Commercial contracts and transactions, structured to execute
We draft, negotiate and implement the commercial agreements that move a business - built to be clear, enforceable and commercially balanced, not just legally safe.
Most commercial disputes are written into the contract long before they surface. JW van Zyl Inc advises businesses, investors and non-profit organisations in Cape Town and across Africa on the agreements that underpin day-to-day trade and one-off strategic transactions - focusing on the terms that actually determine who carries risk, who gets paid, and what happens when something goes wrong.
What we advise on
- Supply, distribution, agency and reseller agreements
- Joint ventures, consortium and shareholder arrangements
- Strategic partnership and collaboration agreements
- Services, SaaS, licensing and IP commercialisation contracts
- Cross-border and multi-jurisdictional commercial transactions
- Terms of business, framework agreements and standard contracting templates
How we work
You deal directly with the senior lawyer on your matter, from first call to signature. We map the commercial objective first, then draft to it - flagging the two or three clauses that carry real exposure rather than burying you in mark-up. Where a transaction needs specialist tax, competition or foreign-law input, we coordinate it through trusted practitioners so you keep a single point of accountability.
Senior drafting, without the big-firm bill
A generic template is cheap until the clause you needed is missing; a large firm is thorough until you see the invoice. We sit between the two - bespoke, enforceable agreements drafted by a senior lawyer, priced for a business that needs the contract to work rather than to impress.
Common questions
Do you draft new contracts or only review existing ones?
Both. We draft bespoke agreements from a commercial brief, review and redline counterparties' drafts, and build reusable contracting templates so your team can transact consistently without returning to us for every deal.
Can you handle cross-border agreements across Africa?
Yes. Our practice is Africa-focused. For governing law or enforcement issues in other jurisdictions we coordinate local counsel while remaining your primary adviser on structure and risk.
Can't I just use a standard template?
A template is a fine starting point for low-value, low-risk arrangements. For anything where money, intellectual property, exclusivity or liability is at stake, a template usually misses the terms that decide a dispute. We can also build you a sound template set so routine deals do not need a lawyer each time.
Have a contract or transaction to structure?
Tell us what you are trying to achieve commercially and we will advise on the cleanest way to get there.
Start a conversationinfo@jwvanzylinc.com · WhatsApp +27 60 600 0274 · Cape Town