What Does a Corporate Lawyer Do?

A corporate lawyer (also called a "corporate attorney" or "commercial lawyer" in South Africa) is a specialist practitioner — registered with the Legal Practice Council (LPC) — focused on business transactions and regulatory compliance rather than litigation. Corporate lawyers advise companies on mergers, acquisitions, financing, regulatory compliance, and day-to-day commercial agreements. This is the highest-paying specialisation in South African law, particularly at the "Big 5" corporate law firms.

Core Functions of Corporate Lawyers

Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A):

Advises buyers and sellers on company acquisitions, disposals, and mergers
Conducts due diligence (legal, financial, and regulatory review of target company)
Drafts sale agreements, purchase agreements, and share purchase agreements
Manages regulatory approvals (competition authority clearance, sectoral approvals)
Negotiates transaction terms and conditions
One of the highest-value practice areas; a single M&A transaction can generate R500,000–R5,000,000+ in fees

Banking and Finance Law:

Advises on loan agreements, credit facilities, and bond facilities (mortgages)
Structures lending transactions (syndicated loans, project finance)
Advises on securities, guarantees, and collateral
Manages regulatory compliance under the National Credit Act 34 of 2005 and the Financial Intelligence Centre Act

Securities and Stock Exchange (JSE) Law:

Advises on Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) listings and secondary offerings
Manages disclosure obligations and market conduct rules
Advises on corporate takeovers and offer documents
Ensures compliance with JSE Listings Requirements

Regulatory and Compliance:

Advises on regulatory requirements across industries (financial services, telecommunications, energy, healthcare)
Manages licensing applications and ongoing compliance
Advises on sectoral legislation (Financial Sector Conduct Authority, SARB, etc.)
Conducts regulatory audits and compliance reviews

Company Formation and Corporate Structuring:

Incorporates companies, close corporations, trusts, and partnerships
Advises on optimal corporate structure (tax efficiency, BEE compliance, liability protection)
Drafts founding documents (memorandum and articles of association, partnership agreements, trust deeds)
Manages changes to corporate structure (acquisitions, mergers, wind-downs)

Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and Transformation:

Advises on BEE ownership, management, and control requirements
Structures BEE transactions and empowerment deals
Ensures compliance with sector charters (financial services, energy, mining, telecommunications)
Advises on BEE scorecard impacts and verification

Commercial Contracts:

Drafts and negotiates supply agreements, service agreements, and distribution agreements
Advises on franchise agreements
Negotiates software and technology licensing
Manages complex commercial negotiations and dispute resolution

Intellectual Property (IP) Law (in corporate context):

Advises on IP protection (patents, trademarks, designs, copyright)
Manages IP licensing and technology transfer
Advises on IP due diligence in M&A transactions

Corporate Lawyer vs. Litigator

Corporate lawyers (transactional):

Focus on preventing disputes through well-drafted agreements
Work on deals and transactions
Rarely appear in court (less than 5% of work)
Advise on regulatory and compliance issues
Work with business teams, CFOs, and boards

Litigators (dispute resolution):

Focus on resolving disputes after they arise
Work on lawsuits, arbitrations, and mediations
Appear regularly in court
Advise on litigation strategy and risk management
Often briefed by attorneys to appear in High Court

Most corporate law firms employ both teams, but they function separately. A single transaction (M&A deal, JSE listing) may involve 10–15 corporate lawyers from multiple disciplines.

Practice Areas Within Corporate Law

Major corporate law firms in South Africa organise into specialist teams:

M&A Practice: Acquisitions, mergers, disposals (highest revenue)
Banking & Finance: Lending, securities, project finance
Capital Markets: JSE listings, offer documents, takeovers
Energy and Mining: Sector-specific transactional advice
Regulatory: Competition law, telecommunications, financial services compliance
Employment: Employment contracts, restructuring, labour compliance
Intellectual Property: Patents, trademarks, licensing, technology law
Construction and Engineering: Build contracts, project delivery
Real Estate and Property: Commercial property transactions, leasing

The Big 5 South African Corporate Law Firms

These firms dominate corporate law and handle the largest transactions:

Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs (ENS) — Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria. Major M&A, capital markets, banking.
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) — Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban. Particularly strong in M&A, mining, energy.
Bowmans — Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban. Leading in banking, finance, capital markets.
Webber Wentzel — Johannesburg, Cape Town. Strong in M&A, regulatory, energy.
Werksmans — Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban. Particularly strong in tax, corporate structuring, M&A.

These firms handle 70–80% of major corporate transactions in South Africa and pay the highest salaries.

Work Environment and Hours

Corporate lawyers typically work in high-pressure environments:

Large law firms: Formal dress code (business attire), structured hierarchies, premium office facilities
Hours: 50–70 per week, with peaks during transaction closing (often working nights and weekends)
Billable hours requirement: 2,000–2,400 per year (among the highest in the profession)
Travel: Frequent domestic and international travel (Johannesburg-Cape Town shuttle, London/New York for cross-border deals)
Team structure: Large teams led by partners; junior attorneys support senior practitioners

Salary and Compensation for Corporate Lawyers

Corporate law is the highest-paying specialisation in South African law:

Junior associate (0–2 years): R35,000–R55,000 per month
Senior associate (3–7 years): R70,000–R150,000 per month
Counsel (8+ years, pre-partner): R150,000–R250,000 per month
Partner (equity partner): R250,000–R1,000,000+ per month (depending on firm and client base)

Bonus structure: Many corporate firms pay performance bonuses tied to billable hours and client origination (bringing in new clients). Top performers at Big 5 firms can earn 50–100% bonuses on top of base salary.

In-house corporate counsel at JSE-listed companies typically earn:

Junior: R50,000–R80,000
Senior: R100,000–R250,000
General Counsel: R250,000–R500,000+

Career Progression

A typical corporate law career pathway:

Articles (2 years): R10,000–R18,000 per month
Junior associate (0–3 years): R35,000–R55,000
Senior associate (4–7 years): R80,000–R150,000
Counsel (8–10 years): R150,000–R250,000
Partner (10+ years): R250,000–R1,000,000+

Not all associates become partners. Many "counsel" positions are permanent non-partner roles, offering stability and high income without the equity risk of partnership.

Key Information

Corporate law is governed by numerous statutes: the Companies Act 71 of 2008 (company formation, takeovers, financial reporting), the Competition Act 89 of 1998 (merger control), the Financial Sector Regulation Act 9 of 2017 (financial services), the National Credit Act 34 of 2005 (consumer credit), and sector-specific legislation (Mining Charter, energy regulation, telecommunications). The Law Practice Council governs attorney conduct and professional standards.

For broader context on the legal profession, see what a general attorney does, how litigation lawyers differ, and lawyer salary expectations.

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Disclaimer: This answer is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. About the Author: This answer was prepared by the Justibly Legal Research Team, reviewed for accuracy by practising attorneys admitted to the High Court of South Africa. Verify attorney credentials on the LPC register.

Last updated: April 2026