Employment
Global Guide 2024 : South Africa
Band 3
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+27 11 535 8000About
Provided by Werksmans Attorneys
The Werksmans Labour & Employment Practice has a robust track record in advising the corporate community on all employment, health and safety and pension fund issues, with a special focus on dispute resolution and commercial transactions with an impact on employees. Examples of such transactions are mergers and acquisitions (M&A), the sale of companies or outsourcing arrangements; all of which typically have implications for employee pensions, benefits or conditions of service.
A significant portion of the advisory work undertaken by our labour lawyers and employment lawyers involves advising multinational clients on the appointment and termination of executives, the restructuring of local operations, and the management and resolution of employee-related disputes.
Our team can assist with organisational or pension fund restructuring, collective bargaining issues, employment contracts and agreements, and policies and procedures.
The team’s experience in the area of dispute resolution spans the spectrum of private and statutory forums and mechanisms, including bargaining councils, the Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, the civil and labour courts, and the pension funds adjudicator. Our services include M&A employment-related issues; employment agreements, policies and procedures; health and safety legislation advice; and litigation and private dispute resolution (mediation and arbitration).
Chambers Review
Werksmans Attorneys advises major South African and international companies on employment policies, procedures and disputes, with a notable following of clients in the financial services and energy industries. The firm is particularly recognised for its work representing multinational clients in relation to executive appointments, dismissals and the restructuring of their South African operations. The department is committed to the full range of employee dismissal issues, including discrimination, with further experience handling employment issues resulting from acquisitions as well as collective bargaining. The team also leverages its renowned expertise in dispute resolution.
Work Highlights
- Werksmans Attorneys represented the South African Broadcasting Corporation in an arbitration regarding the dismissal of one of its former executives.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Werksmans Attorneys provides sound advice."
"Its team is very strong."
"Werksmans Attorneys provides sound advice."
"Its team is very strong."
Notable Practitioners
Anastasia Vatalidis has experience assisting employers with executive dismissals and vaccination policies. She acts for a number of high-profile clients in the pharmaceutical and financial services sectors.
"Anastasia Vatalidis is a really great lawyer. She is very practical and knows when to go in depth and when to give you quick, practical advice."
"Sheis very pragmatic and a great employment lawyer."
Jacques van Wyk has wide-ranging experience in relation to labour service agreements, unfair dismissals and employment matters arising out of corporate transactions. Working out of Cape Town, his clients include major energy companies.
"He makes good use of his team and is always available. He is a good person to have on your side."
Sandile July acts for various clients in the private and public sectors. He is particularly active in relation to workplace discrimination cases and investigations.
"He is a very learned person in the area of employment law. He supports our organisation and we rely on his knowledge strongly."
"Sandile July has been exceptional in the matters he has handled for us."
Ranked Lawyers at
Werksmans Attorneys
South Africa
Members
Provided by Werksmans Attorneys
Bankey Sono
Bradley Workman-Davies
Lloyd Abraham
Peter Mosebo
Head of Department
Sandile Tom