ENSafrica explained

ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs)
Num Offices:15 (including two pro bono offices)[1]
Num Attorneys:over 600 (2016)[2]
Num Employees:1020+ (2014)[3]
Practice Areas:Law, Tax, Forensics and IP
Key People:Michael Katz (Chairman), Mzi Mgudlwa (Chief executive)
Date Founded:1905
Company Type:Legal
Homepage:www.ensafrica.com

ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs) is Africa's largest law firm.[4] ENS currently has over 620 practitioners and was established over 100 years ago. The firm specialises in all commercial areas of Law, Tax, Forensics and IP. The firm is a Level 2 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) contributor.[5] ENS is one of the traditional "Big Five" law firms in South Africa.

History

Edward Nathan & Friedland

Edward Nathan & Friedland was formed in 1905. In 1999, Edward Nathan & Friedland was bought by Nedbank for R40 million. After an exodus of clients and lawyers, as well as deeming the investment non-core, in 2004, Nedbank sold Edward Nathan & Friedland back to 47 directors for R50 million.[6] In addition to the purchase price, R33 million in available cash in Edward Nathan & Friedland was transferred to Nedbank. In total, Nedbank suffered a loss of R20 million on the sale.[7]

Sonnenberg Hoffmann & Galombik

Sonnenberg Hoffmann & Galombik was formed in 1936.

Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs

The firm was formed after a 2006 merger between Cape Town-based law firm Sonnenberg Hoffmann Galombik (SHG) and the Johannesburg-based law firm Edward Nathan & Friedland.

Divisions

Its specialist divisions include Africa regulatory and business intelligence, Asia-Africa trade (including China, India, and Japan), and structuring of investments through Mauritius.

Offices

In August 2012, ENS became the first African headquartered law firm with integrated offices across different African jurisdictions, with the opening of offices in Rwanda and Burundi, which office was closed in 2015.[8]

This was shortly followed by another office opening in the Ugandan capital of Kampala in December 2012.[9] In December 2013, ENS announced a merger with Mauritius' largest and oldest firm, De Comarmond & Koenig.[10]

On 1 November 2014, the firm announced the opening of two offices in the Namibian capital Windhoek and Swakopmund respectively, with a third Namibian office, in Walvis Bay, opening soon thereafter. This was done through a merger with local Namibian law firm Lorentz Angula.[11]

Former CEO, Piet Faber, is quoted (31 March 2014) as saying that ENS will open offices in at least six other African jurisdictions over the next two years.[12]

On 1 May 2015, the firm announced the opening of its 13th office on the African continent, following a merger with local Tanzanian law firm, Rex Attorneys.[13]

In 2015, ENS closed its Burundi office.[14]

The most recent office to be opened was formed through a merger with local Ghanaian firm Oxford & Beaumont Solicitors, and formally opened as ENS Ghana on 1 December 2015. Oxford & Beaumont Solicitors was the first Ghanaian firm to open representative offices in London.[15]

The company has offices in several countries and cities:[1]

Controversies

Julius Malema

In 2010 and 2011, ENS acted for Julius Malema in a court case brought against him by Afriforum in relation to his singing of the song "shoot the boer" (shoot the farmer / white person). The firm subsequently withdrew from the case, resulting in Malema accusing the firm of racism.[16] [17] [18] Ultimately, on 12 September 2011, Malema was convicted of hate speech.[19]

