Prominent tax specialist Ernie Lai King has joined Hogan Lovells in Johannesburg. Ernie was previously head of the China Group at Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs and will be heading up Hogan Lovells' tax and China practices in South Africa.  He has 30 years’ experience in mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution, structured finance and international tax.

Chambers Global and Legal 500 have recognised Ernie as a leading tax practitioner and earlier this year he received an Individual DealMaker of the Year Award.

Ernie has held a number of prominent positions at various institutions including the SA Chamber of Business Tax Committee and the Income Tax Special Court of Appeal (a State President appointment). He has also appeared regularly before the South African Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Finance to comment on tax reform. Currently, he is nominated to the Council SA Institute of Tax Practitioners.

Says Lavery Modise, Chairman of Hogan Lovells (South Africa): “We are thrilled that Ernie has joined our Johannesburg office. His exceptional tax expertise and commercial experience will add value to transactions and deal structuring of our commercial department’s clients. We are also excited about his in-depth knowledge of the Asia market.”

Ernie Lai King comments: “I am excited to join a tier-one global law firm of Hogan Lovells’ reputation and look forward to the challenge of growing the South African office’s tax and China practices.”