawyers Phetole Modika and Pitso Kortjaas have joined the firm as Banking & Finance partners in Johannesburg, augmenting Baker McKenzie’s transactional capabilities. They were previously partners (directors) in the Finance & Banking Practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr in South Africa. And they are joined by their team Director Designate Sabelo Goma, Senior Associate Koketso Maake and Associate Nyameka Nkasana.
Phetole previously headed a team of four Banking & Finance partners at CDH. And his practice focuses on advising local and international financial institutions on secured and unsecured lending, acquisition and leveraged finance, and structured trade commodity finance. And he also represents clients on cross-border real estate finance matters across various jurisdictions, including Kenya, Mozambique, Ghana and Tanzania.
Pitso was the joint head of the Consumer Goods, Services & Retail sector at CDH. And he represents both domestic and international lenders, and corporate and public sector clients, in finance and debt capital markets transactions. His experience spans structured finance, corporate finance, leveraged finance, real estate finance, and acquisition finance. And Pitso advised on the first sustainability-linked loan in South Africa, which was the continent’s first sustainability-linked bond on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), and the first green bond listing on the JSE by a municipal entity in Africa.
Baker McKenzie is a transactional giant, with over 2,500 deal lawyers in 45 jurisdictions offering pragmatic counsel in the areas most critical for clients.
KEY QUOTES:
“Phetole, Pitso and their team have an impeccable track record of leading in banking and finance transactions in Africa. These appointments form part of our plan to grow our team and solidify our position as the transactional law firm of choice in Africa for our clients and our people.”
– Baker McKenzie Johannesburg Managing Partner Lerisha Naidu
“Phetole and Pitso are highly skilled and well-respected lawyers in South Africa, with strong cross-border credentials. Their addition to our Banking & Finance team broadens and deepens our transactional capabilities across Africa. We are excited to welcome them to the Firm, where they will connect with colleagues across borders and practice groups to offer full-service legal and regulatory advice to our clients operating in African markets.”
– Baker McKenzie EMEA Chief Executive Alex Chadwick
“The team drives a high-performance culture underpinned by an approach that is centered on understanding each client’s business and commercial objectives. This enables us to anticipate clients’ concerns and provide legal solutions that are tailored to their business and commercial objectives. Baker McKenzie’s focus on client centricity and the Firm’s commitment to client service excellence is a great fit for us.”
– Phetole Modika
“I am excited to work with Baker McKenzie’s award-winning Africa-focused team in South Africa and across the continent and relish the opportunity to be part of one global team, advising our clients on their big-ticket multijurisdictional transactions.”
– Pitso Kortjaas
