Lungile Mazwai

Lungile Mazwai is the co-founder and partner at Ledwaba Mazwai. He is a leading Commercial and Civil Litigator for corporate and governmental institutions, as well as State-Owned entities which work closely with commercial clients.

As a seasoned professional, he has particular experience in Drafting, Reviewing and Commenting on Commercial documents and transactions, inter-alia Memoranda of Incorporation, and Shareholder Agreements.

He has extensive knowledge in privatisation and/or restructuring of public entities in the forestry, airline, and automotive industries.

In recent years, Lungile has been instrumental in providing Legal Advice to Public Private Partnership projects, Concessions and Infrastructure Development projects in various industries including health, water, and correctional services.

Notable clients:

Gauteng Provincial Government and Gautrain Management Agency,

Department of Energy – Independent Power Producers Office,

Gauteng Growth and Development Agency SOC Limited,

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government [excluding procurement work

for PIC],

City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality,

Statistics South Africa,

Department of Correctional Services,

Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa SOC Limited,

Transnet SOC Limited, and

Department of Health – National and Limpopo.

LEDWABA MAZWAI:

Ledwaba Mazwai was established in 1996 in pursuit of the ideal to build a successful black-owned commercial law firm.

Based in Nieuw Muckleneuk, Pretoria, Ledwaba Mazwai is a motivated and hardworking team of lawyers, administrative and support staff.

We are committed to providing services of consistent high professional standards without compromising on the quality of our work and commitment to our clients.

Today, the firm has become a symbol of pride, excellence and the capabilities of black legal practitioners as a collective.

HISTORY:

In the early nineties, as a result of the marginalisation and discriminatory practices that are part of the history of South Africa, black lawyers in South Africa were confined to the areas of Matrimonial Law, Criminal Law and Personal Injury matters.

Despite these challenges, two young law students shared an aspiration of creating a black-owned and operated Commercial Law firm – a pioneering firm that would provide an uncompromised standard of commercial legal services to compete with the established white law firms of the time.

FOUNDING PARTNERS:

Two young visionaries, Metja Ledwaba and Lungile Mazwai were determined to establish a dynamic law firm, in order to showcase the capabilities and excellence of black legal practitioners in areas of legal practice they were historically excluded from.

It was this ideal that saw the founding partners of Ledwaba Mazwai receiving their training in established law firms. This would give them a solid grounding in Commercial Law practice and corporate clients.

 

Metja Ledwaba

Metja Ledwaba is the co-founder and partner at Ledwaba Mazwai where he practices Commercial Law, Project Finance Transactions, PPPs Transactions, Administrative and Constitutional Law, as well as Commercial Litigation.

He has extensive experience in advisory for government and state-owned entities on public-sector project initiatives and procurement involving major projects.

Over the years he has worked in projects involving the Project Finance or Corporate Finance restructuring of public entities, Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) Independent Power Producer (IPP).

Metja Ledwaba is well versed and experienced in structuring, procurement, negotiating and achieving financial close in respect of such projects. He plays a significant role in interfacing legal, technical, financial, and client’s objectives in managing the roll-out of major infrastructure projects, procured with significant private sector funding and involvement.

The PPP Law Practice:

Ledwaba Mazwai is one South Africa’s leading law firms providing legal advice in relation to Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Infrastructure Development related projects.

The firm has been involved in several PPP projects since the evolution of the PPP sector in South Africa from circa 2000.

The partners play a significant role in all projects, developing an excellent track record with clients and the law fraternity.

The Ledwaba Mazwai led PPP projects are largely infrastructure development based, involving the design, construction and operation of a public sector facility or service by private sector party, with improved experience and efficiencies, value for money and appropriate risk transfer.

To date, Ledwaba Mazwai has been involved in providing legal services in, among others, the following PPP projects:

  • The campus office accommodation project for the Department of Trade and Industry (“the DTI”),
  • The Gautrain Rapid Rail Link Project for the Gauteng Provincial Government,
  • The accommodation PPP project for the Ministry of Works and Transport of the Government of the Republic of Botswana, for development of head office accommodation for the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism and the Ministry of Lands,
  • The accommodation project for the City of Tshwane, for development of office accommodation for City of Tshwane’s service delivery environment,
  • Advising the Legislature of the province of KwaZulu-Natal on the proposed establishment of a new legislature complex, and the provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal on the proposed establishment of a government precinct,
  • Advising the private sector sponsor in the office accommodation project for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Gaborone, Botswana,
  • Advising the national Department of Health and Gauteng Department of Health on the revitalisation of the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital,
  • Advising the National Department of Health and Limpopo Department of Health on the establishment of a Limpopo Academic Hospital.

