ABOUT ZIYANDA NTSHONA
Ziyanda Ntshona is a highly regarded Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer in Johannesburg, leading the Corporate M&A and Private Equity practice in South Africa with over 20 years of specialized experience. Recognized for her technical expertise, strategic insight, and client-centric approach, Ziyanda consistently delivers sophisticated cross-border advisory services across diverse industries.
Throughout her career, Ziyanda has built a reputation for excellence in:
M&A Advisory – Advising on complex public and private mergers, divestitures, reorganisations, and leveraged buyouts.
Private Equity Transactions – Facilitating high-stakes PE deals, bolt‑on acquisitions, and sponsor-led exits.
Cross-Border & BEE Structuring – Guiding clients through international transactions and those involving South Africa's Black Economic Empowerment regulations.
She regularly represents clients in sectors including mining, healthcare, financial services, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, real estate, and technology.
Ziyanda holds an LLB and an LLM (Commercial Law) from the University of the Witwatersrand, as well as an MBA from the African Leadership University in Rwanda.
Her professional journey includes senior roles at Linklaters-aligned Webber Wentzel (where she led its Corporate practice), followed by a senior consultative position at Poswa Incorporated before joining Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer in early 2025.
With two decades of expertise, Ziyanda Ntshona stands as a linchpin of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's South African practice. Her profound commercial insight, layered deal experience, and regional influence make her a top-tier adviser for sophisticated M&A and private equity transactions across the continent.
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (HSF Kramer) is a newly integrated global law firm formed on 1 June 2025, through the merger of Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel.
With approximately 2,700 lawyers (including around 630 partners) across 26 offices worldwide and annual revenues exceeding US $2 billion, HSF Kramer ranks among the world's elite law firms.
The firm brings together complementary strengths: Herbert Smith Freehills' deep reach in the UK, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Africa, and Kramer Levin's established presence in the US-spanning New York, Washington, D.C., and Silicon Valley.
This combination unlocks immediate synergies in areas including private equity, bankruptcy & restructuring, disputes, real estate, securitisation, regulatory, and technology law.
HSF Kramer's mission is clear: deliver exceptional client service, bold solutions, and outstanding outcomes-built on 170+ years of experience, transatlantic and transpacific integration, and a people‑centric culture.
Guided by values of being Human, Bold, and Outstanding, the firm is uniquely positioned to tackle complex cross-border transactions, high-stakes disputes, and regulatory challenges across all major global markets
