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Lesley Morphet, Partner | Competition, Marketing & Foreign Investment

Lesley Morphet

Partner Fasken
Jurisdiction South Africa, 1986
Language(s) English
Office(s) Johannesburg
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Overview

Lesley Morphet is a leading competition lawyer in South Africa and partner in the South African Competition Law practice. She advises on all aspects of competition law, including merger notifications, leniency applications, exemption applications, managing dawn raids and compliance. She has been involved in many complex merger filings as well as prohibited practice investigations, including in relation to cartel cases in the cement, tyre, automotive and banking industries, amongst others. 

Drawing on her extensive experience in this field, as well as her knowledge of the competition laws of many African countries, clients rely on Lesley’s specialised knowledge and expertise including in relation to multi-jurisdictional merger notifications in South Africa and across the African continent. She has successfully navigated highly complex and technical competition law matters across multiple African jurisdictions for international clients.

Her extensive experience spans across a range of sectors, including mining, forestry and agro-processing, manufacturing, power and electricity, healthcare, media, liquid fuels, aviation, banking, insurance, and information technology.

Lesley has been recommended in Chambers Global, IFLR1000, Legal 500, and The International Who’s Who for competition law and antitrust.

Clients describe Lesley as “dedicated and accessible” as well as “eager to assist and knowledgeable”. In addition she is praised for “her advice is always sound. She has a good working knowledge of our company and we’ve always found her very reliable, both in terms or the advice she gives, and also in her ability to turn things around quickly and be available when needed”.

She is on the editorial board of the IBA publication Competition Law International, as well as being the South African contributing editor to the Australian Journal of Competition and Consumer Law (AJCCL) since 2013.

Achievements

  • Recognised nationwide in South Africa in Competition/Antitrust., Chambers Global 2026
  • Recognized nationwide as a Leading Partner in Competition., 3/26/2026
  • Best Lawyers, Best Lawyers 2022 to 2025
  • Recognised nationwide in South Africa in Competition/Antitrust., Chambers Global 2025
  • Recognized in the 2025 edition of Legal 500 Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in Competition., Legal 500 2025
  • Recognised nationwide as leading individual in Competition., The Legal 500 Europe Middle East and Africa 2024
  • Recognised nationwide in South Africa in Competition/Antitrust, Chambers Global 2024
  • Chambers and Partners, Chambers & Partners 2021 to 2023
  • Global Competition Review, Global Competition Review GCR 100 2021
  • Chambers Global, Chambers Global 2010 to 2020
Global Competition Review Publication name with laurels Global Competition Review GCR 100 Global Competition Review 1 Oct 2021 - Recognised as a “Women in Antitrust 2021” by Global Competition Review. The publication celebrates more than 130 female private practitioners, enforcers, in-house counsel, economists and academics who deserve recognition for their standout careers.

Experience

  • Advised IBM in obtaining merger clearance in South Africa for the global acquisition by IBM of Red Hat., [Deal - IBM], Advised IBM in obtaining merger clearance in South Africa for the global acquisition by IBM of Red Hat.
  • Advised Bayer on its acquisition of Monsanto, a complex cross-border transaction, including attending to merger notifications in several African jurisdictions, as well as in relation to follow-on issues., [Deal - Bayer Inc.], Advised Bayer on its acquisition of Monsanto, a complex cross-border transaction, including attending to merger notifications in several African jurisdictions, as well as in relation to follow-on issues.
  • Assisted Ford and Mahindra & Mahindra to obtain merger clearance in South Africa and COMESA in relation to their joint venture in India., [Deal - Ford and Mahindra & Mahindra], Assisted Ford and Mahindra & Mahindra to obtain merger clearance in South Africa and COMESA in relation to their joint venture in India.
  • Acted for Italtile in its acquisition of control of Ceramic Industries; obtaining Competition Tribunal clearance pursuant to prohibition by the Competition Commission., [Deal - Italtile], Acted for Italtile in its acquisition of control of Ceramic Industries; obtaining Competition Tribunal clearance pursuant to prohibition by the Competition Commission.
  • Attended to the merger notification of Acino International AG’s acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Litha Healthcare Group Pty Limited., [Deal - Acino International], Attended to the merger notification of Acino International AG’s acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Litha Healthcare Group Pty Limited.
  • Assisted JC Decaux in obtaining merger clearance in seven African jurisdictions in relation to its acquisition of Continental Outdoor Media., [Deal - JC Decaux], Assisted JC Decaux in obtaining merger clearance in seven African jurisdictions in relation to its acquisition of Continental Outdoor Media.
  • Advising various companies in relation to allegations of cartel conduct., [Deal - Various], Advising various companies in relation to allegations of cartel conduct.