The firm is also actively involved in the IPP sector in South Africa.

To date the Ledwaba Mazwai team has advised government on the following projects:

  • Two peaking power generation projects in Avon and Coega, Renewable Energy IPP Programme, IPP Baseload, coal and gas power generation projects.

Key to advising on PPP initiatives is the ability to translate government initiatives into bankable procurement packages that attract significant private sector investment.

To this end, the firm has experience in interfacing various public sector stakeholder entities and policies whose role is critical to the implementations of projects.

LEDWABA MAZWAI:

Ledwaba Mazwai was established in 1996 in pursuit of the ideal to build a successful black-owned commercial law firm.

Based in Nieuw Muckleneuk, Pretoria, Ledwaba Mazwai is a motivated and hardworking team of lawyers, administrative and support staff.

We are committed to providing services of consistent high professional standards without compromising on the quality of our work and commitment to our clients.

Today, the firm has become a symbol of pride, excellence and the capabilities of black legal practitioners as a collective.

HISTORY:

In the early nineties, as a result of the marginalisation and discriminatory practices that are part of the history of South Africa, black lawyers in South Africa were confined to the areas of Matrimonial Law, Criminal Law and Personal Injury matters.

Despite these challenges, two young law students shared an aspiration of creating a black-owned and operated Commercial Law firm – a pioneering firm that would provide an uncompromised standard of commercial legal services to compete with the established white law firms of the time.

FOUNDING PARTNERS

Two young visionaries, Metja Ledwaba and Lungile Mazwai were determined to establish a dynamic law firm, in order to showcase the capabilities and excellence of black legal practitioners in areas of legal practice they were historically excluded from.

It was this ideal that saw the founding partners of Ledwaba Mazwai receiving their training in established law firms. This would give them a solid grounding in Commercial Law practice and corporate clients.

 

Iyad Zawaideh

Iyad is a US and Jordan qualified specialist commercial lawyer with particular expertise in providing advice in relation to project finance and PPPs.

Iyad joined the Firm as Of Counsel in May 2009 and became partner In July 2010. Since 2002 (and until December 31, 2008), Iyad worked as an Associate and later as a Senior Associate at a leading law firm in Amman, Jordan. Dulling his tenure at that law firm, Iyad was heavily involved as local legal counsel in several PPP transactions and privatisation deals by representing the various parties involved including the Government, the consultant and the buyer/strategic partner/concessionaire/licensee.

Iyad was also responsible for drafting and negotiating various contracts and commercial agreements for corporate and individual clients in both the private and public sectors, setting up and advising on all aspects of joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions.

Prior to joining the Jordanian law firm in 2002, Iyad was an Associate attorney at a small boutique corporate, real estate and litigation practice in downtown Manhattan in New York City, Iyad practiced litigation in New York City courts by appearing frequently therein for motions and summary proceedings.

Iyad was also heavily involved in residential and commercial real estate practice in New York.

 

Eversheds:

Eversheds is one of the world’s largest corporate law firms. Committed locally, but connected globally, with offices based in the world’s major economic centres, with a proven track record of delivering consistently high quality legal services across jurisdictions.

The firm has developed organically over the past decade working for corporate organisations of all shapes and sizes in countries where they want to do business. Lawyers in all locations share the same values, ways of working and understanding of what clients really want. The past year has seen further international expansion for the firm. In the Middle East, the firm has become the first international player to establish offices in Iraq and is now one of the largest international players on the ground, with local lawyers based in Abu Dhabi, Amman, Doha, Dubai and Riyadh.

As a modern, progressive law firm, Eversheds sets itself apart through its people, culture and its attitude to change. Quality is a matter of personal pride to everyone and staff of the highest calibre are recruited and retained by the firm. Collaborative working and innovative thinking is encouraged and supported at all levels, meaning that clients enjoy an offering that is constantly evolving and improving to meet their changing needs. This has led to pioneering approaches to the law such as genuine project management and measurement of results that leads to cost predictability and control. In particular, the firm is noted for effectively delivering complex, multi-national legal services through one point of contact.

Relationships with clients are deep and genuine. An understanding of the sector and business culture which each client operates in, is a given. Collaboration is seen as a way of providing the most effective advice. Trust and accountability are the bedrock of all the firm’s client relationships.

Every year, Eversheds breaks new ground and is a firm that offers a clear alternative to those who want more from their lawyers.