Wihan Meintjes
Partner | Johannesburg
Contact
T: +27 11 669 9215
Overview
Wihan’s primary practice area is international arbitration, particularly within the built environment, with a special emphasis on private international arbitrations and with experience in investor-state disputes. He has extensive experience in handling multi-jurisdictional matters, both within Africa and globally. He has worked on several landmark cases involving enforcement of arbitration awards and investment treaty claims for sovereign clients and investors alike.
Wihan has a deep understanding of the African legal landscape and works closely with local counsel across the continent on domestic court proceedings and arbitrations under various rules and institutions. He is also active in the arbitration and construction communities and serves as the regional editor of the Africa Construction Law Blog for the Southern Africa region and a co-chairperson of Young AFSA.
Experience
* Indicates experience gained prior to joining Bowmans.
Wihan has advised:
- The Government of Lesotho in a high-value and complex arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules 2021, involving claims exceeding LSL 2.3 billion (approximately USD 120 million) related to a public-private partnership agreement for healthcare facilities.*
- A joint venture between two major oil refineries in the Middle East on resolving substantial claims by three EPC contractors on a multi-billion-dollar project, addressing complex issues of concurrent delays, disruption claims and quality disputes in respect of downstream refinery output (quantum in dispute in excess of USD 300 million).*
- A middle-eastern government-owned SPV on oil and gas exploration disputes relating to its production sharing agreement and joint operating agreement with contractors and an African government.*
- A middle-eastern state in an investor-state ICSID arbitration, involving a complex construction dispute with a Turkish contractor over the construction of more than 100 schools, leading to claims of investment expropriation and denial of justice under public international law (dispute value approximately USD 231 million).*
- Kelvin Power in a ZAR 500 million UNCITRAL arbitration against the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality over historic water concession fees, involving complex issues of contract interpretation and prescription law. Additionally, advised on the renewal and repurposing of a power purchase agreement and the recovery of ZAR 136 million in outstanding fees for ash handling services.*
- On the enforcement of a multi-million US Dollar Stockholm seated arbitration award and a series of ancillary actions before multiple courts in several jurisdictions (including Sweden, United Kingdom, Georgia and Austria).*
- A mobile provider on a complex shareholding dispute in the telecommunications sector through a Nigerian seated arbitration, resulting in the dismissal of a USD 743 million claim.*
- An employer in a multi-faceted construction dispute involving breach of contract, delays, defective works, and professional negligence related to the construction of a high-value private residence (in excess of ZAR 100 million), pursued through arbitration and high court litigation.*
- Group Five Construction and Group Five Power International on several matters in South Africa and Ghana, including by successfully recognizing South African liquidation proceedings under the new Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring Act in Ghana and continued defense against significant sub-contractor claims resulting from the Kpone Combined Cycle Power Plant in Ghana.*
- H&I Construction in negotiating a contract with a joint venture for the construction and cold-commissioning of a high value Main Transmission Station for Eskom in respect of a 140MW wind energy facility.*
- Sky Fusion Global, an international dry bulk shipping and logistics operator, on various commercial arrangements, including several port handling and transportation contracts in respect of major wind farm projects in South Africa, and in resolving several related disputes with subcontractors.*
- A major telecommunications group in a high-profile legal dispute involving its subsidiary and a compensation claim, including advising on potential claims under relevant bilateral investment treaties and seeking to be admitted as amicus curiae.*
- Vodafone Group Plc in a high-profile legal dispute involving its South African subsidiary, Vodacom, and Mr Nkosana Makate over compensation for the “Please Call Me” service, including seeking to be admitted as amicus curiae in ongoing Constitutional Court proceedings.*
- Investec Bank on prospective winding-up proceedings against a company incorporated in Ghana, linked to certain high-net worth individuals.*
- Representing a major integrated producer of titanium chemicals in managing force majeure and delay event claims under a power purchase agreement with a major IPP for significant solar PV projects, involving complex structuring and mitigating risks related to construction delays and supply chain disruptions.*
Awards
- Legal 500 ranked Wihan as a Next Generation Partner for Construction in South Africa (2026) and prior, as a key lawyer in Dispute Resolution in South Africa (2024).
- Wihan was the winner of Delos’ EMEA Remote Oral Advocacy Programme in 2023, the recipient of the 2024 Africa Construction Law Rising Star award.
‘Acts on large-scale contentious construction matters’ and is ‘always available and ready to go the extra mile.’ – Legal 500,2024
AREA OF EXPERTISE
Qualifications
Education
- BCom (Law) with distinction, University of Pretoria.
- LLB with distinction, University of Pretoria.
- Advanced Post Graduate Certificate in Construction Contracts with distinction, University of Pretoria.
