Mark Thomas
Legal Director
Mark specialises in high stakes dispute resolution across Africa’s energy and mining sectors. He help’s corporate legal teams and executives navigate business critical issues, ranging from complex contractual disputes to regulatory investigations.
Mark's experience
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Acting for a large South African contract miner in submitting and resolving disputes through arbitration and internal contractual alternative dispute resolution mechanisms for a variety of issues including interpretative matters and claims for compensation arising from adverse physical and climatic conditions
- South Africa
- Energy & Natural Resources
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Acting for a UK headquartered insurer in opposing a referral to Arbitration against the insured for alleged contractual breaches of a performance agreement, under the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa International Rules that are aligned with the UNCITRAL Model Law.
- United Kingdom; South Africa
- Financial Services
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Representing an EU manufacturer and supplier of scientific equipment used in mining in an investigation by the Competition Commission of South Africa.
- Netherlands & South Africa
- Technology, Science & Industry
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Facilitating the exit a minority shareholder to ensure value is realized and the narrative is contained as part of the exit strategy.
- South Africa
- Financial Services
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Advising a large South African contractor miner in contractual disputes and urgent spoilation proceedings in the Northern Cape High Court, including subsequent appeal proceedings.
- South Africa
- Energy & Natural Resources
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Advising a Hong Kong Stock exchange company and its South African subsidiary in defending its rights and proving claims in excess of +R300 million in the business rescue proceedings and subsequent liquidation of Mapochs Mine (Pty) Ltd (in liquidation), which included the opposition of other creditors’ claims against in a private arbitration.
- South Africa
- Financial Services
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Advising an industry body that represents local and foreign market participants in the seed industry in South Africa in responding to queries, and making submissions to, the Competition Commission of South Africa as part of the Fresh Produce Market Inquiry.
- South Africa
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Advising a multinational entity, headquartered in the US, on its reporting obligations in South Africa following a potential cyber incident, including the submission of a notification of a potential security compromise to the South African Information Regulator.
- South Africa and United States
- Financial Services
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Acted for an energy equipment and solutions company, providing bespoke competition law training on vertical restrictive practices to local clients involved in the energy storage solutions.
- South Africa
- Energy & Natural Resources
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Advising a Spanish developer in a private mediation with a South African contractor to resolve disputes that arose in relation to the engineering and construction of solar PV farms in the North-West Province of South Africa.
- South Africa
- Construction Services
Credentials
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2026Accredited Mediator (commercial) – Conflict Dynamics (South Africa, 2025) and Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (UK, 2026)
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2024University of Cape Town - Certificate in Data Protection and Privacy
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2023Joined Pinsent Masons
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2016Right of Appearance in the High Court of South Africa
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2016University of the Witwatersrand - Certificate in Competition Law
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2014Admission as an attorney - South Africa
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2013University of Johannesburg, Centre for Competition, Regulation, and Economic Development - Certificate in Competition Economics
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2012University of South Africa - LLM
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2010University of South Africa - LL.B.
Out-Law / Insight by Mark Thomas
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