Why the name Graphene EconomicR?

Graphene is the world’s first 2D material and was first isolated in 2004 by two researchers at The University of Manchester. It’s 200 times stronger than steel, but very flexible and is the thinnest material possible – SO thin that it’s transparent. It’s ultra-light, but extremely tough, and is the world’s most effective conductor. Scientists are working on a plethora of potential applications for graphene.

We chose the name Graphene EconomicsR because we aim to exhibit many of the same characteristics:

  • “Light” but extraordinarily strong: were lean, but experienced team with 25 years of transfer pricing experience between us. We’re not a big firm with a TP division tacked on. We are a specialist economics transfer pricing advisory firm with a focus on Africa – this is what we do.
  • Flexible: our understanding of the nuances in various African countries, combined with our experience across many different industries, means we are positioned to identify, develop and implement the appropriate transfer pricing solutions for you to address the specific economic and market conditions you face in Africa.
  • Responsive: just as graphene is a brilliant conductor -enormously responsive to an electric current – sc we hope to delight our clients with our responsiveness and tumaround times as Graphene Economics™ by providing the best transfer pricing services possible.

Team

Graphene Economics™ prides itself on providing quality advice from some of the most experienced minds in African transfer pricing. Our team of professionals will assist you with your transfer pricing challenges and help you navigate the complex African cross-border transactions landscape.

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Michael Hewson

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Michael Hewson is the founder and Director of Graphene Economics, a specialist TP advisory firm. He has two decades of experience in TP in Africa. In 2023, Graphene Economics was named as the African TP Firm of the Year by the International Tax Review. It was also awarded the title of South African TP Firm of the year in 2021 and 2025. 

Michael is a member of Transfer Pricing Economists for Development, a Paris-based non-profit organisation focused on providing input in the area of TP in developing countries.

Previously, he was a partner at one of the Big 4 in South Africa where he was responsible for supporting the transfer pricing teams across Africa.

He has an MCom in Financial Economics, Honours in Econometrics as well as a Higher Diploma in Tax (Law). Michael has been a guest lecturer on the topic of TP at the University of Johannesburg, the University of Pretoria as well as the University of Fort Hare. He has contributed to three books and several articles. In addition, he has presented on various aspects of transfer pricing in a number of countries including: the DRC, Germany, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Netherlands, Rwanda, Tanzania, UAE, UK, and Zimbabwe. His clients include large listed multinational enterprises operating in various different industries.

April joined Graphene Economics™ in July 2022 and was appointed Executive Director in 2025. She has 14 years’ experience in tax and transfer pricing, including a decade focused exclusively on transfer pricing. Her career began at a Big Four firm in 2011, moving into transfer pricing in 2015, before joining another Big Four team in 2017.

April has led multi-country, multi-team documentation projects for multinational groups in industries ranging from FMCG, mining, and commodity trading to financial services, fintech, and telecommunications. Her expertise spans compliance, planning, model design (including financial modelling and data analytics), Pillar Two safe harbour analysis, and Country-by-Country reporting. She has also assisted clients in managing transfer pricing disputes and queries with revenue authorities across Africa.

April holds a master’s degree in taxation from the University of Pretoria, is a Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)), and a Registered Chartered Tax Advisor™ with the South African Institute of Taxation (SAIT).

April Nicholson

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Diverse team posing in formal attire

Your African transfer pricing specialist