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Vivien Chaplin

Sector Head, Director

Vivien Chaplin is a Director in our Corporate & Commercial practice and Head of the Mining & Minerals sector. Vivien has over 20 years' experience in advising on local and cross border mergers and acquisitions, company law and corporate governance issues and drafting specialised commercial contracts.

+27 (0)11 562 1556
vivien.chaplin@cdhlegal.comJohannesburg
Vivien Chaplin

About Vivien

About Vivien

Vivien is a corporate commercial lawyer with over 20 years' experience in advising on local and cross border mergers and acquisitions, company law and corporate governance issues and drafting specialised commercial contracts.

Before joining Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, Vivien led the Corporate Commercial Team at Hogan Lovells Johannesburg, and prior to that she was a Corporate Partner at ENSafrica.

Credentials

Credentials

Education

  • BA/LLB, University of Cape Town
  • Registered with the Legal Practice Council

Languages

Languages

  • English

About Vivien

Vivien is a corporate commercial lawyer with over 20 years' experience in advising on local and cross border mergers and acquisitions, company law and corporate governance issues and drafting specialised commercial contracts.

Before joining Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, Vivien led the Corporate Commercial Team at Hogan Lovells Johannesburg, and prior to that she was a Corporate Partner at ENSafrica.

Credentials

Education

  • BA/LLB, University of Cape Town
  • Registered with the Legal Practice Council

Languages

  • English

Experience

Advising companies across various industries

Vivien’s experience includes advising companies across various industries on mergers and acquisitions (including the structuring, due diligence and drafting of all transaction documents), Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) transactions and advice, Employee Share Ownership Plans (ESOP) and corporate restructures.

Setting up and doing business in South Africa

Vivien assists her clients on all aspects of setting up and doing business in South Africa, including BEE, corporate governance and Companies Act compliance as well as specific regulatory advice in the mining, aviation, IT, film, industrial and logistics sectors. 

Major mining companies

Vivien also assisted major mining companies with the drafting of  high value long-term supply and offtake agreements and many large companies with the drafting of their standard form and bespoke agreements for all steps of the supply chain, as well as corporate documents such as shareholders' agreements, memoranda of incorporation, committee charters and resolutions.

Contract drafting for private and public companies

In addition, Vivien provides training on BEE, corporate governance, procurement and supply chain contract drafting to private and public companies. She regularly speaks on these topics at conferences and has published numerous articles on corporate law and BEE developments. Vivien has also assisted several non-profit organisations in the education and health sectors.

News

Evolving M&A practices in Africa: How SPACs offer a compelling alternative
Corporate & Commercial Law

Evolving M&A practices in Africa: How SPACs offer a compelling alternative

Vivien Chaplin, Sector Head and Director, and Phetha Mchunu, Associate in our Corporate & Commercial practice, were recently featured in DealMakers Africa - DMA Q3 2024, where they...
Financing mining projects: Thinking out of the box to unlock Africa’s mining potential
Mining & Minerals

Financing mining projects: Thinking out of the box to unlock Africa’s mining potential

The African mining sector, rich in resources but often constrained by financing challenges, is at a crossroads. Traditionally, mining companies have relied on conventional financing...
Accelerated transformation and collaboration in South Africa’s transport sector to target ambitious economic growth: New regulations and reforms on the horizon
Mining & Minerals

Accelerated transformation and collaboration in South Africa’s transport sector to target ambitious economic growth: New regulations and reforms on the horizon

The appointment of the 7th administration comes with a renewed drive to address the challenges faced by the transport sector. This was confirmed on 1 October 2024 when President Cyril...
Industry update: Change in air service licensing process

Industry update: Change in air service licensing process

In a significant shift for South Africa’s aviation sector, the Minister of Transport has announced a crucial change regarding the processing of Foreign Operator Permit applications...
The overlapping rights saga continues: Clarifying the first in time, first in right principle and whether a prospecting right is a prerequisite to an application for a mining right
Mining & Minerals

The overlapping rights saga continues: Clarifying the first in time, first in right principle and whether a prospecting right is a prerequisite to an application for a mining right

One of the cornerstones of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 (MPRDA) is to ensure the sustainable development of South Africa’s mineral resources and to...

All articles by Vivien
Companies Act Developments Seminar
Corporate & Commercial Law

Companies Act Developments Seminar

On Tuesday, 30 January 2024, our Corporate & Commercial practice hosted a seminar on Companies Act Developments.

All videos by Vivien

Market recognition

  • Chambers Global 2024 ranked Vivien in Band 5 for corporate/M&A.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2021–2024 recommended her for commercial, corporate/M&A.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2021–2024 also recommended her for mining.
  • IFLR1000 2021–2024 ranked Vivien as highly regarded in M&A.
  • Winner of Lexology ILO Client Service Award for Corporate Law: South Africa (2019)
  • Finalist: Businesswoman of the Year (Legal): 2010

Market recognition

  • Chambers Global 2024 ranked Vivien in Band 5 for corporate/M&A.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2021–2024 recommended her for commercial, corporate/M&A.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2021–2024 also recommended her for mining.
  • IFLR1000 2021–2024 ranked Vivien as highly regarded in M&A.
  • Winner of Lexology ILO Client Service Award for Corporate Law: South Africa (2019)
  • Finalist: Businesswoman of the Year (Legal): 2010

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