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Jessica Blumenthal is an Executive at ENSafrica in the Banking and Finance practice, specialising in ESG and sustainable finance, structured finance, restructuring, financial services regulation and alternative investment strategies.

She has deep expertise in fund formation and regulatory advisory work for private equity, venture capital and other alternative investment funds and as part of this practice area Jessica advises impact funders, start-ups and fintech clients in respect of appropriate funding instruments.

Jessica represents institutional clients both in South Africa and internationally, including banks, asset managers, funds and insurers and is considered a trusted advisor to corporate clients, high net worth individuals and family offices.

Jessica’s experience includes designing and negotiating funding and security structures, undertaking solvent and distressed restructuring, establishing alternative investment structures (such as hedge funds, offshore unlisted funds and private equity funds) and providing regulatory advice in relation to South African financial services legislation and the South African regulatory environment, particularly in relation to financial services, collective investment schemes, investment management and company law. Currently Jessica’s focus is working with her financial services clients to navigate the reforming regulatory landscape in gearing up for the Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill (COFI) and the related harmonisation project underway by National Treasury and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority.

Jessica is a founding member of the ESG working group at ENSafrica and has presented on ESG and sustainability issues to financial services sector clients, advised banks and asset managers on policy and strategy adoption,  advised financial institutions on their internal processes to ensure ESG considerations are embedded in the investment process and represented both borrowers and lenders in sustainable finance transactions.

Jessica also contributes regulatory advice as a member of the ENSafrica team specialising in employee and management remuneration, benefits and incentives. This team services blue chip South African corporates in the listed and unlisted space, designing and implementing incentive plans to achieve their desired commercial outcomes. The team also advises numerous international specialised services and law firms on an ad hoc and annual basis in relation to their multinational clients operating incentive plans across the African continent.

Jessica is a regular legal commentator and has been recognised as a legal influencer by Lexology in for her thought leadership in financial services (Q2/2022).

Jessica is recognised as a leading/recommended lawyer by:

• Best Lawyers® 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 – Banking and Finance, Structured Finance (South Africa)
• The Legal 500 EMEA 2022, 2021 – Banking and Finance; 2022, 2021 Investment Funds - Recommended / Key Lawyer (South Africa)

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