ABSA Chair in Banking Law in Africa

Prof Corlia Van Heerden of the Department of Mercantile Law was appointed as ABSA Chair in Banking Law in Africa at the Law Faculty of the University of Pretoria with effect from 1 October 2013. She is an IMF-accredited banking law expert and her main research interest lies in banking regulation. The objectives of the Chair are to establish a research intensive unit that focuses on developments in various aspects of banking law in Africa and abroad with the aim of building capacity and aiding harmonization of banking laws across the continent. A comprehensive LLM in Banking Law has been established under the auspices of the Chair and since the establishment of the Chair, many students have completed this popular course thereby contributing to accumulation of critical skills in the wide field of banking law. Several students have also successfully completed their doctorates under supervision of the Chair. Given the Chair’s research intensive focus several important articles and chapters are regularly published by the Chair, nationally and internationally, some of which are co-authored with her doctoral candidates. The Chair also regularly presents banking law papers at prestigious conferences and from time to time, hosts colloquia on highly relevant aspects such as the Twin Peaks model of financial regulation, reckless lending, reinstatement of credit agreements, bank resolution and deposit insurance. Students who obtained their LLM and LLD degrees under the auspices of the Chair in Banking Law work at central banks, commercial and investment banks, regulators, academia and prestigious law firms. There they significantly contribute to a greater shared understanding of various critically important aspects of banking law and policy.