caveat legal panel attorney sarah lawrence
Corporate & Commercial Law, M&A, Transaction Support Services

Sarah Lawrence

Admitted 2010 – South Africa 

Sarah Lawrence is a corporate commercial lawyer with more than 15 years’ experience advising businesses on transaction work, commercial agreements and business-critical legal matters. Her work is focused on helping clients understand, structure and implement commercial transactions with clarity and appropriate legal protection. Previously at ENSafrica, Sarah brings strong large-firm experience and a practical understanding of the legal issues that arise when companies buy, sell, structure, lease, contract or negotiate. She is particularly well suited to clients who need clear transaction support, careful legal drafting and commercially grounded advice.

Years' Experience

15+ Years

Primary Practice

Corporate & Commercial Law, M&A, Transaction Support Services

Jurisdictions

South Africa

Previously At

ENSafrica

Expertise

Corporate Commercial & Transaction Specialist

Sarah advises on corporate commercial law, with a particular focus on transaction work. Her experience includes due diligence investigations, business and share acquisitions, commercial agreements, term sheets, shareholder agreements and corporate structuring.

She supports clients through the legal stages of a transaction – from early negotiation and term sheet development to due diligence, contract drafting, risk assessment and implementation. Her work is particularly valuable where clients need to understand both the legal position and the commercial consequences of a proposed deal.

Sarah’s approach is practical, structured and clear. She helps clients identify the issues that matter, understand the risks they are accepting, and put the right legal documents in place before decisions become difficult or expensive to unwind.

  • Corporate & Commercial Law
  • Transaction Advisory
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Due Diligence
  • Commercial Agreements
  • Shareholder Agreements
  • Commercial Leases
  • Legal Drafting

Selected Expertise

Selected Experience

Corporate Commercial · Transaction Advisory · South Africa
Advises clients on corporate commercial transactions, including the legal structuring, negotiation and implementation of business arrangements.
Corporate & Commercial Law · Transaction Advisory · South Africa
Due Diligence · Business & Share Acquisitions · South Africa
Advises on due diligence investigations and legal considerations involved in buying a business or shares, helping clients understand transaction risk before committing to a deal.
Due Diligence · Mergers & Acquisitions · Transaction Support · South Africa
Companies Act · Small to Medium Business Advisory · South Africa
Authors guidance on the Companies Act for small to medium businesses, including the practical advantages, disadvantages and compliance considerations relevant to business owners.
Corporate & Commercial Law · Companies Act · Small to Medium Business Advisory · South Africa
Commercial Contracts · Breach of Contract · South Africa
Authors guidance on commercial leases, supporting businesses in understanding the legal and commercial implications of lease arrangements.
Property Law · Commercial Law · Commercial Leases · South Africa
Term Sheets · Transaction Structuring · South Africa
Authors guidance on term sheets and early-stage transaction documents, helping clients understand how deal principles are recorded before full agreements are negotiated.
Transaction Advisory · Legal Drafting / Plain Language · Corporate & Commercial · South Africa

Education

Qualifications

LLB (Cum laude)
University of Cape Town
2007
BA Hons
University of Cape Town
2003
BA
Stellenbosch University
2000
Work with Sarah Lawrence

Available for ad hoc briefs, retainers, and secondments across South Africa and internationally.

Currently accepting new instructions

View full professional profile

Practice Areas
Corporate & Commercial Law, M&A, Transaction Support Services
Jurisdictions
South Africa
Languages
English

Related news & ARTICLES

Articles & Insights

The Regulator You Forgot About Is the One That Stops the Deal

Deal teams doing M&A in South Africa are generally well prepared for Competition Commission notification. It is the regulator everyone

The Paperwork Problem that becomes a Valuation Problem

Founders preparing for an exit tend to focus their attention on the parts of the business that feel substantive: revenue

What Kills a Deal in Due Diligence Has Usually Been Building for Years

Most founders who have been through a failed or heavily discounted transaction will tell you the same thing: the legal

Five Things That Kill a South African Business Sale at Due Diligence (That Were All Fixable Before the Buyer Arrived)

Most South African business owners who have been through a failed or heavily discounted sale process can point to the

The ‘Clean Run’ Framework: Stop Legal from Killing Deal Momentum at the Worst Possible Time

There are two moments in an investor’s calendar when legal can either accelerate everything or derail it completely: when you’re

The Portfolio Contract Hygiene Programme: Where Value Leaks Between the Headline Deals

Fund investors doing regular deals in South Africa and across the region spend significant time and capital on the transactions

The SA Deal Reality Check: What Separates Transactions That Close From Those That Don’t

South African deals don’t become difficult because valuations are ambitious or because the parties can’t agree on price. They become

The Pre-LOI Window: What to Fix Before Buyers Start Asking Questions

Most founders begin preparing for a sale at the wrong moment. The LOI is signed, the buyer’s advisors are engaged,

The Portfolio Legal Pack: How Funds Reduce Legal Firefighting Across Portfolio Companies

Investors doing regular deals in South Africa and across the region know the pattern: once the acquisition closes, the legal

The Clarity Premium: Why Some Founders Get Full Price and Others Don’t

Founders preparing for an exit tend to focus on the same thing: valuation. What the business is worth, what multiple

The Portfolio Legal Work Nobody Plans For – and How Smart Funds Make It Repeatable

Investors who do regular deals know something that first-time buyers learn the hard way: the legal work doesn’t stop at

The Deal Gets Discounted When Buyers Can’t See the Business Clearly

Founders often assume the exit process is about one thing: valuation. But buyers rarely discount because they dislike the product

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KAI is free for Caveat friends and clients. To use KAI, complete the form below and look out for the AI’s answer, reviewed by a specialist lawyer, in your inbox. For the most accurate and helpful response, be as specific and detailed as possible. Provide all relevant facts and clearly state what you’d like answered.

Disclaimer: Kai is provided by Caveat in a bona fide attempt to make legal services more accessible to you. Caveat will not be liable for any damage, loss or expense arising from the use of this offering. 

Feedback Welcome: Your experience matters to us. Please share feedback on this offering at info@caveatlegal.com to help us improve its efficacy.