Dirk Swanepoel
Director
How can we help?
Choose Your Starting Point
We are starting, structuring or reorganising a business
We are buying, selling or merging a business
We need the right agreements in place as the business grows
Not sure? Use "Speak to the Corporate & M&A team" and tell us what is happening in one paragraph.
Related Core Services
Commercial Agreements & Risk Allocation
Drafting, reviewing and strengthening commercial contracts and risk frameworks
Joint Ventures & Strategic Partnerships
Collaboration structuring, governance, contributions and exit planning
Investment, Funding & Capital Raising
Founder, investor and funding-stage legal support
Due Diligence & Deal Readiness
Risk reviews, deal preparation and transaction support before terms are locked in
Mergers, Acquisitions & Disposals
Buying, selling and combining businesses with clear transaction support
Corporate Structuring & Governance
Company formation, group structures, shareholder arrangements and governance foundations
How we work (so you know what happens next)
- Quick discovery call
- Options + recommendation (trade-offs made clear)
- Execute with milestones
- Protect the wider position (governance, control, risk allocation and next-step planning)
If something is time-sensitive, we'll tell you what to do first.
How Barnard helps businesses through growth and change
We do not treat corporate work as a set of isolated documents. We treat it as a business lifecycle function - helping clients put the right structure in place, make informed transaction decisions, and reduce risk as the business evolves.
Build the right structure early
Support deals that move properly
Prepare for investment and scrutiny
Align capital, control and commercial expectations
Put durable commercial frameworks in place
What it's like to work with our Corporate & M&A team
Pillar A: Commercial clarity first
Pillar B: Structured, responsive, decisive
Pillar C: Built around the business objective
Need a clear starting point? Ask for a first-look corporate or transaction assessment.
Case Studies
Trusted in growth, investment and transaction decisions
Corporate and M&A
Independent contractor agreement to reduce misclassification risk
Barnard prepared an independent contractor agreement that clearly distinguished contractor status from employment, helping reduce labour, tax and liability risk within a properly structured commercial framework.
Corporate and M&A
Lease agreement review to reduce commercial risk
Barnard reviewed and refined a commercial lease agreement to improve clarity around duration, termination and liability allocation, helping reduce contractual risk and strengthen the client’s position under South African law.
Corporate and M&A
Operational policies to strengthen governance and compliance
Barnard reviewed and aligned internal operational policies with applicable legislation and business realities, helping improve governance, compliance certainty and accountability across the organisation.
Corporate and M&A
B-BBEE ownership restructure to restore compliance and competitiveness
Barnard advised on a B-BBEE ownership restructure in the manufacturing and medical sector, designing a sustainable non-profit ownership model that addressed priority-element penalties, supported net-value recognition and improved procurement competitiveness.
Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory
Expert guidance on M&A transactions.
Regulatory Compliance Services
Stay compliant with industry regulations.
Contract Review Services
Ensure your contracts protect your interests.
Business Formation Services
Start your business on the right foot.
Dispute Resolution Services
Resolve disputes efficiently and effectively.
Tax Law Consultation
Expert advice on tax compliance and planning.
The team
Meet the Corporate & M&A team
Team Leader
Dr. Gerard Verhoef
IP and Technology Attorney
Nerishka Pillay
Associate - Corporate & Commercial
Marilise Bornman
Associate – Corporate & M&A
Aaliyah Razak
Candidate Attorney – General Litigation
