Tabacks - Corporate Law Advisory and Consultancy Services

Mervyn Taback

Mervyn joined the profession in 1972 as an articled clerk and was admitted as an attorney in 1974.

He obtained the BCom and LLB degrees and the Higher Diploma in Tax from the University of the Witwatersrand. He was a director of Deneys Reitz until 30 September 2000 and one of the senior members of the commercial and corporate division of Deneys Reitz. Mervyn is one of the founding members of Tabacks.

He has been involved in all aspects of commercial and corporate work for both listed and unlisted clients including take-overs, schemes of arrangement, capital restructurings, structured finance transactions, mergers and acquisitions, stock exchange work, rights issues and tax.

Lourens van Staden

Lourens obtained the degrees of BCom and LLB from the University of Stellenbosch. In 1980, he joined Deneys Reitz where he was a director and became the head of the commercial litigation department until 30 September 2001. Lourens is one of the founding members of Tabacks.

He has extensive experience in commercial, corporate and insolvency work, including large commercial litigation matters and acting for purchasers and financiers in restructuring and purchasing businesses from liquidators.

St Elmo Wilken

St Elmo obtained the degrees BCom and LLB from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (formerly the University of Port Elizabeth), and holds an LLM in Corporate Law from the University of Johannesburg (formerly Rand Afrikaans University).

He was admitted as an attorney in 1984 and practised in Port Elizabeth as a partner heading up the Labour Law Division of a leading Port Elizabeth law firm until 1991. During 1991 he relocated to Johannesburg. He was Joint Head of the Employment Law Department of Deneys Reitz until he joined Tabacks in July 2008.

He has been involved in all aspects of employment and labour law, predominantly advising employers. He has extensive experience in advising employers on collective labour law and dealing with all aspects related to employment law in mergers and acquisitions. St Elmo has been involved in major litigation in all employment law tribunals.

Chris Stevens

Chris graduated with BCom and LLB degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand whereafter he joined Deneys Reitz Inc as a candidate attorney in 1987.

He became a partner in the mining law department of Deneys Reitz in 1990 where he practised until August 2005. He joined Tabacks in September 2005.

He specialises in all aspects of mining law, acting for major South African and international exploration and mining companies.

Catharine Keene

Catharine obtained the BA and LLB degrees from the Universities of Cape Town and Witwatersrand respectively, graduating with distinction in 1994. She completed articles and was admitted as an attorney in March 1997. Spending the next three years in commercial litigation before departing for a year in the UK. Catharine joined Tabacks in November 2000.

She specialises in commercial and corporate law, pension fund regulation, taxation, mining transactions and structuring and has been involved in tele-communications regulation, and general mergers and acquisitions.

Elize van Biljon

Elize obtained the LLB degree from Rand Afrikaans University and a LLM in Tax from the University of the Witwatersrand. She also holds a PhD degree from the Sorbonne University of Paris. She was admitted as an attorney in February 1998.

She specialises in commercial, corporate and competition law and has been involved in mergers and acquisitions, schemes of arrangement, tele-communications and derivative transactions. She also has extensive experience in health and pharmaceutical matters.

Darren Band

Darren obtained the degrees B.Com (Law) from the University of South Africa and LLB from the Rand Afrikaans University. He served articles at Werksmans and joined Tabacks in 2005 shortly after he was admitted as an attorney.

His experience as a commercial litigation attorney has involved him acting for many listed companies in contractual and shareholder disputes, mineral regulation disputes on behalf of major corporations in the South African mining and resources sector, as well as disputes within the local gaming and casino industry. Darren also has experience in competition law and insolvency related matters.

Mmatiki Aphiri

Mmatiki obtained her BA and LL B degrees from the University of Cape Town. She completed her articles with Tabacks and was admitted as an attorney and notary in 2007. She completed her further studies by obtaining a certificate in Prospecting and Mining Law at the Mandela Institute (University of Witwatersrand) in 2009 and is currently registered for a certificate course in Mining Tax Law with the same institution.

She focuses on mining law and has experience in the registration and transfer of mineral rights under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act. She also has experience in property law and conveyancing practice.

Frances Paton

Frances obtained a BA from Rhodes University, LLB (cum laude) from the University of Cape Town and MCL from the University of Michigan. She was admitted as an attorney in 1981 and spent four years as a lecturer/researcher at UCT before moving to Johannesburg, where she worked as in-house counsel for an insurance company and a mining house. She joined Tabacks in May 2009.

She specialises in commercial and corporate law, particularly in the context of the mining and resources sector, and has been involved in a number of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures.

Keith Comline

Keith graduated from the University of Cape Town with a B.Bus.Sc (Law) and later his LLB degree in 2006. Thereafter he spent a year overseas and worked briefly in the English law offices of Charles Russell before moving to the corporate finance department of the investment dealer, Canaccord Adams.

Upon his return to South Africa, he completed his articles at Adams & Adams where he gained experience in commercial and civil litigation as well as trade mark law. Subsequent to articles, he was duly admitted as an attorney and briefly practised independently where he gained experience in commercial, corporate and mining law. He joined Tabacks in May 2010.

Anne Wilson

Anne obtained her BA and LLB degrees from the University of Cape Town and the University of the Witwatersrand respectively. She completed her articles in 2007 and was admitted as an attorney in 2008. She joined Tabacks in April 2010.

She currently works as an associate with Catharine Keene and has experience in commercial and corporate law, telecommunications and IT transactions, general mergers and acquisitions and cross-border transactions within Africa.

Tebele Makhetha

Tebele obtained an LLB degree from the University of the Witwatersrand whereafter she served articles at Werksmans Attorneys. She joined Tabacks in March 2010 and was admitted as an attorney during May 2010. She currently works as an associate with Elize van Biljon and specialises in corporate and commercial law.

Lebogang Mphahlele

Lebogang obtained his LLB degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2008. He previously worked for Crawford & Company SA as an insurance loss adjuster. He joined Tabacks in March 2010 to commence his articles of clerkship and currently works as candidate attorney assisting Chris Stevens in mining law matters.

Keane Robertson

Keane obtained his LLB degree from the University of Cape Town, graduating in 2009. He joined Tabacks in January 2010 to commence is articles of clerkship. He is currently assisting Elize van Biljon and Mervyn Taback on corporate and commercial law matters.

Samantha Tumber

Samantha obtained her LLB at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. She joined Tabacks in December 2009 to commence her articles of clerkship and currently works as a candidate attorney assisting Lourens van Staden in the litigation department. Her interests include Labour practice as well as commercial work.

Roxanna Valayathum

Roxanna obtained her LLB from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg graduating with distinction in 2009. She joined Tabacks in February 2010 to commence her articles of clerkship and currently works as a candidate attorney assisting St Elmo Wilken with employment and labour law matters.