Professional Memberships
- Admitted as an Attorney, South Africa.
- Regional Editor for the ACL Blog, Southern African region, Africa Construction Law (2021 to date).
- Co-Chairperson, Young AFSA (est. 2023).
- Ambassador for the EMEA Cross-Examination Course 2024, Delos Dispute Resolution.
INSIGHTS
Overview
Wihan’s primary practice area is international arbitration, particularly within the built environment, with a special emphasis on private international arbitrations and with experience in investor-state disputes. He has extensive experience in handling multi-jurisdictional matters, both within Africa and globally. He has worked on several landmark cases involving enforcement of arbitration awards and investment treaty claims for sovereign clients and investors alike.
Wihan has a deep understanding of the African legal landscape and works closely with local counsel across the continent on domestic court proceedings and arbitrations under various rules and institutions. He is also active in the arbitration and construction communities and serves as the regional editor of the Africa Construction Law Blog for the Southern Africa region and a co-chairperson of Young AFSA.
Experience
* Indicates experience gained prior to joining Bowmans.
Wihan has advised:
- The Government of Lesotho in a high-value and complex arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules 2021, involving claims exceeding LSL 2.3 billion (approximately USD 120 million) related to a public-private partnership agreement for healthcare facilities.*
- A joint venture between two major oil refineries in the Middle East on resolving substantial claims by three EPC contractors on a multi-billion-dollar project, addressing complex issues of concurrent delays, disruption claims and quality disputes in respect of downstream refinery output (quantum in dispute in excess of USD 300 million).*
- A middle-eastern government-owned SPV on oil and gas exploration disputes relating to its production sharing agreement and joint operating agreement with contractors and an African government.*
- A middle-eastern state in an investor-state ICSID arbitration, involving a complex construction dispute with a Turkish contractor over the construction of more than 100 schools, leading to claims of investment expropriation and denial of justice under public international law (dispute value approximately USD 231 million).*
- Kelvin Power in a ZAR 500 million UNCITRAL arbitration against the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality over historic water concession fees, involving complex issues of contract interpretation and prescription law. Additionally, advised on the renewal and repurposing of a power purchase agreement and the recovery of ZAR 136 million in outstanding fees for ash handling services.*
- On the enforcement of a multi-million US Dollar Stockholm seated arbitration award and a series of ancillary actions before multiple courts in several jurisdictions (including Sweden, United Kingdom, Georgia and Austria).*
- A mobile provider on a complex shareholding dispute in the telecommunications sector through a Nigerian seated arbitration, resulting in the dismissal of a USD 743 million claim.*
- An employer in a multi-faceted construction dispute involving breach of contract, delays, defective works, and professional negligence related to the construction of a high-value private residence (in excess of ZAR 100 million), pursued through arbitration and high court litigation.*
- Group Five Construction and Group Five Power International on several matters in South Africa and Ghana, including by successfully recognizing South African liquidation proceedings under the new Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring Act in Ghana and continued defense against significant sub-contractor claims resulting from the Kpone Combined Cycle Power Plant in Ghana.*
- H&I Construction in negotiating a contract with a joint venture for the construction and cold-commissioning of a high value Main Transmission Station for Eskom in respect of a 140MW wind energy facility.*
- Sky Fusion Global, an international dry bulk shipping and logistics operator, on various commercial arrangements, including several port handling and transportation contracts in respect of major wind farm projects in South Africa, and in resolving several related disputes with subcontractors.*
- A major telecommunications group in a high-profile legal dispute involving its subsidiary and a compensation claim, including advising on potential claims under relevant bilateral investment treaties and seeking to be admitted as amicus curiae.*
- Vodafone Group Plc in a high-profile legal dispute involving its South African subsidiary, Vodacom, and Mr Nkosana Makate over compensation for the “Please Call Me” service, including seeking to be admitted as amicus curiae in ongoing Constitutional Court proceedings.*
- Investec Bank on prospective winding-up proceedings against a company incorporated in Ghana, linked to certain high-net worth individuals.*
- Representing a major integrated producer of titanium chemicals in managing force majeure and delay event claims under a power purchase agreement with a major IPP for significant solar PV projects, involving complex structuring and mitigating risks related to construction delays and supply chain disruptions.*
Awards
- Legal 500 ranked Wihan as a Next Generation Partner for Construction in South Africa (2026) and prior, as a key lawyer in Dispute Resolution in South Africa (2024).
- Wihan was the winner of Delos’ EMEA Remote Oral Advocacy Programme in 2023, the recipient of the 2024 Africa Construction Law Rising Star award.
‘Acts on large-scale contentious construction matters’ and is ‘always available and ready to go the extra mile.’ – Legal 500,2024
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