Tax Evasion

In a court action brought in the Western Cape High Court in 2018, the South African Revenue Service claimed that ENS created a R3.5 billion tax evasion scheme involving Christo Wiese and Tullow Oil. In addition to pursuing Christo Wiese and Tullow Oil, the South African Revenue Service is also pursuing a former ENS executive.[20] [21] [22]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.ensafrica.com/locations/default.aspx#locations locations
  2. Web site: Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs. ENSafrica – about us. ENSafrica. 25 July 2016. 24 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160524190025/https://www.ensafrica.com/about-us. live.
  3. Web site: Certified Top Employers 2014 . Top Employers Institute . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140811212622/http://www.top-employers.com/en/companyprofiles/ZA/ENS/ . 11 August 2014 .
  4. http://www.bdlive.co.za/companies/2012/11/26/sas-biggest-law-firm-expands-footprint-in-africa – Retrieved on 19 February 2013
  5. Web site: ENSafrica.com South Africa page . 21 February 2014 . 21 February 2014 . 27 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140227193555/http://www.ensafrica.com/search?type=all&orderBy=&searchTerm=south+africa . live .
  6. News: Nedcor pays for ENF mistake. Fin24. 2017-08-31. 31 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170831172813/http://www.fin24.com/Companies/Nedcor-pays-for-ENF-mistake-20041222. live.
  7. Web site: PressReader – Business Day: 2013-10-29 – Nedbank's record shows not all bankers are nerdy . 19 July 2018 . 19 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233430/http://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/business-day/20131029/282192238732920 . live .
  8. Web site: ENS eyes pan-African domination with launches in Rwanda and Burundi . TheLawyer.com . 8 August 2012 . 28 July 2014 . 9 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140809142649/http://www.thelawyer.com/ens-eyes-pan-african-domination-with-launches-in-rwanda-and-burundi/1013826.article . live .
  9. Web site: ENS expands its footprints into Africa . property24.com . 27 December 2012 . 5 November 2014 . 5 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141105163120/http://www.property24.com/articles/ens-expands-its-footprints-into-africa/16839 . live .
  10. Web site: ENSafrica opens doors in Mauritius . Polity.org.za . 3 December 2013 . 31 July 2014 . 8 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140808060843/http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/print-version/company-announcement-in-africa-for-africa-2012-08-08 . live .
  11. Web site: ENSafrica expands into Namibia with 11-partner merger . TheLawyer.com . 6 November 2014 . 6 November 2014 . 6 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106164021/http://www.thelawyer.com/news/regions/africa-news/ensafrica-expands-into-namibia-with-11-partner-merger/3028036.article . live .
  12. Web site: South Africa: Down and clout . TheLawyer.com . 31 March 2014 . 6 November 2014 . 6 November 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106163733/http://www.thelawyer.com/analysis/dedicated-issue/africa-elite-2014/south-africa-down-and-clout/3017644.article#ENSafrica . live .
  13. Web site: ENSafrica grows into Tanzania . iflr1000.com . 5 May 2015 . 21 May 2015 . 8 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208053547/http://www.iflr1000.com/NewsAndAnalysis/ENSAfrica-grows-into-Tanzania/Index/2901 . live .
  14. https://www.ensafrica.com/contact ENSafrica: locations
  15. Web site: ENSafrica merges with Oxford & Beaumont to enter Ghana market . Legal Week . 1 December 2015 . 1 December 2015 . 29 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151129021034/http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/2436691/ensafrica-merges-with-oxford-beaumont-to-enter-ghana-market . live .
  16. Web site: The "struggle song" saga continues – News – Archival Platform . 20 July 2018 . 6 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180706001331/http://www.archivalplatform.org/news/entry/the_struggle_song_saga_continues . live .
  17. Web site: Law firm director says Malema case has nothing to do with his departure. 14 February 2011. 20 July 2018. 20 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180720225128/https://m.news24.com/Archives/City-Press/Law-firm-director-says-Malema-case-has-nothing-to-do-with-his-departure-20150429. live.
  18. Web site: Dumping Malema splits law firm. 11 February 2011. 20 July 2018. 20 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180720225331/https://mg.co.za/article/2011-02-11-dumping-malema-splits-law-firm. live.
  19. News: Laing. Aislinn. Julius Malema found guilty of hate speech for singing 'Shoot the Boer'. 13 June 2014. The Telegraph. 12 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110928210448/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/8757630/Julius-Malema-found-guilty-of-hate-speech-for-singing-Shoot-the-Boer.html. 28 September 2011. live.
  20. Web site: AmaBhungane – Christo Wiese, Tullow Oil and ENS's tax dodging services . 19 July 2018 . 19 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233934/http://amabhungane.co.za/article/2018-07-18-christo-wiese-tullow-oil-and-enss-tax-dodging-services . live .
  21. Web site: SA's top law firm reportedly sold Christo Wiese an alleged dubious deal – and Sars now wants millions back . 19 July 2018 . 19 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233809/https://www.businessinsider.co.za/sars-wants-millions-from-wiese-and-ens-according-to-a-report-2018-7 . live .
  22. Web site: Christo Wiese implicated in tax avoidance scheme, amaBhungane reports. 19 July 2018. 19 July 2018. 19 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233616/https://m.fin24.com/Economy/christo-wiese-implicated-in-tax-avoidance-scheme-amabhungane-reports-20180719. live.

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