our people
Julia Ferraz-Cardoso
practical experience
Julia Ferraz-Cardoso is a leading disputes lawyer and the Head of Dispute Resolution at ENS, with almost three decades of experience in complex, high stakes litigation. She is widely regarded for her ability to navigate entrenched conflicts, drive progress in challenging matters, and deliver decisive outcomes for multinational and domestic clients across diverse industries.
Julia’s practice spans high end general commercial litigation, administrative law, mining law litigation, tax litigation, gaming related disputes, insurance disputes and matters involving technology and telecommunications. She acts nationally for an extensive list of corporate clients, including international retailers, cellular and electronic goods suppliers, IT and services providers, private security firms, private equity institutions, transnational logistics companies, healthcare institutions and medical schemes, pension funds, reinsurers, engineering businesses, mining entities, developers, FMCG providers, food sector organizations, bookmakers and casinos. She is regularly instructed on reputation sensitive matters where discretion and strategic acumen are paramount.
In addition to her practice leadership at ENS, Julia is an Officer of the International Bar Association’s Litigation Committee, serving as the Regional Representative for Africa. She works frequently with international clients from Australia, Brazil, China, Mozambique, the Republic of Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, bringing a pragmatic, globally informed perspective to multi jurisdictional disputes. She is fluent in English, Afrikaans, and Portuguese.
Julia is highly respected by peers and clients alike. Her sustained recognition in the legal directories below reflects her standing as one of the pre eminent practitioners in dispute resolution and litigation. Her approach is defined by precision, persistence, and strategic clarity, keeping parties engaged, building trust, and converting impasse into resolution in the most demanding commercial environments.
Julia is recognised as a leading/recommended lawyer by:
- Best Lawyers® 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 – Insurance Law; 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 – Litigation (South Africa)
- The Legal 500 EMEA 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018 – Dispute Resolution (South Africa)
qualifications
- BA (University of the Witwatersrand)
- LLB (University of the Witwatersrand)
- Admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa
