By: Lonwabo Mtyeku | Photo Credit: Supplied
Pretoria, 26 February 2026 — Leading African law firm Adams & Adams has announced a newly elected leadership team, ushering in a refreshed management structure aimed at strengthening strategic oversight while preserving institutional continuity.
The transition follows a governance review championed by outgoing chairperson Kelly Thompson, culminating in the appointment of dispute resolution partner Jac Marais as chairperson for a four-year term effective 1 March 2026.
Jac Marais Takes the Helm
Marais assumes leadership of the 118-year-old firm with extensive management experience, having served on its management committee for the past six years. Under his stewardship of the commercial, property and litigation business unit, the firm — long recognised as Africa’s pre-eminent intellectual property practice — broadened its footprint into litigation, real estate, corporate and commercial law, administrative and regulatory matters, competition law, constitutional litigation and insurance law.
His appointment signals both stability and strategic evolution.
“It is a privilege to lead Adams & Adams, a trusted name in the African commercial landscape for 118 years. I thank Kelly for her exemplary leadership and our partners for their steadfast support. With exceptional talent across the firm and an enthusiasm for embracing innovation, we are well positioned to deliver on our core value of service excellence. I look forward to this next chapter,” Marais said.
A New Governance Layer: The Partnership Council
As part of the structural refresh, Thompson will continue practising in the firm’s trade mark litigation department while assuming leadership of a newly established Partnership Council — an advisory body to the management committee.
The Council’s creation introduces an additional layer of strategic consultation and partner engagement. Elected members joining Thompson on the Council include Joseph Goedhals, Grégor Wolter and Janice Galvad.
The model is designed to enhance institutional governance, promote partner alignment, and provide long-term strategic guidance in an increasingly competitive and technology-driven legal services environment.
Continuity in the Management Committee
The incoming management committee remains largely intact, reinforcing continuity in operational oversight. Partners Danie Dohmen, Nishan Singh, Steven Yeates, Godfrey Budeli and Vishen Pillay will continue in their respective roles, alongside Chief Operating Officer Stuart Boyd.
Dispute resolution partner Thando Manentsa joins the management committee, succeeding Marais as head of the business unit — ensuring leadership depth within the firm’s litigation and commercial practice.
Strategic Positioning in a Changing Legal Market
The leadership transition comes at a time when African law firms are navigating increased cross-border transactions, regulatory complexity, digital transformation and intensifying competition from international firms entering the continent.
With a presence spanning intellectual property, commercial law and dispute resolution, Adams & Adams remains a central player in Africa’s legal and business landscape.
The refreshed structure appears calibrated to balance heritage with innovation — preserving a legacy built over more than a century while positioning the firm for sustained regional growth.
As Marais prepares to assume the chair on 1 March, the firm enters a new chapter grounded in governance reform, strategic continuity and an explicit commitment to service excellence.
