Michael Swartland
Partner | Cape Town
Contact
T: +27 21 480 7800
Overview
Experience summary
Michael will help you get your deal done. His calm, well-organised approach is appreciated by all his clients who enjoy working in collaboration with him.
The transactions he leads usually involve working to tight deadlines, but he always remains unruffled and focused on the final deliverables to ensure his clients get the results they need to make their business successful.
He is an expert in preference share and BEE funding and regularly advises major South African and international financial institutions and corporates on their bilateral and syndicated lending arrangements. This includes exchange control, taking of security under South African law and any related regulatory matters.
He also has excellent experience of structured finance, secured and syndicated lending, capital markets, private equity, as well as general corporate and commercial matters.
He delivers excellent legal advice in a way that makes him easy to work with. All transactions follow a formal process, but his easy-going, relationship-driven approach means his clients look forward to working with him. Whether working on a large deal or something smaller, he will always bring legal rigour and a smile!
His key clients include DP World/Imperial Logistics, Old Mutual, Standard Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, Absa Bank, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa and Curro Holdings.
Experience
Most recently, Michael was part of the teams who advised:
- Curro Holdings in negotiating and closing a sustainability overlay of all of their existing financing arrangements totaling ZAR 3.3 billion, with a consortium of lenders;
- Coca-Cola Beverages Africa on its ~ZAR 24 billion debt raise across eight jurisdictions;
- on the refinancing of ~ZAR18 billion of debt facilities within the Imperial Logistics group;
- Old Mutual in respect of its ZAR 3,1 billion sustainability-linked debt raised from a consortium of banks;
Awards
- Legal 500 ranked Michael as a Next Generation Partner for his work in Banking and Finance in South Africa (2025-2026).
‘Michael Swartland is commercially minded and an absolute pleasure to work with.’ – Legal 500, 2025
AREA OF EXPERTISE
Qualifications
Education
- BA and LLB, University of Cape Town.
Professional Memberships
- Admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa.
Overview
Experience summary
Michael will help you get your deal done. His calm, well-organised approach is appreciated by all his clients who enjoy working in collaboration with him.
The transactions he leads usually involve working to tight deadlines, but he always remains unruffled and focused on the final deliverables to ensure his clients get the results they need to make their business successful.
He is an expert in preference share and BEE funding and regularly advises major South African and international financial institutions and corporates on their bilateral and syndicated lending arrangements. This includes exchange control, taking of security under South African law and any related regulatory matters.
He also has excellent experience of structured finance, secured and syndicated lending, capital markets, private equity, as well as general corporate and commercial matters.
He delivers excellent legal advice in a way that makes him easy to work with. All transactions follow a formal process, but his easy-going, relationship-driven approach means his clients look forward to working with him. Whether working on a large deal or something smaller, he will always bring legal rigour and a smile!
His key clients include DP World/Imperial Logistics, Old Mutual, Standard Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, Absa Bank, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa and Curro Holdings.
Experience
Most recently, Michael was part of the teams who advised:
- Curro Holdings in negotiating and closing a sustainability overlay of all of their existing financing arrangements totaling ZAR 3.3 billion, with a consortium of lenders;
- Coca-Cola Beverages Africa on its ~ZAR 24 billion debt raise across eight jurisdictions;
- on the refinancing of ~ZAR18 billion of debt facilities within the Imperial Logistics group;
- Old Mutual in respect of its ZAR 3,1 billion sustainability-linked debt raised from a consortium of banks;
Awards
- Legal 500 ranked Michael as a Next Generation Partner for his work in Banking and Finance in South Africa (2025-2026).
‘Michael Swartland is commercially minded and an absolute pleasure to work with.’ – Legal 500, 2025
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