Cranko Karp and Associates Inc. is a South African corporate and commercial law firm situated in Saxonwold, Johannesburg. The firm was founded in 1911 and features an extensive and illustrious history as one of the preeminent law firms in the country.
Our esteemed clients include listed companies, small, medium and large enterprises, high-net-worth individuals, and prominent business and sports personalities.
The firm deals with all aspects of corporate and commercial law, including mergers and acquisitions, formation and registration of all kinds of business entities, incentive schemes, share participation trusts, employee contracts, leases, sales and leasebacks, stock exchange listings, joint ventures, partnership, syndicates, corporate finance, project finance, and commercial property development.
Our Property Law Department facilitates all aspects thereof, from the drafting of sale agreements all the way through to the registration of property transfers, mortgage, and notarial bonds, and bond cancellations. The firm is on the attorney panels of several of the largest banks and finance houses operating in Southern Africa.
With a reputation built on more than 100 years of experience, Cranko Karp is strategically positioned to provide due diligence and counsel prior to, during and subsequent to the purchase of resources. Cranko Karp has structured a number of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) transactions in South Africa through specialised application of the South African Mining Charter.
Cranko Karp has developed extensive experience in South Africa’s diamond and precious metals regulatory framework. The firm has at one stage or another been engaged by most of the South African De Beers sightholders and many of the foreign sightholders. Our knowledge has enabled us to offer specific legal services or comprehensive turnkey services for the formation of diamond producing, manufacturing and trading entities in Southern Africa.
Cranko Karp facilitates dispute resolution from High Court litigation, to Mediation and Arbitration before the Arbitration Foundation of South Africa. We have also represented clients in dispute forums overseas. Most of the disputes concern commercial matters however we are in a unique position in that we regularly represent parties in proceedings brought before The Beth Din, that is the Jewish Ecclesiastical court.
This department is primarily responsible for the administration of deceased estates and estate planning, including the drafting of wills and the appointment of curators. These services include the drafting, formation, and registration of various trusts with the Master of the High Court: Family trusts, Will trusts, Employee share incentive trusts, Charitable trusts, and Educational trusts.
Due to the firm’s extensive involvement in Mining Law, we have acquired vast experience in Exchange Control and the making of various applications to the Reserve Bank. Michael Karp represented the South African Reserve Bank at the CBI conference in London where he delivered a paper on various aspects of Exchange Control in South Africa.