Brent Botha, current head of disputes at Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa, said when he takes up the role of CEO on 1 October, as reported earlier this month in Law.com International, he will focus on his executive responsibilities and not try to be a practicing attorney at the same time.
“There is a legacy matter that I will keep working on, but the new work that comes in will be routed to the team that has been supporting me, and to the rest of the partners.”
When asked how he felt about no longer practicing he said, “While it is bitter-sweet to no longer run a full-time practice and be a fee earner, taking over as CEO is a singular honour that far outweighs any bitter-sweetness.
“I’m excited about the executive leadership and the changes I can bring about by being a fulltime CEO.”
He said former CEO Marelise van der Westhuizen was his line manager back when he was a candidate attorney and he learned many lessons from her about being a leader.
“She was bold, determined and decisive, but she was also a compassionate person. These are important traits, and if I can lead the business in a similar way I certainly will.”
Botha said he joined the firm’s management committee in September 2019, before the Covid-19 hard lockdown in March 2020.
“We all continued to work together with excellent collaboration, despite the period of certainty, and that’s another learning I want to take forward into my leadership.”
He then spoke of Andrew Robinson, who took over as CEO from van der Westhuizen when she retired before her five-year term ended, due to illness.
“I saw the stability Andrew brought to the business, both locally and globally, and I would like to continue that stable leadership as we continue to grow and implement whatever changes are needed.”
He agreed that the smooth transition from van der Westhuizen to Robinson was an indication of the firm’s succession strategy.
“It made perfect sense for Andrew to move from chair to CEO when Marelise retired, and we have a strong team of practice leaders who were there all the time. So the change was practically seamless.”
During the interview Botha hinted at the firm continuing on the acquisition path, from a lateral hiring perspective.
Commenting on Botha’s appointment, outgoing CEO Andrew Robinson said in an interview with Law.com International, “We needed someone much younger who could do the required five-year term.”
“In the 35 years I’ve been with the firm, all our CEOs have been disputes lawyers, all five members of Norton Rose’s global ExCom are disputes lawyers, and other leaders of South African law firms are also mostly disputes lawyers.”
Botha was unanimously elected and he has the credentials to take on the role. He has been a practice leader and sat on the local management committee and the management committee advisory board for several years.
He has also sat on the global executive committee for several years and worked closely with the disputes heads of the other regions. He added that Botha is the first person of colour to be CEO of Norton Rose South Africa.
Robinson said he will continue to give his support to Botha and the management committee as a whole.
He has the knowledge and experience to do this, as over the years he has been a team leader and a practice group leader, at one stage he ran the Cape Town office, he’s been both the local chairman and global chairman, and the CEO and he has sat on the global executive committee.
“So, I’m in an ideal position to provide support and pass on my knowledge, and I can build up my practice again, which focuses on marine insurance,” said Robinson.
Robinson became interim CEO in May 2022, and then continued as CEO, after Marelise van der Westhuizen could not complete her five-year term, which ends at the end of September, due to illness.
“I kept my practice going, because I knew when the term would end, and 1 October is the natural time to bring in a new CEO.
“When Marelise was CEO we worked together and supported each other and would always do what was best for the firm.”
This included ensuring the right policies were in place and the leadership works as a team, and the CEO, CFO, chairman and three practice heads all sit on the management committee and all have a voice.
“This leads to vigorous debates that can take many months to settle, and Brent has been part of this.”
