Who We Are

Matthew Burnell - Director

Matthew Burnell is the founder of Burnell Attorneys and a leading environmental lawyer in South Africa. He is ranked Band 1 for Environment in South Africa by Chambers and Partners (Global Guide 2026), reflecting market recognition of his technical expertise, responsiveness and commercially pragmatic advice. 

Matthew has over seventeen years’ experience at leading international law firms and advises clients across the mining, oil and gas, energy, agriculture, infrastructure and eco-tourism sectors. He is regularly instructed on high-value, complex matters where regulatory, transactional and strategic considerations intersect.

He has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions across South Africa and the SADC region, acting for both purchasers and sellers. Matthew conducts detailed environmental and regulatory due diligence and develops practical, commercially focused solutions to complex issues such as contaminated land, pollution migration, water management, waste, and rehabilitation and remediation. He ensures these solutions are effectively embedded in transaction documentation and manages all related regulatory approval processes.

From a commercial perspective, Matthew drafts and negotiates a wide range of agreements, including water and electricity supply agreements, rehabilitation and remediation arrangements, waste management agreements and carbon credit transactions. His advice is consistently aligned with clients’ commercial objectives while ensuring regulatory compliance.

Matthew is also a trusted advisor in project finance transactions, acting for lenders, borrowers and developers. He provides bankable environmental due diligence and advises on compliance with the Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards. He has been involved in all rounds of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, as well as the Risk Mitigation and Battery Energy Storage programmes, and has worked on geothermal projects in Kenya and hydropower and dam projects in Zambia.

He represents clients in administrative appeals before key regulatory bodies, including the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and the Water Tribunal, and regularly acts in judicial review proceedings, urgent applications and arbitration.

Matthew also provides strategic advice on the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, including water law, financial provisioning, mine closure and decommissioning, contaminated land, carbon tax, climate change, carbon border adjustment mechanisms, greenwashing, extended producer responsibility, air quality and greenhouse gas emissions.

He holds an LLM in Constitutional and Administrative Law and a PhD in Public Law from the University of Cape Town, where his research focused on meaningful public participation in line with constitutional principles. He also holds a Corporate Sustainability Certificate from NYU Stern School of Business.

Clients value Matthew for delivering clear, commercially grounded advice on complex environmental and regulatory challenges.

Stephen Motsusi - Associate

Stephen Motsusi is an admitted attorney and notary public in South Africa who advises clients on complex legal and regulatory matters across the natural resources, energy, water and environmental sectors. He is known for providing integrated, strategic advice on large-scale resource and infrastructure projects.

Stephen has practised at leading African and international law firms and advises multinational corporates, state entities, investors and project sponsors on the corporate, finance and transactional aspects of natural resources and energy projects. His experience includes mergers and acquisitions, mining asset disposals, share sale transactions and strategic investments involving mineral assets.

He provides seamless regulatory support on transactions, ensuring alignment between corporate deal structures and the requirements of mining, petroleum and environmental legislation—an area where clients particularly benefit from his ability to bridge legal and commercial considerations.

As a notary public, Stephen prepares and executes specialised notarial instruments required in mining and energy transactions, including those relating to security arrangements.

He has developed particular expertise in water law and environmental regulation, advising industrial operators and project sponsors on water use authorisations, existing lawful water use determinations, water infrastructure development and compliance. His work frequently involves navigating the intersection of water, environmental and mining regulatory regimes in complex, high-value projects.

Stephen also advises on administrative and environmental law matters, including internal appeals and judicial review processes under environmental and mining legislation. He regularly supports clients through environmental impact assessment processes and assists in resolving regulatory challenges that may affect project timelines and viability.

In addition, he has advised governments and state entities on petroleum sector governance in emerging energy markets, including upstream regulatory frameworks for exploration and production.

Stephen holds an LLM in Oil and Gas Law (with Distinction) from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. His research focused on the role and enforceability of long-term LNG supply agreements in project financing structures. He also holds an LLB from the University of the Witwatersrand, a BCom (Economics and Law) from the University of South Africa, and a postgraduate qualification in Prospecting and Mining Law.

Stephen is valued by clients for his ability to navigate complex regulatory frameworks and deliver practical, transaction-ready solutions.

Marko Ivanovic - Candidate Legal Practitioner

Marko Ivanovic is a candidate attorney specialising in environmental, mining and petroleum law, with a focus on regulatory compliance, dispute resolution and transactional support.

He advises leading global and local clients in the natural resources and energy sectors on complex regulatory frameworks, particularly under environmental and mining legislation. Marko supports clients operating in highly regulated industries, helping them navigate compliance requirements and manage legal risk effectively.

Marko has experience in administrative appeals and judicial review proceedings, including matters before the High Court of South Africa, the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Water Tribunal. He assists clients in resolving regulatory disputes efficiently and strategically, ensuring that legal risks are managed without disrupting commercial operations.

In addition to his litigation and advisory work, Marko supports project finance and M&A transactions by conducting environmental due diligence and advising on permitting and regulatory requirements. He has contributed to significant energy and infrastructure projects, assisting clients to navigate complex approval processes and achieve successful outcomes.

He also advises on ESG-related matters, helping clients integrate sustainable practices into their operations and align with evolving environmental and governance standards. Marko holds BA and LLB degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Marko brings a detail-oriented and commercially aware approach, supporting clients on complex matters with efficiency and precision.