We are proud to have been named Competition Law Firm of the Year in South Africa 2026 by The Lawyer Network.
This award forms part of the 2026 Lawyer Network Annual Awards, which recognise leading law firms and legal professionals making an impact across the globe.
Thank you to our clients and colleagues for their continued trust and support.
We are honoured to be recognised as the Maritime Law Firm of the Year – South Africa by the Lawyers Worldwide Awards Magazine in the Five Star Lawyers 2026 Awards.
This award reflects our team’s expertise, dedication, and commitment to excellence in maritime law.
We are proud to share that Chambers and Partners has, again, recognised our firm in the Chambers Global Guide 2026.
Our Shipping department was ranked, with individual recognition for Consultant Krish Reddy and Partners Tony Edwards and Freek van Rooyen. Partner Ian Sampson was also recognised for his work in Environmental Law.
We’re proud to share that Partner and Head of Environmental & Clean Energy Law, Ian Sampson, has once again been recognised by Thomson Reuters as a Stand-Out Lawyer in 2026. This honour reflects the trust of clients and peers alike, and Ian’s continued commitment to excellence.
Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.
Congratulations to Partner and Head of Pension Law, Johan Esterhuizen, for being recognised in the Lexology Index: Thought Leaders Africa 2026 report.
Johan’s recognition among Africa’s most influential legal minds reflects the depth of his expertise and the significant mark he continues to make on the legal profession. Johan joins his colleagues Samantha Davidson, Ian Sampson, and Carlyle Field in receiving this honour. Well deserved, Johan.
We are delighted to announce that 11 of our lawyers have been recognised as leading lawyers in their field by Best Lawyers for 2026.
Recognised lawyers are:
Bruce Armstrong, Litigation
Samantha Davidson, Labour and Employment Law & Employee Benefits Law
Anton Lockem, Tax Law & Corporate Law
Krish Reddy, Maritime and Shipping Law
Ian Sampson, Planning & Environmental Law
Quintus Van der Merwe, Maritime & Shipping Law
Johan Esterhuizen, Employee Benefits Law
Jennifer Finnigan, Competition / Antitrust Law
Freek van Rooyen, Tax Law
Deirdre Venter, Labour and Eimployment Law
David Warmback, Planning, Corporate Law & Construction Law
Congratulations to Joint Managing Partner, Samantha Davidson, for being recognised in the Lexology Index: Thought Leaders Africa 2026.
This recognition affirms her standing as a leading voice in South African law and celebrates the impact she continues to make in the profession.
Well done, Samantha.
Congratulations to Partner Tony Edwards for being recognised in the Lexology Index: Transport 2026 report.
Congratulations to Partner Carlyle Field for being featured in the Lexology Index: Thought Leaders Africa 2026.
This is a well-deserved recognition of Carlyle’s legal prowess and influence within the profession. Well done, Carlyle.
Congratulations to Partner and Head of Environmental and Clean Energy Law, Ian Sampson, for being recognised in the Lexology Index: Thought Leaders Africa 2026 report.
We’re proud to see Ian acknowledged among Africa’s most influential legal voices, a true testament to his expertise and immense impact on the profession. Well done, Ian.
David Warmback has been honoured with an appointment as a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E) in the 2024 UK New Year’s Honours List for his exemplary role as Honorary Consul in Durban, South Africa.
Congratulations to Bruce Armstrong who has been awarded 'Lawyer of the Year' for Litigation in South Africa by Best Lawyers for 2023/2024.
Ian Sampson is recognised as a Global Thought Leader in Environmental Law by Who's Who Legal for 2023.
Samantha Davidson is recognised amongst the highest ranked lawyers globally for Labour, Employment & Benefits for 2023
We are proud to announce that four of our lawyers have been recognised by Chambers and Partners for 2023 as leaders in their field. Chambers and Partners is one of the most regarded guides on leading lawyers globally. Congratulations Tony Edwards, Krish Reddy, Freek van Rooyen and Ian Sampson.
We are delighted to announce that 10 of our lawyers have been recognised as leading lawyers in their field by Best Lawyers for 2023.
