Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) has announced the appointment of Phetheni Nkuna, Director of Executive Management, as the firm’s Chief Operating Officer, effective 1 April 2026. In this role, she will oversee the firm’s operations across CDH’s offices in South Africa, Kenya, and Namibia, supporting the continued integration of its African operations. As an award-winning law firm on the continent, this appointment reinforces CDH’s strategic objective to drive innovation, transformation, and operational excellence amid a rapidly evolving legal landscape.

Phetheni holds LLB and LLM degrees, a Certificate in Advanced Labour Law, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS). She joined CDH in October 2020 as a Director in the Employment Law practice and was subsequently appointed Director of Executive Management in June 2023. In this role, she oversaw several operational portfolios and worked closely with CDH CEO Brent Williams in advancing the firm’s strategic agenda.

Phetheni’s appointment to the Executive Management Office marked an important step in broadening her contribution beyond legal practice at a comparatively early stage of her leadership journey. She embodies a forward-looking leadership mindset, one that not only drives performance and innovation, but is equally focused on laying the groundwork for the future by enabling emerging legal professionals to realise their potential. In doing so, she is helping to embed a culture where talent is equipped, supported, and empowered to succeed.

Since stepping into the role, Phetheni has become an increasingly central architect of the firm’s strategic direction, playing to the unique strengths that define CDH. She has played a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s operational strategy, advancing its people-first agenda, and driving client and business development priorities. In parallel, she has contributed significantly to client engagement and market intelligence, with a particular focus on innovation and the evolving legal landscape across Africa and globally.

Much like Phetheni’s own measured and forward-looking approach, CDH’s expansion across Africa reflects a broader strategic synergy, one that is systematic, thoughtful, and grounded in meaningful, long-term impact. Her progression mirrors the firm’s big-picture vision: carefully calibrated, people-centred, and aligned with evolving market realities, ensuring that growth is not only sustainable, but also deliberately positioned for the future and deeply integrated across jurisdictions and practice areas.

Phetheni’s appointment as COO represents a natural progression and reflects the leadership she already exercises across the firm. In her new role, she will continue to drive operational excellence, support both fee-earning and business services teams, and ensure that CDH’s people are equipped with the structures, skills, and resources needed to deliver outstanding work for clients – while laying a strong foundation for the firm’s continued growth. She will also work closely with the firm’s executive leadership to drive the implementation of CDH’s strategic priorities across its offices in South Africa, Kenya, and Namibia.

Beyond her operational leadership, Phetheni is deeply committed to advancing women in the workplace through mentorship and championing female wellness initiatives within the firm. The mentorship model she has helped shape at CDH plays a vital role in nurturing the next generation of legal talent, while reinforcing a culture of inclusivity and professional growth. She has also been instrumental in implementing initiatives such as maternity coaching and creating safe spaces that promote psychological safety across the organisation — demonstrating a leadership approach that is both empathetic and future-focused. These efforts reflect her vision for a sustainable and supportive workplace, while also advancing CDH’s wider contribution to the continent: equipping individuals with the skills, confidence, and support needed to thrive, and elevating the legal sector as a whole.

These initiatives reflect her vision for a sustainable and supportive workplace, while also advancing CDH’s wider contribution to the continent: equipping individuals with the skills, confidence, and support needed to thrive. In doing so, the firm plays a role in empowering Africa’s legal talent and elevating the legal sector as a whole.

According to Brent Williams, Chief Executive Officer of CDH, Phetheni brings a rare and powerful combination of leadership and operational insight to the role. “Phetheni has a deep and authentic understanding of what it means to practise law, combined with strong business, financial, and operational acumen. She has already demonstrated her ability to think strategically, lead decisively, and drive meaningful progress across the firm. I am confident that, in her role as COO, she will continue to play a critical part in advancing CDH’s strategic priorities across our offices in South Africa, Kenya and Namibia.”