How I work (so you know what to expect)

  • Commercial clarity first: You'll get a practical view of structure, leverage, timing and the risks that actually matter.
  • Structured and responsive: Transactions lose value when they drift. I scope clearly, prioritise early and keep matters moving.
  • Built around the business objective: The legal work needs to support the deal, the growth plan or the governance outcome - not distract from it.
  • No desk-to-desk drift: Where something needs quick attention, I treat it that way.

If you're unsure where the pressure really sits, describe the transaction or growth decision in one paragraph - I'll tell you the best first move.

What I help clients get right

  • Corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, where structure and risk allocation need to support the commercial objective
  • Business structuring and restructuring, including ownership and governance frameworks that can withstand growth and scrutiny
  • Commercial agreements that need to do more than record the deal - they need to support it in practice
  • Transaction-readiness and legal risk visibility before diligence or negotiation pressure starts building
  • Funding and investor-related work where capital, control and future rights need to align clearly
  • Corporate and commercial advice around change, growth and more complex business decisions

Case Studies

Outcomes that support growth and protect value

No case studies loaded yet - coming soon!

Insights from Dirk and the Corporate & M&A team

View All Barnard Insights
Insight

From Pledges to Bankable Projects. What International Investors Should Watch in South Africa

01 Jun 2026

Insight

The Role of CIPC in Business Rescue Proceedings

27 May 2026

Insight

Applicability of Mergers and Acquisitions in the Business Rescue Environment

27 May 2026

Insight

Minority Rights: Not Just a Footnote in the Share Register

12 May 2026

Insight

The Role of Non-Disclosure Agreements in Commercial Transactions: Importance and Legal Implications

06 Nov 2025

Insight

What is a Buy-and-Sell Agreement in South Africa?

23 Oct 2025

Insight

What is a Shareholders’ Agreement in South Africa?

23 Oct 2025

Credentials

  • Director at Barnard from 1 March 2026
  • Positioned by Barnard in Corporate & Commercial Law
  • Publicly associated by Barnard with corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, B-BBEE ownership structures, contractual dispute resolution and corporate liability

The team

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