Career & Education

Education

  • BA, LLB University of Cape Town

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Member American Bar Association
  • Member Legal Practice Council of South Africa 1986
  • Member South African Association of Competition Law Practitioners

Knowledge

  • When can you notify multiple transactions in a single merger filing to the South African Competition Commission?, 11/20/2024
  • The Commission’s Approach to ESOPs in Mergers, 10/17/2024
  • Tendering with an Empowerment Partner? Be Wary of the Collusion Risk, 12/17/2021
  • Burger King merger prohibition highlights Competition Commission’s increased focus on public interest objectives, 6/9/2021
  • South African Competition Commission Draft Small Merger Regulations – Digital Markets in the Spotlight, 5/18/2021

News

  • Seventeen Fasken Lawyers Recognized in the 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers in South Africa, 11/11/2021
  • GlobalCompetitionReview.com mentions Lesley Morphet in an article on joining the firm, 12/16/2020
  • Fasken Welcomes Lesley Morphet to the Competition Law Group in South Africa, 12/8/2020

Publications

  • Tendering - what you need to know to avoid collusion, 3/2/2022
  • Report from Africa: Competition Law and Public Interest – Imperatives in Africa, and South Africa in particular, Australian Journal of Competition and Consumer Law (AJCCL)
  • Report from Africa - Competition Law Developments in Africa, Australian Journal of Competition and Consumer Law: Vol 28 Pt 3
  • Report from Africa - South Africa – Enhanced Focus on Market Inquiries, Australian Journal of Competition and Consumer Law: Vol 26 Pt 2
  • Report from Africa - South Africa – Collusion in the South African construction industry, Australian Journal of Competition and Consumer Law Update
  • Report from Africa - South Africa – COMESA: A new regional competition regime, Australian Journal of Competition and Consumer Law Update
  • Report from Africa – Sea change for suppliers, Australian Journal of Competition and Consumer Law Update
  • Heal the World, Competition Law and Public Interest Issues, Competition law Conference
  • Report from Africa - South Africa – Competition Law Developments Across Africa: Enhanced Focus on Areas Other Than Mergers, Australian Journal of Competition and Consumer Law: Vol 25 Pt 1
  • South Africa: South African Competition Law And Public Interest
Report, Author Report from Africa: Competition Law and Public Interest – Imperatives in Africa, and South Africa in particular Australian Journal of Competition and Consumer Law (AJCCL)
Report, Author Report from Africa - Competition Law Developments in Africa Australian Journal of Competition and Consumer Law: Vol 28 Pt 3

Speaking Engagements

  • Exploring Market Inquiries Studies, 6/20/2024
  • From North To South - Competition Law & Public Interest Aspects To Consider When Doing Business, 7/14/2021
  • International Forum on Antitrust Regulation, 1/19/2020
  • Due process in competition proceedings: evolving standards, 12/31/2019
  • Global Antitrust Enforcement Symposium Panellist, 9/17/2017
Panel Speaker Exploring Market Inquiries Studies FSACCI Webinar
Panel Speaker From North To South - Competition Law & Public Interest Aspects To Consider When Doing Business South African Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Participant International Forum on Antitrust Regulation Cambridge Forums