Department profile
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr

Employment

Global Guide 2026 : South Africa

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Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr

Rankings

About

Provided by Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr

CDH's Employment Law practice in South Africa and in East Africa has a strong reputation for delivering efficient solutions-based advice and supporting clients in the day-to-day management of their legal issues and risks. We act for clients of all sizes across a spectrum of industries. Our clients include local, national and international companies as well as all levels of government. Our team’s broad commercial insight and approach to developing a deep understanding of a client’s needs enables us to deliver pragmatic advice to support the client’s business objectives. We focus on delivering proactive solutions to the challenges our clients face in the management of their people resource. We advise clients on all contentious and non-contentious areas of employment law. Our Employment team has extensive experience in wide-ranging employment issues relating to large-scale restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, redundancies, business transfers, temporary employment services, pension benefits and international secondments. We advise on collective disputes, disciplinary hearings, employee benefits and incentives, occupational health and safety, national minimum wage, basic conditions of employment, statutory contributions like UIF contributions and skills development. We also specialise in other contractual, common law and statutory employment related causes, such as restraints of trade and claims based on unlawful employer/employee behaviour.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Employment - South Africa

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr houses a renowned employment department, with expertise in corporate restructuring, dismissals, strikes and anti-corruption matters. The team acts for an enviable roster of public sector clients, as well as major corporate entities in the mining, telecoms, technology, manufacturing and financial services sectors, among others. The group is increasingly active on employment disputes and collective labour bargaining, as well as regulatory work, with an established practice covering workplace employee conduct. The department is regularly involved in high-profile and ground-breaking employment cases in South Africa.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr represented ArcelorMittal in a dispute with a former employee involving the conditions of their precautionary suspension.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr is very quick to react to legislative changes to important case law and puts extremely useful webinars together. The firm puts a lot of emphasis on its excellent client service.

    Employment respondentGlobal

  • The team's capabilities are solid and it has a wealth of experience.

    Employment respondentGlobal

  • The team is exceptional and pragmatic. It always keeps the commercial objectives of the business in mind.

    Employment respondentGlobal

  • Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr is always really accessible and turnaround times are excellent.

    Employment respondentGlobal

  • Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr has a great team that is up to date with the industry developments which helps a great deal in being proactive.

    Employment respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Aadil Patel
    Aadil Patel

    Aadil Patel

    Aadil Patel provides advice on ongoing employment issues, disciplinary matters and investigations, including in relation to vaccination policies. He regularly advises high-profile clients, such as government agencies and South Africa- based corporates.

    • He is an exceptional individual who would go all the way to make sure that we are satisfied with the level of service. His advice is crisp and to the point.

      Employment respondentGlobal

    • Aadil Patel is an excellent technical expert, leader and true partner to the business.

      Employment respondentGlobal

    • Aadil Patel understands business and is passionate about delivering value for his clients. He is highly regarded, great at understanding trends and giving clear and practical guidance.

      Employment respondentGlobal

    • He is outstanding in the services provided.

      Employment respondentGlobal

    • Aadil is an exceptional employment and labour subject matter expert. He is the best in South Africa and the solutions he provides are ahead of their time.

      Employment respondentGlobal
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  • Fiona Leppan
    Fiona Leppan

    Fiona Leppan

    Fiona Leppan is routinely engaged by employers to assist with collective bargaining and industrial action and has considerable experience appearing before the Labour Courts. She additionally advises on wage disputes.

    • Fiona is brilliant. She is a class act.

      Employment respondentGlobal

    • Fiona Leppan is an excellent employment specialist who understands clients' needs.

      Employment respondentGlobal

    • Fiona Leppan's attributes include her knowledge of legislation and the fact that she is always up to date with relevant case law and bring it into the situation.

      Employment respondentGlobal

    • Fiona is an excellent employment specialist who understands client's needs

      Employment respondentGlobal

    • She can analyse the problem and provide workable solutions for the company.

      Employment respondentGlobal
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  • Imraan Mahomed
    Imraan Mahomed

    Imraan Mahomed

    Imraan Mahomed is a well-regarded lawyer with experience covering a range of employment matters, including dismissals and workplace investigations. He provides counsel to his clients on labour relations as well as corporate restructurings.

    • Imraan Mahomed is a commercially astute, engaged and responsive lawyer who balances the needs of the business while managing legal risks through expert legal advice and guidance.

      Employment respondentGlobal

    • Imraan is a reliable partner who is always available and understands our needs.

      Employment respondentGlobal

    • He possesses expertise in his area and is always able to refer us to highly skilled team members on other subject matters.

      Employment respondentGlobal
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Ranked Individuals at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (3)

South Africa

Members

Provided by Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr has rankings in the following guides

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