Lizél Blignaut

Lizél Blignaut is an Executive at ENS and practises as an economist in the Competition / Anti-Trust practice, where she specialises in competition economics. Her practice focuses on Competition Law.

She has advised a diverse range of clients in South Africa and internationally in industries such as paper and packaging, mining and mineral beneficiation, manufacturing, financial services and insurance, healthcare, transport, telecommunications, agro-processing and fast-moving consumer goods. Lizél has rendered advice on a number of significant high-profile deals and investigations.

Lizél practises in all areas of competition economics and policy, including the economic analysis of the competitive and public interest impact of mergers and acquisitions, as well as the assessment of prohibited practices. Her practice involves both the assessment of historical competitive conduct and forward-looking analysis of intended practices.

Her speciality areas include vertical and horizontal merger analysis, the assessment of vertical and horizontal agreements, and abuses of dominance, such as excessive pricing, price discrimination and exclusionary acts. Another area of substantial experience is in competition law compliance audits and training. Lizél also advises clients on competition law compliance in emerging African jurisdictions, including COMESA.

She has lectured at the University of Cape Town's Competition Law Course and frequently speaks at conferences on matters of competition economics and law. She has co-authored four papers on excessive pricing, dominant market participant supply behaviour, competition issues in the healthcare industry and damages calculations. Prior to joining ENS, Lizél headed the mergers and acquisitions division of the Competition Commission of South Africa.

She holds a BCom (Cum Laude) and a BCom in Economics (Honours) (Cum Laude) from the University of Pretoria, a Certificate in Competition Law from the University of Witwatersrand and a Postgraduate Diploma in Economics for Competition Law from King's College, London. She is recognised by The Legal 500 EMEA for Competition and by Best Lawyers for Competition/Antitrust in South Africa.