Image of Wihan Meintjes

Wihan Meintjes

Senior Associate - Litigation

Email

wihan.meintjes@aoshearman.com

Phone

+27 10 597 9881

Offices

Johannesburg

V-CARD
Wihan's primary practice area is international arbitration, particularly within the built environment, with a special emphasis on private international arbitrations and investor-state disputes.

He has extensive experience in handling multi-jurisdictional matters, both within Africa and globally. He has worked on several landmark cases involving enforcement of arbitration awards and investment treaty claims for sovereign clients and investors alike.

Wihan has a deep understanding of the African legal landscape and works closely with local counsel across the continent on domestic court proceedings and arbitrations under various rules and institutions. He is also active in the arbitration and construction communities and serves as the regional editor of the Africa Construction Law Blog for the Southern Africa region and a co-chairperson of Young AFSA. Wihan was the winner of Delos' EMEA Remote Oral Advocacy Programme in 2023 and the recipient of the 2024 Africa Construction Law Rising Star award.

Expertise

Industries

Experience

Representative matters

  • The Government of Lesotho in a high-value and complex arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules 2021, involving claims exceeding M2.3 billion (approximately USD 120 million) related to a public-private partnership agreement for healthcare facilities.
  • The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in an investor-state ICSID arbitration, involving a construction dispute with a Turkish contractor over the construction of 111 schools, valued at approximately USD 231 million, under the Turkey-Saudi Arabia Bilateral Investment Treaty.
  • On the enforcement of a multi-million US Dollar Stockholm seated arbitration award, and a series of ancillary actions before multiple courts (including Sweden, United Kingdom, Georgia and Austria).

Speaking Engagements

  • Panellist, Harmonisation and diversity of legal frameworks and standards in construction law and disputes resolution in Africa, Africa Construction Law Conference, June 2023.
  • Moderator, Challenges and Strategies for Enforcing Awards in and Against African States and State Owned Entities, Johannesburg Arbitration Week, April 2024.
  • WABER SuBDE Joint International Conference panel discussion "Managing Risks and Disputes in South African Renewable Energy Projects", August 2024.
  • Guest lecture, 3rd-year BSc, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Department of Construction Economics and Management, University of Cape Town, October 2024.

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Regional Editor for the ACL Blog, Southern African region, Africa Construction Law (2021 to date)
  • Co-Chairperson, Young AFSA (est. 2023)
  • Ambassador for the EMEA Cross-Examination Course 2024, Delos Dispute Resolution

Recognition

“Wihan Meintjes acts on large-scale contentious construction matters” and is “always available and ready to go the extra mile”
Legal 500, 2024

Awards

  • Winner: Delos' EMEA Remote Oral Advocacy Programme in 2023
  • Recipient of the 2024 Africa Construction Law Rising Star award
  • In March 2024, Legal 500 recognized Wihan as a "key lawyer" within both the construction and dispute resolution departments at A&O Shearman, Johannesburg

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as an Attorney, South Africa, 2018

Academic

BCom (Law) with distinction, University of Pretoria. 2013

LLB with distinction, University of Pretoria, 2015

Advanced Post Graduate Certificate in Construction Contracts with distinction, University of Pretoria, 2018

Languages

English, Afrikaans
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.