Wessel Badenhorst

A partner in our mining team, he has over 20 years' experience in operational mining transactions, restructuring and disposal of distressed mining and smelter operations, health and safety, mining labour law, mining and mineral dispute resolution, and environmental law pertaining to the mining industry.

Wessel has led a team of lawyers who have recently successfully restructured mining and smelting operations with combined debt exposure of over ZAR10 billion. He has spearheaded the commercial transactions in respect of the disposal of several mining, smelter and beneficiation operations. Having recently obtained a land-mark judgment in respect of the enforcement jurisdiction of environmental laws in respect of mining sites, he continues to advise mining companies in respect of such matters.

Wessel has extensive experience in advising Chinese state-owned entities (SoEs) and Chinese companies in respect of their investment into the mining industry. Together with his team he successfully facilitated negotiations between SoEs and Chinese banks to restructure debt in excess of ZAR5.8 billion in order to rescue ailing mining operations.

During his many trips to the People's Republic of China, he has developed a good understanding of the cultural approach to the business needs of SoEs and private Chinese and Asian corporates that invest in South Africa and on the continent of Africa.

As head of the firm's Asia-Africa Practice, Wessel acts as the liaison for legal advice given to a variety of Asian and Chinese clients throughout Africa.