WARREN BEECH CEO - Beech Veltman Inc. You’ve spent nearly three decades specialising in mining, natural resources, and infrastructure law. What drew you to this sector, and what continues to drive your passion today? I did not make the decision to work in the mining and natural resources sector and nor did I intend to do so, while studying. I studied at the University of the Witwatersrand, and to pay my fees, I ended up working underground at a gold mine in Springs. At the time I did not appreciate the significance of the practical exposure to South Africa’s mining industry, and many times I was not happy working night shift and public holidays while my fellow students were enjoying time off. However, when I started my articles at the then Deneys Reitz, the Leon Commission of Inquiry into Mine Health and Safety was established, and two of the senior partners that I was working for at the time, recalled that I had worked underground, and my career in the mining industry started with a shout down the passage “hey Beech, come here you know something about mining”. Since these early days, I became passionate about the mining and natural resources sector, the people, and the opportunities to work alongside innovative, resilient and forward-thinking industry leaders. An already complex industry has become more challenging over the last few years and, as a mining lawyer, I have had to develop into other areas of law that impact the mining and natural resources sector. The constant opportunities to learn something new and develop solutions that work, keep me passionate about this industry. Your work spans health, safety, environment, regulatory, and criminal law. How do you navigate these different disciplines when advising clients on complex projects? My practice extends from health, safety and environmental, through to complex commercial transactions, not only in South Africa, but across the world. The key criteria to success across such complex work, is gaining confidence in all disciplines, which can only be achieved through knowledge, which comes from having a competent, experienced and professional team around me, and strong relationships with lawyers across the world who are specialists in their particular fields and in relation to the industry. Teamwork is vital. You’ve led numerous high-profile mining transactions. Can you share a particularly challenging deal and what made it successful? All transactions have their own unique complexities but there are common elements that apply to most transactions in the mining industry. These common elements include considering the life cycle of the particular mining assets (the older mines attract greater liabilities for remediation, rehabilitation and, possibly, water treatment), size of the operations (larger operations typically employ more people and have a larger service provider network), regulatory hurdles that must be achieved including ministerial consent, and compliance with the Mining Charter, South Africa’s company laws, cross-border requirements, competition elements, approval for flow of funds and land – related aspects. Even simple transactions typically involve most of these criteria. A key factor that increases the prospects of a successful implementation of the transaction is early engagement with the decision - makers including regulatory bodies, employee representatives, community leaders, investors, and other stakeholders that may have an interest. Obtaining buy-in at an early stage often facilitates a smoother process. The social “licence to mine” is becoming more critical, and a proper stakeholder engagement programme often assists in securing this social licence, without which transactions can be stalled or even stopped, altogether. Health and safety are central to your practice. How are global standards evolving, and what should companies focus on to stay ahead? It is extremely frustrating to see repeat incidents and accidents resulting in serious injury or even death. Both local and international health and safety standards continue to evolve, but do not necessarily have a direct impact on health and safety, and they do not, on their own, avoid serious www.beechveltman.com With almost three decades of experience in mining, natural resources and infrastructure law, Warren Beech is widely recognised as a leading authority in one of South Africa’s most complex and tightly regulated sectors. His career began unexpectedly— shaped by early hands-on experience working underground at a gold mine to support his studies. That practical foundation sparked a lasting passion for the industry and the people who drive it. Today, Warren’s practice spans health and safety, environmental compliance, regulatory advisory, commercial transactions and cross-border projects. He is known for his ability to navigate multidisciplinary challenges with clarity, teamwork and practical insight, advising clients across Africa and internationally. His contributions to legislative developments, industry bodies and large-scale compliance initiatives have further cemented his influence. Here, Warren reflects on the evolution of the sector, key challenges shaping its future, and his advice for emerging lawyers pursuing this demanding and dynamic field. SOUTH AFRICA MINING LAWYER OF THE YEAR LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2025 75 SOUTH AFRICA MINING LAWYER OF THE YEAR LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2025 74
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