This Women’s Month, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr celebrates the remarkable women of its diverse team—experienced legal professionals who deliver specialist advice and services tailored to each client’s unique needs.

Vivien Chaplin 
Sector Head: Mining & Minerals

As a woman at the head of CDH’s Mining & Minerals sector and being a Director of its Corporate & Commercial practice, Chaplin is cautiously optimistic about transformation, in both the legal industry and mining industries. 
“We are witnessing an inspiring growth of women holding C-suite positions as well as an increase in female STEM professionals supporting the mining sector,” she says. This progress is not just a testament to the capabilities of women, but also to the numerous initiatives and programmes dedicated to promoting women's interests within the industry. These efforts have created a more inclusive environment, encouraging more women to pursue careers in mining and related fields.
The transformation in the representation of women in the South African mining industry is a beacon of hope and a call to action for continued support and empowerment. As she looks to the future, it is clear that the contributions of women will be pivotal in driving innovation and success within the sector.

Ilda dos Santos
Director: Corporate & Commercial practice and Oil & Gas Sector

When Dos Santos began her career, she was driven by a desire to make a meaningful contribution to society. Over two decades later, having worked across public interest law, Namibia’s State-owned energy sector, and now private practice, she remains deeply committed to helping organisations navigate complex challenges in a way that is legally sound, commercially viable and socially responsible.
One of her proudest achievements was earning a Master’s Degree in oil and gas law from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, which has supported her work in the Namibian and Angolan oil and gas markets. Her journey has required assertiveness, resilience, and a continuous willingness to learn. She quickly learned to stand her ground, prepare meticulously and lead with competence and composure. 

Denise Durand
Director: Dispute Resolution

After university, a mentor referred Durand to an internship opportunity at a mining company. What began as a short-term role evolved into a two-year stint managing mineral rights at a mining exploration and investment firm. While working as a mineral rights manager, she attended law school part-time in the evenings and completed half of the board exams. After qualifying as an attorney, Durand secured an associate role at CDH, where she has remained ever since. She never viewed any of these roles as temporary or transitional. Whether onsite with geologists in Phalaborwa or handling matters at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court, her mindset was always: “I’m here, let’s learn as much as possible.” Durand believes that this openness allowed her to grow deeply and laid a strong foundation. Today, as a director, it is remarkable to see how mining-related matters make up half of her legal practice—an interest that began during that internship.

Megan Rodgers
Director: Oil & Gas Sector Head

A fulfilling and fast-paced career in the M&A sector has enabled Rodgers to work with frontier energy companies, major and supermajor energy companies, as well as national oil companies and regulators with upstream mandates. She has worked with clients on M&A transactions and development projects in over 14 countries and across four continents. 
Moving South Africa towards a just energy transition is something she cares deeply about, and law has an important role to play in achieving this. It remains important that the African continent be allowed to pursue energy diversification in order to reduce dependence on any one source of energy, achieve energy security, create access to energy, and address energy poverty on the continent. Rodgers carries a deep sense of appreciation for her role, not only as an advocate for change, but also as a mentor to the next generation of women rising through its ranks.

Alecia Pienaar
Counsel: Environmental Law

Legal representative Pienaar was very intentional about pursuing a career in environmental law. When she joined CDH, she had the opportunity to work on remarkable projects across various sectors, including energy. She has seen an increased recognition of the impact of industries and their products, and the importance of managing this in a sustainable manner. 
Over time, her interest in energy projects continued to grow, ultimately leading her to step out of legal practice to work for a renewable energy company, an experience that proved invaluable. Pienaar returned to CDH with this knowledge and established a niche practice advising on the regulatory aspects of energy projects. As a woman in the legal field, she believes in drawing from and sharing her own experiences. “It is important not to create an illusion that success comes from ‘powering through’ all challenges without hardship, as that narrative can be isolating and unhelpful,” she says. 

Amore Carstens 
Senior Associate: Oil & Gas

Beginning her career in 2019 as a candidate attorney at CDH, Carstens found herself increasingly drawn to the complexity, scale and strategic significance of oil and gas projects. The technical depth and regulatory intricacies of the sector fascinated her, and she knew early on that this was a niche where she could build meaningful expertise. 
In a sector that is often male-dominated, Carstens has learned to be unapologetic about her place at the table. She has realised that preparation is power, and she aims to do her work well, and let that speak louder than assumptions or stereotypes. But resilience also grows through community. On difficult days, she focuses on purpose: why she chose this path and the impact she wants to make within it, and she draws strength from the women around her who model resilience and remind her that they are never alone. 

Zodwa Malinga
Associate: Construction & Engineering

As a goal-oriented person, once Malinga set her sights on being admitted as an attorney, she worked towards that with immense intentionality. Becoming part of this profession has been one of her greatest achievements. However, she would not have been able to pursue this path without the women who paved the way ahead of her. Malinga is so grateful to those who did not just take a seat at the table, but who made a concerted effort to make the table longer so that other women could also occupy these spaces. She believe that how we treat others marks our lives, and we should build lives that we are proud of. As a woman in law, she wants to treat other people well so that she can also leave a positive legacy for those who follow after her.

Tessa Brewis
Director: Finance Banking & Projects and Joint Sector Head, Projects & Energy

Corporate, commercial and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) lawyer Brewis specialises in the projects and energy sector with a particular focus on renewable energy projects. She was drawn to M&A because it requires creativity and constant learning, as no two transactions are identical. When South Africa launched the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, it created space for new practice areas to emerge, and Brewis was very interested in being part of that.
Working in the energy sector makes her feel that she is contributing to the just energy transition and the sustainability of the planet – something that is aligned with her personal values, and which gives her a sense of purpose in her work. 
Brewis feels strongly about the importance of mentorship and has always loved doing it. She hopes more women feel encouraged to explore emerging fields like renewable energy - where legal skills can align with meaningful change.

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