Employment
Global Guide 2024 : South Africa
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+27 11 269 7600About
Provided by ENS
ENSafrica houses the largest and most experienced of the leading employment teams in Africa and is renowned for its involvement in high-level matters throughout the continent.
Our key differentiator is our leveraged approach to teamwork, which sees all our team members – from senior executives to candidate attorneys – working together on matters. This means that you benefit from the best possible service, at the best possible rates.
Our dedicated employment team advises African and international companies in all major industries on the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious employment law, as well as pension and employee benefits, such as the employment of expatriates, global mobility and cross-border matters. We also advise on all aspects of collective labour law, including dealing with trade unions, organisational rights issues, and industrial action.
We are well known for our expertise in transfers of business, restructuring, retrenchments, outsourcing, executive terminations, collective bargaining disputes and discrimination law, and we are the recognised industry leader in employment-related insolvency, liquidation, distress and business rescue matters.
We also have a strong litigation and restraint of trade work reputation, with our own internal counsel and most practitioners appearing personally in litigation matters rather than using external counsel.
Chambers Review
With one of the largest employment teams in South Africa, ENS has experience across a plethora of employment issues, including industrial action, lockouts, whistle-blowing, wage issues and employee misconduct. The firm is additionally noted for its expertise in employment issues stemming from corporate restructuring, as well as executive terminations and unfair discrimination cases. The team has notable experience handling issues relating to the outsourcing of labour, including Section 197 proceedings relating to automatic employee transfer. The firm's dispute resolution practice is also highly respected and has significant expertise in employment disputes. Its enviable roster of clients includes major South African and international companies, with particular activity in mining and telecoms.
Work Highlights
- ENS successfully assisted Southern Sun with its defence against SACCAWU's salary increase claim.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"ENS' level of service and responsiveness is consistently of the highest standard. The business assurance that its employment team offers is exceptional."
"ENS goes the extra mile to meet its clients' needs."
"ENS offers a very high quality of advice and strategic thinking on complex and sophisticated matters."
"Its service levels are excellent."
"ENS' level of service and responsiveness is consistently of the highest standard. The business assurance that its employment team offers is exceptional."
"ENS goes the extra mile to meet its clients' needs."
"ENS offers a very high quality of advice and strategic thinking on complex and sophisticated matters."
"Its service levels are excellent."
Notable Practitioners
Peter le Roux is a revered lawyer who is valued for his decades of experience in the field. He continues to assist the firm's clients with issues relating to discriminatory wage gaps and collective agreements.
"Peter le Roux is a brilliant lawyer."
Brian Patterson is sought out by high-profile South African corporates for his counsel on the employment consequences of business rescue proceedings and large-scale business restructurings. He also provides accomplished advice on employment disputes.
"Brian Patterson is very well regarded."
Dion Masher has developed a prominent name for himself as an employment litigator. He acts for a number of blue-chip South African clients on restructuring processes and dismissal disputes.
Fritz Malan is well versed in labour relations, such as exemption applications and disputes. He is well placed to represent clients in corruption and misconduct cases.
Joe Mothibi has a wide-ranging employment law practice covering both advisory and contentious mandates. He possesses deep experience of employee and executive termination, as well as advising on unlawful conduct cases and strike actions.
"He is a good and solid employment lawyer."
Ross Alcock maintains a notable employment practice, offering particular expertise advising on employment considerations of corporate transactions and restructurings. He is also well positioned to advise on misconduct in workplace and related unfair dismissal disputes.
Stuart Harrison is an accomplished lawyer with an extensive labour and employment practice. He offers clients holistic advice on wage disparity issues, whistle-blowing matters, executive termination and misconduct cases, as well as employee benefits and labour relations.
"Stuart Harrison renders excellent service and his knowledge and strategic thinking in his field are also excellent."
Muzi Khoza assists both public and private sector clients with a range of labour law issues. He regularly advises on employment litigation and workforce restructuring.
"Muzi Khoza is always responsive and understands the importance of client relationships. He is good at what he does but also knows how to manage client expectations."
Ranked Lawyers at
ENS
South Africa
Members
Provided by ENS
Balindile Shezi
Head of Department
Muzi Khoza
Pareen Rogers