North-West University (NWU) alumnus Thato Mashishi has been appointed head of the corporate and commercial division at Berwins Solicitors Limited in the United Kingdom (UK), marking a significant career milestone.
Thato joined Berwins in November 2025 and took over leadership of the firm’s business arm from founder Paul Berwin as the firm positions itself for expansion.
“My role includes growing my team and the unit. I oversee business development and the introduction of efficiencies, including incorporating technology in the way we work,” explained Thato.
A leader from the onset
Thato was born in Mothibistad, Kuruman, in the Northern Cape and brought up in Soshanguve, Pretoria, Gauteng and is now based in Leeds in the UK.
Thato completed his LLB degree at the Mahikeng Campus in 2015, where he showed his leadership potential as deputy chairperson of the Law Students’ Council and later as chapter president of Golden Key International Honour Society, among other roles he held.
He also holds an LLM in corporate law from the University of Pretoria and a postgraduate degree in taxation from the University of the Witwatersrand.
After completing his articles at the international law firm Fasken Martineau (now Fasken) in Sandton, he joined other leading firms including KPMG South Africa and the intellectual property firm, Adams & Adams. In 2023, he moved to the UK to join the leading law firm Walker Morris, where he continued to build his legal career.
Thato’s experience spans across advising small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as larger corporate clients. His areas of practice include corporate law, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, including transactions involving international jurisdictions and complex financial arrangements.
Berwins, which operates from offices in Harrogate, Leeds and York, providing legal services across corporate, commercial, property, family and private client practices, said the appointment forms part of a broader investment programme aimed at developing its commercial capability.
“This year marks not only the firm’s 40th anniversary, but also the start of a new chapter in the Berwins story,” the firm said in a statement. “The investment is intended to support growth plans, and appointing a lawyer of Thato’s experience to lead our commercial arm is a key part of that process.”
Reflecting on his appointment, Thato said Berwins’ approach to legal practice aligned with his own.
“Berwins has a reputation for combining legal expertise with a strong focus on service delivery,” he said. “This is an approach I share and intend to uphold as the firm continues to develop.”
He added that assuming leadership of the division carried both new responsibilities and opportunities which he is excited about. “I am taking over a business built by the firm’s founder. There are solid foundations in place, and my focus is on building on them.”
Alumnus Thato Mashishi has been appointed head of the corporate and commercial division at Berwins Solicitors Limited in the United Kingdom.
