Expertise

Margo-Ann is a Director at Fairbridges specialising in environmental, climate change, energy and regulatory law.

Her practice is closely connected to the development and operation of energy, mining, infrastructure and industrial projects. She advises on the approvals, licences and compliance obligations that must be addressed from the early stages of project development through procurement, financing, construction and operation.

Her work includes environmental impact assessment, water use, air quality, waste management, biodiversity, electricity regulation and the interaction between surface rights, mining rights and petroleum rights. She also advises on climate-change risk, decarbonisation strategies, carbon-offset projects, extended producer responsibility and the regulatory requirements affecting battery storage, hydrogen, green hydrogen and e-mobility.

On project-financed transactions, Margo-Ann conducts environmental and regulatory due diligence for sponsors, lenders and investors. This includes assessing compliance with South African legislation, the Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards, as well as drafting or reviewing the environmental provisions in finance, construction, supply and project agreements.

A substantial part of her practice concerns approvals that have been challenged or delayed. She has acted in climate-change litigation, administrative appeals and judicial review proceedings involving environmental authorisations, mining rights and other regulatory decisions. Her role frequently continues beyond the initial legal assessment, with advice on appeal strategy, settlement negotiations, stakeholder engagement and the steps required to preserve or implement a project approval.

Margo-Ann also advises operational businesses on environmental compliance and liability. This work includes external legal audits, the management of historic contamination, water and waste obligations, environmental rehabilitation, director and shareholder exposure, and the regulatory consequences of proposed expansions, acquisitions or changes in operations.

Her experience extends across South Africa and other African jurisdictions, including work involving renewable energy, gas-to-power, mining, biofuels, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and heavy industry. She has been ranked by Chambers Global in Environment in South Africa since 2024

Signature Matters

• Richards Bay Gas Power 2: Successfully represented the project company in judicial review proceedings challenging an amended environmental authorisation for a proposed 400MW gas-to-power facility on climate-change grounds. The review was dismissed by the Gauteng Division of the High Court.
• Khanyazwe Flexpower: Advised on the environmental impact assessment, project development and bid submission for the Gas Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme Bid Window 1. She also represented the project in responding to administrative appeals concerning its environmental authorisation.
• SOLA Group Tronox Projects: Advised on the environmental requirements for two 100MW solar facilities and a 100MW wind facility developed to supply private industrial operations, including permitting, lender enquiries and financial-close requirements.
• Thungela Operations: Conducts external environmental legal compliance audits across the client’s operations, identifying potential non-compliance and regulatory exposure and advising on appropriate corrective action.
• African Biofuel Development: Advised a multinational energy company on the establishment of biofuel feedstock and operations across several African jurisdictions, including South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Angola and Tanzania.
• Anglo American Investment Development Model: Acted as environmental and land lead in multidisciplinary reviews of proposed mining and renewable energy investments across South Africa and other African jurisdictions, assessing the environmental and regulatory requirements affecting progression and funding.

Qualifications

• Certificate of Competence in Climate Change and Energy Law, University of the Witwatersrand, 2025
• LLB, cum laude, University of the Witwatersrand, 2012
• BCom Law, University of the Witwatersrand, 2010

Credentials

• Admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa, 2015
• Ranked in Environment, South Africa by Chambers Global, 2024–2026
• Chambers Global Band 4 ranking, 2026
• Member of the Legal Practice Council of South Africa