who we are
Leadership
Siphile Buthelezi. Director.
Mr. Siphile Buthelezi is the Head of Corporate and Commercial Law Division at Buthelezi Vilakazi Inc. He is a legal luminary with a distinguished career spanning over 15 years. He obtained his LLB degree with distinctions from the University of KwaZulu Natal, laying the foundation for a career marked by excellence.
He commenced his career as a candidate attorney at Knowles Husain Lindsay Inc. (KHL); he thereafter ceded his articles of clerkship to Bowman Gilfillan Inc. in 2008, culminating in his admission as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 2009.Siphile’s professional journey includes a significant chapter at Bowman Gilfillan, where he garnered extensive experience in banking and finance, corporate and commercial, construction and engineering, and private equity. His commitment to excellence led him to spend a transformative year in New York City, where he immersed himself in the legal landscape.
At Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, he contributed to the Credit and Capital Markets (Banking & Finance) Departments before being seconded to Morgan Stanley (Investment Banking). Upon his return to South Africa in 2011, Siphile continued his impactful career at Bowman Gilfillan, specializing in various facets of law, including syndication, project finance, acquisition finance, leveraged finance, structured finance, property finance, mineral and resource finance, and high-yield bond transactions. His expertise extends beyond transactions to the establishment of banks in South Africa.In the realm of commercial litigation, Siphile has showcased proficiency in handling contractual disputes, mineral and resource disputes, evictions, construction disputes, and property-related disputes. His comprehensive skill set positions him as a leading figure in the legal arena.
Amanda Vilakazi. Director.
Ms. Amanda Vilakazi is the Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution at Buthelezi Vilakazi Inc.; she is a legal virtuoso with a stellar record. She obtained her LLB degree from the University of Johannesburg and was admitted as an attorney on July 31, 2012. With over 12 years of post-admission experience, Amanda’s specialization lies in disputes and litigation.Amanda has represented various clients at the High Court, Magistrate Court, Labour Court, CCMA, various Bargaining Councils, AFSA, and other related forums.Amanda’s dedication to the legal fraternity extends to her role as a member of the National Council of Correctional Service, a Council that provides advisory insights to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Service on Policy and Legislative Development in the Department.Amanda has served on the Law Society of South Africa Criminal Law Committee since 2015, contributing to the review of national legislation and engaging with stakeholders in the legal fraternity to ensure that the rules, processes, and regulations are in terms of the constitution and generally acceptable common-law rights.
To further ensure that access to justice in the form of timely, independent, as per legal precedent, and consistent application of the rule of law is the guiding principle in dealing with criminal law. To ensure the ethos of this is imparted to all attorneys in this area of practice.
Furthermore, Amanda has served as a legal expert through the office of the DG, advising the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on COVID-19-related litigation (State of National Disaster Litigation) from June 2020 to February 2023.
Amanda is currently a member of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Dispute Resolution Chamber, appointed in July 2020, where her role involves presiding over disputes between member soccer clubs and players.
Amanda further serves as an adjudicator to the Gauteng Housing Disputes under the Department of Human Settlement; in this role, she presides over disputes on the determination of the rightful owner of state-funded houses.
Our Clients
