Webber Wentzel reinforced its pre-eminent position in the private equity sector at the 5th Annual PEA GP & Advisor Awards, held last night, 9 June 2016, walking away with Deals Legal Advisor of the Year 2016 - the only South African law firm to win an award.

This is the third consecutive year that the firm has been recognised in the prestigious PEA Awards. Last year the firm emerged victorious as Funds Legal Advisor of the Year and in 2014, also as Deals Legal Advisor of the Year.

Receiving the award on behalf of the firm, Managing Partner Sally Hutton said: "Webber Wentzel acts for many South African and international private equity investors in relation to acquisitions, disposals and fund formations throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and receiving this award from an internationally recognised authority such as PEA reinforces our standing as the dominant private equity legal and tax advisor in Africa, and endorses the firm's outstanding international reputation."

Webber Wentzel alliance partner, Linklaters and fellow African Legal Network (ALN) member, Anjarwalla & Khanna also won awards in various sub-categories relating to Advisor of the Year.

Linklaters won Single Deal Advisor of the Year in respect of the acquisition of NSIA Participations S.A. by National Bank of Canada from Emerging Capital Partners LLC (advised on buy side) and Anjarwalla & Khanna won Local Advisor of the Year.

"The success of all three firms is a real endorsement of our strategy to pursue an alliance and network model in Sub-Saharan Africa with only the best in class," said Hutton.

PEA Award winners were selected by a panel of independent judges, based on recommendations from the London Business School Private Equity Institute and the PEA Awards Advisory Panel, complemented by industry data, recognising the achievements of GP investors and advisors.