Recognised lawyers are:
Jennifer Finnigan, Competition / Antitrust Law
David Warmback, Planning, Corporate Law & Construction Law
Anton Lockem, Tax Law & Corporate Law
Samantha Davidson, Labour and Employment Law & Employee Benefits Law
Ian Sampson, Planning & Environmental Law
Bruce Armstrong, Litigation
Quintus Van der Merwe, Maritime & Shipping Law
Johan Esterhuizen, Employee Benefits Law
Debbie Ntombela, Mining Law
Freek van Rooyen, Tax Law
We are delighted to announce that 12 of our lawyers have been recognised as leading lawyers in their field by Best Lawyers for 2022.
Recognised lawyers are:
Jennifer Finnigan, Competition / Antitrust Law
David Warmback, Planning, Corporate Law & Construction Law
Anton Lockem, Tax Law & Corporate Law
Samantha Davidson, Labour and Employment Law & Employee Benefits Law
Ian Sampson, Planning & Environmental Law
Bruce Armstrong, Litigation
Krish Reddy, Maritime & Shipping Law
Quintus Van der Merwe, Maritime & Shipping Law
Johan Esterhuizen, Employee Benefits Law
Debbie Ntombela, Mining Law
Freek van Rooyen, Tax Law
Shane Dwyer (deceased September 2022), Maritime and Shipping Law
Congratulations to David Warmback who has been awarded 'Lawyer of the Year' for Corporate law in South Africa by Best Lawyers for 2023.
Top law firm in KwaZulu-Natal 2022
We are proud to announce that five of our lawyers have been recognised by Chambers and Partners for 2022 as leaders in their field. Chambers and Partners is one of the most regarded guides on leading lawyers globally. Congratulations Tony Edwards, Krish Reddy, Freek van Rooyen, Shane Dwyer and Ian Sampson.
We are proud to announce that four of our lawyers have been recognised by Chambers and Partners for 2022 as leaders in their field. Chambers and Partners is one of the most regarded guides on leading lawyers globally. Congratulations Tony Edwards, Krish Reddy, Freek van Rooyen and Ian Sampson.
We are proud to announce that Shepstone & Wylie has been recognised as a leading firm in Who's Who Legal for Labour, Employment & Benefits in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, 2022.
We are delighted to announce that 12 of our lawyers have been recognised as leading lawyers in their field by Best Lawyers for 2023.
Recognised lawyers are:
Jennifer Finnigan, Competition / Antitrust Law
David Warmback, Planning, Corporate Law & Construction Law
Anton Lockem, Tax Law & Corporate Law
Samantha Davidson, Labour and Employment Law & Employee Benefits Law
Ian Sampson, Planning & Environmental Law
Bruce Armstrong, Litigation
Krish Reddy, Maritime & Shipping Law
Quintus Van der Merwe, Maritime & Shipping Law
Johan Esterhuizen, Employee Benefits Law
Debbie Ntombela, Mining Law
Freek van Rooyen, Tax Law
Shane Dwyer (deceased September 2022), Maritime and Shipping Law
Congratulations to Shane Dwyer who has been awarded 'Lawyer of the Year' for Maritime & Shipping law in South Africa by Best Lawyers for 2022.
Top Large Law Firm in South Africa 2021
Top Large Law Firm in South Africa 2020
Ian Sampson has been included in the Who's Who Legal Thought Leaders: Global Elite 2020/ Lawyers. Environment South Africa
Law Firms in KZN 2020
Ian Sampson: Exclusive winner of the Environment & Climate Change for South Africa
Top Large Law Firm in South Africa 2020
Verlie Oosthuizen: Sexual Harassment Lawyer of the Year - South Africa
Anton Lockem: Tax Lawyer of the Year, South Africa
Top Law Firm in KZN 2019
Large Law Firms in South Africa 2019
Top Law Firm in KZN 2018
Top Law Firm in KZN 2017
Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team of the Year 2016
Finalist: Managing Partner of the Year 2016
Shepstone & Wylie are finalists for Law Firm of the Year Award and Litigation Team of the Year Award.
Anton Lockem: Tax Lawyer of the Year, South Africa
Sifiso Msomi: Property & Conveyancing Lawyer of the Year, South Africa
Diamond Arrow Award for the highest rated legal firm in KwaZulu-Natal 2015.
Shepstone & Wylie won the 2015 KZN Top Business Award’s Financial and Business Services Award
Shepstone & Wylie, highest rated medium size law firm in South Africa 2015
Law Firm of the year 2012, International Transport, Trade & Energy and Mining, Minerals & Energy Departments
Law Firm of the year 2011 for Corporate, Maritime, Litigation and Environmental
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