Employment
Global Guide 2024 : South Africa
Band 3
Contact number
+27 11 685 8500About
Provided by Norton Rose Fulbright
Overview of our practice
Our team is recognised for handling complex and contentious transactional and advisory issues within the full spectrum of employment and labour law with particular expertise in mergers and acquisitions, effecting business transfers and restructuring and retrenchments, due diligence, regulatory and compliance, forensic investigations, unfair discrimination and executive dismissals. Our worldwide footprint offers us global resources with expertise on international employment issues.
We have offices in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, with our Head, Murray Alexander, in our Durban office. Our coastal offices have a dynamic presence regionally and compete on a par with our metropolis Johannesburg office in relation to size of team, expertise, calibre of clients and depth of work.
Chambers Review
Norton Rose Fulbright acts for an impressive range of clients, including several in the healthcare, mining, manufacturing, transport and banking sectors, as well as public sector clients. The firm assists with the full gamut of litigious, transactional and advisory employment work, regularly advising on unfair dismissal, harassment and misconduct cases. The team demonstrates considerable activity and expertise in labour issues, such as collective bargaining, protected and unprotected strikes, corporate restructuring and retrenchment. The team is noted for its broad geographical spread, with experts in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
Work Highlights
- Norton Rose Fulbright represented the National Bargaining Council for the Sugar Manufacturing and Refining Industry in an appeal regarding previous union arrangements.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"They are well aware of both commercial and practical realities and are quick to point out when commercial decisions need to be taken."
"The team at Norton Rose Fulbright is a pleasure to work with. It displays sound knowledge."
"Norton Rose Fulbright handles high-profile, complex matters, and we receive great value from the team."
"The team offers outstanding service and fast responsiveness."
"They are well aware of both commercial and practical realities and are quick to point out when commercial decisions need to be taken."
"The team at Norton Rose Fulbright is a pleasure to work with. It displays sound knowledge."
"Norton Rose Fulbright handles high-profile, complex matters, and we receive great value from the team."
"The team offers outstanding service and fast responsiveness."
Notable Practitioners
Mohammed Chavoos is noted for his handling of dismissals, industrial actions, restructuring-related employment issues and workplace investigations.
"Mohammed Chavoos goes the extra mile when it comes to service. He is someone we trust and rely upon in our business."
"He has great vision and can predict the development of the law based on his extensive knowledge and experience."
"His work is of a high quality and I am completely confident in his abilities to achieve the best possible outcome for me. He is an exceptional lawyer and a great legal mind."
"His advice is practical and very well articulated."
Gillian Lumb acts for a range of high-profile domestic clients from her base in Cape Town. Her practice focus covers contentious matters as well as retrenchment issues. She joined Norton Rose Fulbright in January 2024 after leaving Cliffe Dekker.
Jason Whyte maintains an active practice across labour and employment. Based in Cape Town, he advises on wage disputes, unfair dismissal and harassment cases, as well as employment law issues connected to the publication of confidential and personal information.
"He is concise, very responsive, practical and reassuring. I like the fact that he is confident in his advice and we feel we have a clear path forwards."
"Jason Whyte is practical, quick and solutions-driven. It is easy working with him."
Murray Alexander is an experienced employment lawyer who advises clients on a range of issues, including collective bargaining, dismissal claims, industrial action and workplace investigations. He is based in the firm's Durban office.
"He has a strong strategic ability."
Ranked Lawyers at
Norton Rose Fulbright
South Africa
Members
Provided by Norton Rose Fulbright
Brian Denny
Jason Whyte
Karen Ainslie
Murray Alexander
Head of Department
Stephanie Vermaak
Verushka Reddy