About

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

Provided by Chambers

Employment - South Africa

3
Band 3

What the Team is Known For

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

Provided by Werksmans Attorneys

  • Werksmans Attorneys represented the Department of Home Affairs in a number of disciplinary proceedings matters, including at the CCMA and Bargaining Council arbitrations and Labour Court litigation.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

3
Anastasia Vatalidis
3
Band 3

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 good at coming up with practical solutions.

3
Sandile July
Head of Employment
3
Band 3

Sandile July acts for various clients in the private and public sectors. He is particularly active in relation to workplace discrimination cases and investigations.

His availability and level of response are excellent. He is an asset and a pleasure to work with.

Sandile July is a seasoned legal practitioner who ensures that he fully grasps the client's needs and the issues at hand and adequately delivers with speed and precision.

4
Jacques van Wyk
4
Band 4
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.

Jacques van Wyk is well versed in South African labour law and he is great to work with.

Ranked Lawyers at
Werksmans Attorneys

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

South Africa

Employment

3
Anastasia Vatalidis
3
Band 3
3
Sandile July
Head of Employment
3
Band 3
4
Jacques van Wyk
4
Band 4

Members

Provided by Werksmans Attorneys

Bankey Sono

Bradley Workman-Davies

Lloyd Abraham

Peter Mosebo

Sandile July

Head of Department

Sandile Tom