CHIARA BHANA

Associate — Corporate and Commercial

Chiara Bhana is an Associate in VDMA’s Corporate and Commercial department.

Chiara is an admitted attorney who specialises in corporate and commercial law. She draws on both academic training and practical experience to provide clear, well-reasoned legal advice and support across a range of commercially related legal matters. Chiara applies a broad legal lens to her work, considering relevant aspects of other areas of law to ensure balanced, practical and commercially focused corporate advice. She is recognised for her strong critical thinking ability, sound judgment and structured approach to legal problem-solving.

Chiara communicates legal concepts clearly and effectively to different audiences and is comfortable engaging in negotiation and client-facing discussions. She approaches matters with professionalism, composure and attention to detail, particularly in high-pressure situations. Chiara consistently acts with the client’s best interests at the forefront, regardless of the size or complexity of the matter. She is clear, precise and practical in her advice, as well as in the drafting and review of agreements, with a key focus on the effective and timely implementation of transactions without compromising on quality. She is approachable, collaborative and easy to work with, bringing a commercially focused mindset aligned with both business and client objectives.

Sector Specialty

Corporate Law
Corporate Restructuring
Data Protection
Telecommunications, Media and Technology
Dispute Resolution

PRACTICE AREAS

Corporate Law
Commercial Law
Alternative Dispute Resolution & Litigation

Qualifications

University of Pretoria, South Africa, Bachelor of Laws Degree

Bar Admissions

Admitted Attorney, South Africa

EXPERIENCE

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Advised multiple VDMA clients through in-house legal support and retainer-based service models, including businesses operating in the food, health and safety, technology and cybersecurity, agriculture and engineering sectors, spanning a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, including contractual matters, structuring, risk allocation and legal support for complex client matters.
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Acted on various mergers and acquisitions transactions, supporting clients with transaction execution, deal structuring and related corporate matters.
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Provided company secretarial support, assisting clients with corporate governance, statutory compliance and ongoing administrative company law requirements.
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Provided employment and labour law support closely aligned with commercial objectives, advising clients on employment-related issues arising in a business context, including matters connected to operational requirements, contractual relationships and organisational restructuring.