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Photo, Sphesihle Nxumalo

Sphesihle Nxumalo

Associate
Baker & McKenzie

Biography

Sphesihle Nxumalo is a director designate in Baker McKenzie's Antitrust & Competition Practice Group in Johannesburg.

His experience spans the entire spectrum of antitrust and competition law across Africa.

Sphesihle has a wealth of experience partnering with clients and businesses to devise novel and business-oriented solutions to their merger control, antitrust and competition law needs and requirements. He advises and represents blue-chip multinational companies on high-value and complex antitrust matters and merger transactions that are highly technical and unique in nature across all key African countries.

His experience spans several industries including private equity, telecommunications, media, technology, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, financial institutions, automotive, industrials, petroleum, mining and construction.

Representative Legal Matters

Merger Control / Mergers & Acquisitions

  • Advised ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc on the African merger control aspects of its disposal of a 51% interest in Mopani Copper Mines plc, in a strategic transaction for Zambia's copper mining industry, valued at USD 1.1 billion.
  • Advised GlaxoSmithKline in obtaining merger clearance in South Africa for its USD 12.7 billion acquisition of the global consumer healthcare business of Pfizer, Inc.
  • Advised Bayer AG on the South African merger control aspects of the disposal of its animal health business to Elanco Animal Health Inc. in a global transaction valued at USD 7 billion.
  • Advised The Bidvest Group Limited (a leading multinational services, trading and distribution company) in its acquisition of PHS Group (a leading hygiene services provider in the United Kingdom and Spain), with a deal value of GBP 480 million.
  • Advised Hitachi, Inc. in successfully obtaining merger clearance in South Africa and Namibia in respect of its global acquisition of the power grid business of Swiss-based ABB Ltd. valued at USD 11 billion.
  • Advised Aveng Group (a multinational construction and mining company) in its strategic restructure and multi-million rand disposals of various non-core businesses.
  • Advised a global private equity firm in its various multimillion dollars acquisitions.
  • Advised Sika AG (a Swiss multinational specialty chemical company) on the African merger control aspects of its acquisition of MBCC Group (a leading multinational construction chemicals and solutions company) from an affiliate of Lone Star Funds, valued at USD 5.2 billion.

Antitrust Litigation / Compliance

  • Advised and represented a South African medical scheme in relation to the Health Market Inquiry.
  • Advised and represented several financial institutions on various antitrust/competition law issues, including abuse of dominance and vertical restrictions
  • Advised and represented various banking, automotive and shipping corporations in relation to allegations of cartel conduct.
  • Conducted a compliance audit and a due diligence investigation on various multinational corporations.

Professional Honors

  • Recognised as a Top 200 Young South African by Mail & Guardian (2022)
  • Highly Commended for Private Practice Most Promising Newcomer by African Legal Awards (2021)
  • Recognised as Africa’s Top Legal Millennial by The People’s Accolade Law Magazine (2021)
  • Recognised as a Top 100 Most Influential Young South African by Avance Media (2019)
  • Recognised as a Top 100 Young Mandela of the Future in South Africa by News24 (2018)
  • Recognised as a Future Leader by The Future Leader Forum (2018)

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Golden Key International Honour Society - Member
  • International Bar Association - Member
  • Law Society of South Africa - Member
  • Association of Competition Law Practitioners of South Africa - Member

Admissions

  • South Africa (2018)

Education

  • University of London (Master of Laws (LL.M., Economic Regulation) (Merit)) (2023)
  • University of London (Postgraduate Diploma (Competition Law, Merit)) (2021)
  • University of London (Postgraduate Certificate, (Competition Law, Distinction)) (2020)
  • University of the Witwatersrand (Bachelor of Laws (LL.B, Dean's Merit)) (2015)

Languages

  • English
  • Sotho, Southern
  • Swati
  • Xhosa
  • Zulu