Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, one of Africa’s largest and most influential law firms, has appointed Phetheni Nkuna as its new Chief Operating Officer effective April 1, 2026. The move is being seen as one of the most important women leadership appointments in Africa this week, especially in an industry where senior executive positions are still largely dominated by men.
Nkuna will now oversee operations across CDH’s offices in South Africa, Kenya, and Namibia, placing her at the centre of the firm’s next phase of growth, integration, and transformation. This makes her one of the most senior women in African legal leadership today. Her appointment comes at a time when law firms across the world are facing pressure to modernise their businesses, improve efficiency, expand into new markets, and adapt to changing client expectations.
Women are increasingly moving into executive positions that directly influence business strategy, operations, growth, and long-term decision-making. Nkuna’s appointment reflects a wider shift happening across industries where women are no longer only being recognised for specialist expertise, but are increasingly being trusted with major leadership responsibilities.
A Major Leadership Move for CDH
CDH is widely considered one of South Africa’s “Big Five” law firms, with more than 350 lawyers and a history that stretches back over 168 years. As the firm continues to strengthen its presence across Africa, Nkuna’s new role will focus on improving coordination between regional offices, supporting long-term expansion plans, and ensuring the business is able to operate more efficiently across multiple markets.
Her appointment is part of CDH’s larger strategy to strengthen its executive leadership team while building a more integrated pan-African business. In a legal market that is becoming more competitive and technology-driven, firms increasingly need leaders who can balance operations, people management, client relationships, and long-term growth.
This is especially important because law firms today are no longer just legal businesses. They are expected to operate like multinational companies, with strong focus on technology, financial performance, talent retention, cross-border work, and client experience.
Phetheni Nkuna’s Rise Inside the Firm
Nkuna is not new to CDH. She joined the firm in October 2020 as a Director in the Employment Law practice and quickly became known for her ability to combine legal expertise with strategic thinking. In June 2023, she was promoted to Director of Executive Management, where she worked closely with CEO Brent Williams on operational planning, business priorities, and organisational strategy.
Her promotion to COO reflects the confidence the firm has in her leadership and her understanding of both the legal and business sides of the organisation.
One of the reasons Nkuna stands out is because of her strong mix of academic and professional qualifications. She holds LLB and LLM degrees, a Certificate in Advanced Labour Law, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, and an MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science.
That combination of legal knowledge and business training is becoming increasingly valuable in senior leadership roles because firms are looking for executives who understand both client work and business performance.
The Growing Importance of Women in Executive Leadership
Beyond operations, Nkuna is also known for her people-first leadership style. She has supported mentorship programmes, maternity coaching initiatives, and workplace wellbeing efforts designed to create a stronger and more supportive environment for employees. She has also been involved in helping more women develop their careers inside the firm.
CEO Brent Williams said Nkuna has a deep understanding of what it means to practise law while also bringing strong business, financial, and operational expertise to the role. According to him, she has already demonstrated the ability to think strategically, lead decisively, and drive meaningful progress across the business.
Although women now make up a growing share of the legal workforce globally, they still remain underrepresented in senior leadership and operational roles at major law firms.
Her appointment matters because it reflects a wider shift taking place across Africa and globally. More women are moving into senior leadership roles in industries like law, finance, consulting, technology, and mining, where executive positions have historically been controlled by men.
Phetheni Nkuna’s appointment is not only a milestone for CDH. It is also another sign that women are increasingly being trusted with the kind of leadership roles that shape how major organisations operate, grow, and compete.