John Gillmer
John Gillmer is a Director in our Corporate and Commercial practice based in Cape Town and the co-head of the firm's PrivateEequity sector. He is recognised as a leading investment funds lawyer in South Africa.
John specialises in the formation of investment funds and structuring of financial products. John is a private equity specialist and has advised and acted for local and international financial institutions, including banks, private equity and hedge fund managers, long term insurers and institutional investors seeking to invest directly in portfolio assets across Africa or in investment fund vehicles. His expertise in investment funds includes advising on all elements of fund and product structuring and related regulatory aspects.
John also is an experienced corporate lawyer, having worked earlier in his career at Slaughter and May (London) and Minter Ellison (Brisbane) and has advised clients on acquisitions and disposals (private and public), legal due diligences and equity capital raisings in Africa, Australia and the United Kingdom.
About John
About John
John began his career as an attorney at Deneys Reitz in Durban. He moved to London in 2001 and joined Slaughter & May (where he worked as a foreign lawyer in the corporate department). In 2003 John returned to Deneys Reitz in their Cape Town office as a senior associate and was appointed a director in 2006. He moved to Australia and worked at Minter Ellison in their corporate department in Brisbane as a senior foreign lawyer in 2009. John re-joined Deneys Reitz (now Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa) in 2010 as a Director. He was appointed as a Director at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc in 2016.
Credentials
Credentials
Education
- B Com (Economics), University of KwaZulu-Natal
- LLB (summa cum laude), University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Year of admission as an attorney: 2000
- Enrolled with the Legal Practice Council
Memberships
- Member of the Legal and Risk Committee of the South African Venture Capital Association (SAVCA).
Languages
Languages
- English
About John
John began his career as an attorney at Deneys Reitz in Durban. He moved to London in 2001 and joined Slaughter & May (where he worked as a foreign lawyer in the corporate department). In 2003 John returned to Deneys Reitz in their Cape Town office as a senior associate and was appointed a director in 2006. He moved to Australia and worked at Minter Ellison in their corporate department in Brisbane as a senior foreign lawyer in 2009. John re-joined Deneys Reitz (now Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa) in 2010 as a Director. He was appointed as a Director at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc in 2016.
Credentials
Education
- B Com (Economics), University of KwaZulu-Natal
- LLB (summa cum laude), University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Year of admission as an attorney: 2000
- Enrolled with the Legal Practice Council
Memberships
- Member of the Legal and Risk Committee of the South African Venture Capital Association (SAVCA).
Languages
- English
Experience
27four Investment Managers
27four Investment Managers with the establishment of the Black Business Growth Fund which is a fund of funds.
PAPE Fund Managers
PAPE Fund Managers with the establishment of the PAPE Fund III private equity fund.
Investec Bank
Investec Bank Limited with the establishment of an infrastructure private equity fund.
ABSA Capital
ABSA Capital with respect to the restructure of its investment in a private equity fund.
AfriCap Microfinance Investment Company
AfriCap Microfinance Investment Company on the disinvestment in its holdings in a Mozambique bank and the winding up of its South African operation.
UCKI
UCKI (joint venture between the UK Green Investment Climate International Limited (a subsidiary of UK Green Investment Bank plc) and the Department of Energy and Climate Change of the Government of the United Kingdom) with establishing a private equity fund focusing on renewable energy projects in South Africa.
Coronation Fund Managers
Coronation Fund Managers on the transition from unregulated hedge funds to compliant hedge fund structures, as well as advising in respect of regulatory and common law provisions relating to management fees.
Investec Bank
Investec Bank Limited with the establishment of a collective investment scheme platform for alternative investment funds.
Investec Asset Management
Investec Asset Management in relation to the establishment of several hedge funds.
Old Mutual
Old Mutual Investment Group South Africa in relation to the establishment of several hedge funds in South Africa.
RMB/FirstRand
RMB Asset Management/FirstRand Alternative Investment Management in relation to the establishment of an alternative investment product and its subsequent restructuring.
Dimensional Funds Public Limited Company
Dimensional Funds Public Limited Company, a UCITS collective investment scheme registered in Ireland, in relation to an application for registration as a foreign collective investment scheme with the South African Financial Services Board, as well as reviewing and negotiating the representative agreement to be entered into with a local representative.
Matrix Fund Managers
Matrix Fund Managers, in respect of the migration of two funds from debenture trust structures to collective investment scheme trust structures.
CoreShares Index Tracker Managers
CoreShares Index Tracker Managers with the establishment of two exchange traded funds in Mauritius to be listed on the Mauritius stock exchange (SEM) and a subsequent secondary listing on the South African JSE, as well as with the registration of the Mauritian exchange traded funds as foreign collective investment schemes with the Financial Services Board.
Sands Capital Funds Public Liability Company
Sands Capital Funds Public Liability Company in relation to an application for registration as a foreign collective investment scheme with the South African Financial Services Board.
