Michael Rudnicki
Executive – Tax | Johannesburg
Contact
T: +27 11 669 9314
Overview
Michael Rudnicki is an executive in the Corporate department and a member of the Johannesburg office Tax practice.
Michael has in excess of 20 years’ tax experience and specialises predominantly in banking and financial services, M&A, Private Equity (“PE”), Executive Incentives Schemes and General Corporate tax.
In the financial services sector, he has consulted to most of the local and international banking institutions, in relation to balance sheet aspects such as financial instruments and derivatives as well as their in-house M&A and corporate finance teams. His clients include Barclays, Nedbank, Investec, Standard Bank, JP Morgan, UBS and Transaction Capital. Michael has a specific interest in the taxation of financial instruments and derivatives and has presented on numerous occasions on this subject at universities as well as public lectures, radio and television.
Michael has consulted on many large M&A projects and to many of South Africa’s leading PE firms as well as international PE firms with investments in Africa. His experience includes fund establishment, acquisition assistance and modelling, due diligence (acquisitions and disposals), as well as implementation and post deal implementation assistance and exit readiness. His experience in the PE sector extends beyond tax advice and includes deal origination and deal sourcing. He also assisted SAVCA in the preparation of its annual PE survey. Michael advised on the acquisition by ABSA Bank of Barclays Africa, as well as the recent acquisition by RPC’s of Astrapak as well as the acquisition of McDonalds South Africa. Michael’s PE clients include Rockwood, Harith, Ethos, Actis, Medu Capital, Capitalworks, DPI, Investec PE, RMB Corvest. He has appeared on many media platforms speaking about his experience and current trends in the local and international PE market.
Experience
Michael has in excess of 25 years’ tax experience and specialises in the following sectors: banking and financial services, M&A, Private Equity (“PE”), share scheme design and General Corporate tax matters.
Michael’s unique focus also includes assisting clients with strategic corporate tax return reviews as well as reviews of client tax packs and related documentation in preparation of the external audit.
Awards
- Chambers Global ranked Michael in Band 2 for Tax: Consultants in South Africa (2024-2026) and in Band 3 for Tax for four consecutive years (2020-2023).
‘Michael Rudnicki is client focused and wants to do the best for his clients.’ – Chambers Global, 2026
AREA OF EXPERTISE
Qualifications
- Chartered Accountant (SA).
- B.Com degree from Rhodes University.
- B.Compt Honours degree from Unisa.
- B.Com Honours degree in Taxation from University of Cape Town.
- M.Com degree from the University of Johannesburg.
INSIGHTS
Overview
Michael Rudnicki is an executive in the Corporate department and a member of the Johannesburg office Tax practice.
Michael has in excess of 20 years’ tax experience and specialises predominantly in banking and financial services, M&A, Private Equity (“PE”), Executive Incentives Schemes and General Corporate tax.
In the financial services sector, he has consulted to most of the local and international banking institutions, in relation to balance sheet aspects such as financial instruments and derivatives as well as their in-house M&A and corporate finance teams. His clients include Barclays, Nedbank, Investec, Standard Bank, JP Morgan, UBS and Transaction Capital. Michael has a specific interest in the taxation of financial instruments and derivatives and has presented on numerous occasions on this subject at universities as well as public lectures, radio and television.
Michael has consulted on many large M&A projects and to many of South Africa’s leading PE firms as well as international PE firms with investments in Africa. His experience includes fund establishment, acquisition assistance and modelling, due diligence (acquisitions and disposals), as well as implementation and post deal implementation assistance and exit readiness. His experience in the PE sector extends beyond tax advice and includes deal origination and deal sourcing. He also assisted SAVCA in the preparation of its annual PE survey. Michael advised on the acquisition by ABSA Bank of Barclays Africa, as well as the recent acquisition by RPC’s of Astrapak as well as the acquisition of McDonalds South Africa. Michael’s PE clients include Rockwood, Harith, Ethos, Actis, Medu Capital, Capitalworks, DPI, Investec PE, RMB Corvest. He has appeared on many media platforms speaking about his experience and current trends in the local and international PE market.
Experience
Michael has in excess of 25 years’ tax experience and specialises in the following sectors: banking and financial services, M&A, Private Equity (“PE”), share scheme design and General Corporate tax matters.
Michael’s unique focus also includes assisting clients with strategic corporate tax return reviews as well as reviews of client tax packs and related documentation in preparation of the external audit.
Awards
- Chambers Global ranked Michael in Band 2 for Tax: Consultants in South Africa (2024-2026) and in Band 3 for Tax for four consecutive years (2020-2023).
‘Michael Rudnicki is client focused and wants to do the best for his clients.’ – Chambers Global, 2026
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