Lionel van Tonder and his team of experts, Inge Swanepoel, Danniel Kruger, and Aaqilah Zahra Nagdee join Webber Wentzel's Dispute Resolution Practice, to grow its business crimes offering and expertise.

This team will establish, build, and consolidate Webber Wentzel's business crimes expertise, as well as package and market the offering to its clients. As a partner, Lionel will play a pivotal role in advising clients on risk mitigation strategies, conducting internal investigations, and navigating the intricate legal landscape surrounding business crimes.

Lionel has extensive experience in financial crime and compliance, forensic data and analytics, fraud risk management, digital forensics and eDiscovery, investigations, training and awareness.He also has extensive litigation and prosecution experience and has been involved in various high-profile matters allowing him to bring a global perspective to a broad client base. Prior to joining Webber Wentzel, Lionel was at PwC for 25 years in its Forensic Services Department. Lionel also spent three years in Germany as a partner in PwC's Forensic Services Practice where he led multi-national teams performing forensic investigations spread over multiple territories. Lionel also worked for the Department of Justice as a Public Prosecutor, acting Magistrate, State Advocate and Senior State Advocate for 10 years. In addition, Lionel has also served in the Office for Serious Economic Offences as a Senior State Advocate where he investigated economic crime.

Inge assumes the role of consultant and has experience in forensic-based investigations, enhanced due diligence, and third-party compliance reviews in both public and private sectors. Danniel, the Senior Forensics Manager specialises in forensic investigations and data analytics, with experience in fraud prevention and detection activities, integrity due diligence, and the curatorship of pension funds. Aaqilah, a senior associate in the team is a forensic professional with over 10 years of diversified experience in South Africa and the Middle East.

Webber Wentzel's experts are known in the market for helping clients navigate the law and manage the risks through all stages of business crimes-related matters and these appointments demonstrate the firm's ongoing commitment to providing top-tier legal services.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lionel, Inge, Danniel and Aaqilah to our team. Their wealth of knowledge and expertise will be valuable assets to our clients as they navigate the complex legal landscape of business crimes" – Christo Els, Webber Wentzel Senior Partner and Chair.