GraemeWickins is a Director and has been practicing Competition Law at Werksmans since 2009. He specialises in providing competition law legal opinions and advice as well as obtaining merger approvals from competition authorities in South Africa and throughout Africa including, but not limited to, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and with supranational African competition authorities including CEMAC and COMESA. In addition, Graeme represents firms implicated in anti-competitive conduct, assists clients in formulating complaints against firms engaging in anti-competitive conduct and provides competition law advice relating to anti-competitive conduct, including but not limited to, price-fixing, market division, collusive tendering, minimum resale price maintenance and abuses of dominance. Furthermore, Graeme conducts specialised competition compliance audits, provides focused competition law training including workshops or face to face training and develops competition law compliance and training programmes, such as search and seizure (dawn raid) guidelines and “mock” dawn raid simulations.
Years of Experience: 14 years
Competition
Obtaining of approval for mergers and takeovers from the competition authorities in South Africa and throughout Africa including Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and with supranational African competition authorities including CEMAC and COMESA.
Providing competition law advice in regard to alleged anti-competitive conduct such as cartels, minimum resale price maintenance and abuses of dominance.
Conducting specialised competition compliance audits and providing focused competition law training including workshops and face to face training.
Developing compliance programmes, including search and seizure (dawn raid) guidelines and "mock" dawn raid simulations.
Advised Ascendis Pharma Proprietary Limited, Alliance Pharma Proprietary Limited, Pharmachem Pharmaceuticals Proprietary Limited and Medicine Developers International Proprietary Limited in seeking merger approval from the COMESA Competition Commission arising from the acquisition of their businesses by Pharma-Q Holdings Proprietary Limited and Imperial Logistics Limited
Advised Pepkor Holdings Limited in its disposal of its 100% equity stake in The Building Company Proprietary Limited (TBCo) to Capitalworks Private Equity and selected members of TBCo management for a purchase price of R1,2 billion.
Represented Distell Group Limited when participating in the Fair Competition Commission of Tanzania's proceedings relating to
Represented CIH Projects No. 41 Proprietary Limited, Conlog Meter Solutions Nigeria Limited and CIG Metering Assets Nigeria Limited in obtaining merger approval from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in Nigeria
Represented Group Five Construction Proprietary Limited in its disposal of Intertoll Zimbabwe Proprietary Limited to Mabentu Trade and Consulting Proprietary Limited in Zimbabwe
Represented SMSA Africa Logistics Group Proprietary Limited and Gentex Associates in obtaining merger approval from Competition Authorities in Namibia and Botswana
Represented IQVIA Solutions Proprietary Limited in applying for exclusion from notification to the Competition Authority of Kenya arising from its acquisition of Medpages International Proprietary Limited
Represented Shoprite Checkers Proprietary Limited in its acquisition of the President Hyper trademarks
Represented Heriot Properties Proprietary Limited in its acquisition of shares in Safari Investments (RSA) Limited in South Africa and Namibia
Represented PriceCheck Proprietary Limited in its participation in the Competition Commission's Online Intermediation Platform Markets Inquiry
Represented Cape Fruit Processors Proprietary Limited in defending allegations of cartel conduct by the Competition Commission
Represented Distell Group Limited when participating in the Fair Competition Commission of Tanzania's proceedings relating to Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's proposed acquisition of Tanzania Distilleries Limited
Represented Kentz Corporation Limited in respect of its acquisition by SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. which required approval from the COMESA Competition Commission
Represented ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited in its acquisition of the Thabazimbi Mine
Formed part of the legal team that advised Distell Group Limited when participating in the South African Competition Tribunal proceedings relating to Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's acquisition of SABMiller plc.
Formed part of the legal team that advised Computicket Proprietary Limited in its investigation by the Competition Commission about Computicket's alleged abuse of dominance.
Formed part of the legal team that advised Telkom SA (SOC) Limited in respect of its intervention in the proposed merger between Vodacom Proprietary Limited and Neotel Proprietary Limited
Formed part of the legal team that advised Telkom SA (SOC) Limited in respect of the Competition Commissions investigation and referral to the Competition Tribunal of alleged abuses of dominance
Formed part of the legal team that advised Mondelēz International Inc and D.E. Master Blenders 1753 B.V. on the establishment of an international joint venture in regard to their respective coffee businesses
Formed part of the legal team that advised Litha Pharma Proprietary Limited and Endo International plc in relation to regulatory matters with regard to the Competition Act
Formed part of the legal team that advised Shoprite Holdings Limited on various competition law related matters
Formed part of the legal team that represented Engen Petroleum Limited in several competition law related matters
Formed part of the legal team that provided competition law advice to Eli Lilly Nederland B.V. in respect of its acquisition of Lohmann SE
Formed part of the legal team that provided competition law advice to Edcon Limited and Accenture (South Africa) Proprietary Limited on the establishment of a joint venture in regard to consumer credit and collection services
Formed part of the legal team that advised Zimco Metals Proprietary Limited in respect of its application to amend merger conditions
Formed part of the legal team that advised Glencore International plc in respect of its acquisition of Viterra Inc.
Formed part of the legal team that advised Glencore International plc in respect of its acquisition of Xstrata plc
Formed part of the legal team that advised MWEB business in respect of its acquisition by Dimension Data Proprietary Limited and the formation of the joint venture company, Vast Networks Proprietary Limited
Admitted as an Attorney, 2010
Competition Law Certificate Course, University of the Witwatersrand, 2010
LLB, University of Johannesburg, 2007
BCom, University of Johannesburg, 2005
Winner of the Law Society of the Northern Provinces Annual Competition Law Writing Competition. Title of the piece submitted "The Transfer of Competition Law Liability when buying shares or a business" - researched and written by Graeme Wickins (October 2014)
Johannesburg 
+27 11 535 8279 
+27 11 535 8579 
