ISMAIL CV | LBI Consulting

Hello,

My name is Ismail Laher. In summary, I was a partner at a global law firm and practised as a mergers and acquisitions lawyer for 12 years. In addition to my general mergers and acquisitions practice, I also started and led the BEE practice, provided structuring and management advice, had a trust law practice, advised on various renewable energy projects, and had a team of people reporting to me.

Outside of my legal practice, I was on the supervisory board (the elected board of the law firm), was a member of the recruitment committee of the firm, and was a member of the internal professional development committee.

In my spare time, I also provided training through various pro bono initiatives to assist and train small and start-up businesses as part of various business incubation programmes. I left the practice of law in October 2018 and now run a private equity fund for RMB Corvest (www.npicapitalpartners.co.za) as well as my own consultancy business, which provides commercial advice around mergers and acquisition, corporate governance, BEE, and trusts, whilst also advising on the management of businesses. I hold a non-executive position in a business, where I assist with management on an ongoing basis.

I believe that my experience in establishing and providing guidance on corporate governance and management structures, alongside my role in a private equity fund analysing financial models, whilst also running my own consulting business, all provides me with the ideal expertise to provide you with commercial, insightful, and strategic consulting advice, or to act in the role of an independent non-executive or trustee.

Please contact me on +27 (0)79 516 0175 or at ismail@laherbrown.com if you want to set up a discussion.

Ismail Laher

Download Ismail's CV

Nov 2019—Present

LBI Consulting

Founder & Director

Work experience

I provide consulting services relating to mergers and acquisitions, as well as complex corporate structures, trusts, corporate governance, and BEE, with these being the areas I specialised in during my legal career.

Management experience

I am required to run all aspects of my consulting business, to ensure that I analyse and manage cash flows and that the business remains profitable.

Nov 2018—Present

NPI Capital Partners

Managing Director

Work experience

NPI Capital Partners is a private equity fund manager representing and managing NPI Private Equity

As the managing director, I source investments, analyse the potential investments and then negotiate the transactions, including the transaction agreements. I also engage with the management in potential investments on an ongoing basis.

Management experience

I am the managing director of NPI Capital Partners which requires me to oversee all aspects of the business. I am also on the board and an investment committee member of NPI Private Equity.

Mar 2018—Oct 2018

CapitalN

Executive Director

Work experience

CapitalN, was an alternate business initiative of Norton Rose Fulbright, which focused on a non-traditional approach to legal services.

I had two overlapping jobs in the group at this time. In addition to my full-time position at Norton Rose Fulbright and the management activities that I undertook there, I also held a separate full-time position relating to the development of alternative businesses and revenue streams in a subsidiary of Norton Rose Fulbright.

Management experience

I was one of two executive directors on the CapitalN board when I joined the business, whilst I was also responsible for overseeing the staff, financials, and business of CapitalN, while the other executive director assisted and provided input when necessary.

Mar 2019—Present

Schindlers attorneys & conveyancers

Non-executive Partner

Work experience

Schindlers Attorneys is a dynamic, multi-disciplinary law firm offering a full range of legal services to both corporate and individual clients in South Africa and around the world.

I am a non-executive partner of Schindlers Conveyancing, assisting with the management of people and the business whilst the executive team manages the day-to-day operations and legal services.

Management experience

My role is specifically related to non-executive management of this business.

Jan 2007—Oct 2018

Norton Rose Fulbright, South Africa

Partner

Work experience

Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa is a global law firm and the third largest law firm in the world. I commenced my articles at Norton Rose Fulbright (then Deneys Reitz) in 2007. I was appointed as a director in the Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions team from 2013, and left at the end of 2018, ten years post-articles.

In addition to having a general corporate, mergers and acquisitions practice, I started and led the BEE practice at Norton Rose Fulbright. Developing this practice included undertaking innovative business development activities which resulted in, amongst other successes, the BEE practice page being the most and longest-viewed page globally on the Norton Rose Fulbright website in over 39 countries.

Management experience

2015 – 2018: I was on the supervisory board of Norton Rose Fulbright from 2015. The supervisory board is the elected body of directors at Norton Rose Fulbright, responsible for the overall and strategic management and directorship of the business.

2018: I also participated as a board member and employee in the subsidiary business of Norton Rose Fulbright, which sought to develop new business streams outside of legal practice.

2016 – 2017: I travelled to and worked in the Cape Town office regularly and assisted with the management of the candidate attorneys and associates, as well as managing one of the associates in the Durban office as part of my team.

2010 – 2018: I was a member of the recruitment committee of Norton Rose Fulbright and a member of the internal professional development recruitment committee. I was the first and only associate to have served on either committee (these management responsibilities are usually reserved for directors of the business).

2010 – 2018: As a director, I had two senior associates (one became a partner in 2019 and the other in 2020) and one junior associate reporting directly to me. The 2019 partner was consistently in the top two performers of all associates at Norton Rose Fulbright. The 2020 partner was fast-tracked to senior associate after one year as an associate.

1999—2006

Rhodes University

Work experience

Prior to commencing articles, I lectured the employment law module of the Commercial Law 1 course at Rhodes University whilst completing my LLM in 2006. In addition, I worked as a graduate assistant for commercial law in 2006 and tutored commercial law in 2006. I worked as the sub-warden for my residence in 2003.

Management experience

As a sub-warden, lecturer, tutor, and graduate assistant, I was responsible for managing people in my residence and students whilst still being a student myself.

1999—2006

Work experience

Management experience

As a sub-warden, lecturer, tutor, and graduate assistant, I was responsible for managing people in my residence and students whilst still being a student myself.

1999—2006

Various service industries, would you like chips or salad with that?

I have had a number of jobs in the service industry during my later years of schooling and throughout university.

Qualifications

Accredited Empowerment Technician

EmpowerDex, 2012

LLM

Rhodes University, 2006

Two year degree completed in one year. Thesis available on request: “A Critical analysis of the Employment Equity Act, 1998”. Certificate available

LLB

Rhodes University, 2005

Bachelor of Arts

Rhodes University, 2003

National Senior Certificate (Matric)

Westville Boys’ High School, 2000

Public Speaking, Presentations & Training

I spend a lot of time training on BEE, corporate governance and commercial matters, having presented at various events and so have the ability to provide training services as part of any role, including:

Chambers of Commerce (including the German Chamber of Commerce).

Law firms and other service providers

Law societies

Industry association events (including the Italian ANIMP event).

Universities

Business incubation and training courses (including through various training programmes

Internal client functions and for specific clients.

I have also lectured at university and been interviewed on television (including the Bruce Whitfield show) and radio multiple times (including Kaya FM).

Publications

I have various corporate law and BEE publications and set out a selection below:

International Comparative Legal Guide to: Corporate Governance South Africa chapter 2015

Private mergers and acquisitions in South Africa

BEE summary

2017 Mining Charter