Leading South African law firm Webber Wentzel has appointed Andrew van Niekerk as a partner in its Banking Finance & Projects Group.

Van Niekerk specialises in construction and projects, providing specialist EPC/PPP/IPP related legal services in the transport, infrastructure, energy and mining & resources sectors, with particular focus on project financed projects and government concessions.  Van Niekerk's construction & engineering law practice will work closely with the well-known Projects Finance and Banking & Finance groups at Webber Wentzel under Brigitte Ballie and Johan de Lange.

Van Niekerk joins Webber Wentzel from Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs where he served as director and helped found that firm's Projects Department.

Prior to that, Andrew spent five years in the Middle East where he, inter alia, advised on a variety of mega infrastructure and realty projects, including the Waterfront, Palm Jebel Ali, Palm Jumeirah, Palm Deira, Jumeira Garden City, Pearl Jumeirah, Jumeirah Golf Estate, World Islands, Al Burj Tower and Sheik Khalifa Tower projects.

Van Niekerk has been listed in the South African sections of Legal 500's Guide to Outstanding Lawyers for 2013 (Projects and Infrastructure Law); Chambers and Partners Global Guide 2013/2014 (Construction); Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading Construction Lawyers 2013; IFLR1000 2013 (Projects and Project Finance); and IFLR1000/Petroleum Economist: Africa Energy & Infrastructure Guide 2013 (Concessions, Corporate and Commercial and Infrastructure).

Chambers Global (2014 edition) notes that: "Andrew van Niekerk is singled out for his technical ability and his pragmatic, open approach to negotiations. Clients describe him as extremely knowledgeable and versatile and he's open to listening to the middle ground."

Van Niekerk holds a BA LLB from the University of Cape Town.