Novare
Novare Equity Partners (Novare) in setting up its second property private equity fund, Novare Africa Property Fund II. The fund, has raised $350 million (R5.25 billion) for investment in a portfolio of new developments in, amongst others, Nigeria, Zambia and Mozambique.
Mbuyu Capital Partners,
Mbuyu Capital Partners, a UK based fund adviser, in respect of various investment fund related transactions entered into by its clients, being UK pension funds, as well as in respect of the proposed establishment of a Mauritian feeder fund.
Coronation Fund Managers
Coronation Fund Managers in respect of their reinsurance policy, fund policy and sinking fund policy product offerings.
CoreShares Index Tracker Managers
CoreShares Index Tracker Managers with the drafting and negotiation of market maker and authorised participant agreements.
JP Morgan
JP Morgan with the appointment of a juristic representative and general financial services advice.
SAQA approvals
Northern Trust Global Services Limited, Aureos Africa Healthcare Managers Ltd, Rogge Global Partners PLC and EFG Private Bank in obtaining the necessary SAQA approvals and Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 2002 (FAIS) licences to become authorised financial services providers.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Bank of America Merrill Lynch in relation to the marketing and selling of financial products in South Africa.
BNP Paribas S.A.
BNP Paribas S.A. in its acquisition of Cadiz Holdings Limited’s subsidiaries. This involved conducting a legal due diligence investigation of certain target companies belonging to Cadiz Holdings Limited in respect of a proposed acquisition, assisting with the negotiation and completion of the transaction documents, including a service level agreement.
Sun Capital Partners
Sun Capital Partners in the due diligence phase of its acquisition of the Finlays horticulture group of companies in South Africa and Kenya.
China Seas Basket and International Titans Basket
China Seas Basket Limited and International Titans Basket Limited, investment companies registered in Guernsey and listed on the Bermuda Stock Exchange, in relation to a review of their prospectuses and the submission thereof to the South African Companies and Intellectual Property Commission. Investec Corporate and Institutional Banking acts as investment advisor for these investment funds.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Kirkland & Ellis LLP in respect of its client's acquisition of an interest in an insurance company.
News
New accountable institutions beware: Deadline ahead for submission of a risk and compliance return
On 31 March 2023 the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) issued Directive 7 in terms of section 43A(3)(a) of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act 28 of 2001 (FIC Act). Directive 7...
Understanding South Africa’s FATF greylisting
On 24 February 2023, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) took the decision to include South Africa on its " grey list ", thereby classifying it as a jurisdiction under increased...
FSCA declares crypto assets as a financial product in terms of the Financial Advisory And Intermediary Services Act
On 19 October 2022 the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) issued General Notice 1350 of 2022 (Declaration) in terms of which it declared a crypto asset as a financial product...
Recent High Court judgment on duties of collective investment scheme managers in implementing redemptions
The judgment handed down by the Gauteng High Court in Living Hands (Pty) Ltd N.O. and Others / Old Mutual Unit Trust Managers Ltd ZAGPJHC 456 has a notable impact on the asset management...
Webinar Recording | The growth of the FinTech industry in Africa: the good, the bad and the legal considerations
It is widely expected that we will see continued growth of FinTechs and fundraising in Africa in 2022 and 2023.
Market recognition
- The Legal 500 EMEA 2016, 2019 - 2024 he was recommended in Investment Funds.
- The Legal 500 EMEA 2018 recommended him in Commercial, Corporate/M&A.
- Who's Who Legal recognised John as being among the highest-ranked lawyers in WWL: Thought Leaders Africa 2024.
Market recognition
- The Legal 500 EMEA 2016, 2019 - 2024 he was recommended in Investment Funds.
- The Legal 500 EMEA 2018 recommended him in Commercial, Corporate/M&A.
- Who's Who Legal recognised John as being among the highest-ranked lawyers in WWL: Thought Leaders Africa 2024.
Expertise
Corporate & Commercial Law
Our strong legal team is well versed in legislative matters and provides support across all commercial disciplines.
Financial Services
CDH’s lawyers works with clients in financial services to help them achieve their commercial aims.
Corporate Governance
We provide a full corporate governance and regulation service within the Corporate and Commercial practice.
Listings, Stock Exchanges & Public Documents
We act for a number of top listed companies and offer a full suite of services to public companies.
Mergers & Acquisitions
CDH’s lawyers balance legal knowledge with commercial understanding to support our clients’ best interests.
Private Equity
Experts from across our specialist practice areas advise on private equity matters.
The Companies Act
CDH is well positioned to help your company ensure compliance with the legislation. We also offer training tailored to your business needs to help you meet your obligations.
Pensions & Employee Benefits
Our Pensions & Employee Benefits team works with skilled lawyers from across the firm to provide expert advice and solutions.