Bowmans’ employment and benefits practice houses ‘an exceptional team of lawyers, with an unwavering commitment to excellence coupled with a pragmatic and strategic approach to solving complex issues‘. Led by Helen Wilsenach, the group routinely advises on a wide spectrum of contentious and non-contentious employment matters. Karen Fulton fields expertise in advising financial services sector entities on employment issues, and Jerry Kaapu is sought after for his experience in advising on collective bargaining and restructurings. Nadine Mather provides ‘practical, commercially sound advice on anything employment-related‘. Rosalind Davey advises on outsourcings and dismissal disputes, and Talita Laubscher handles discrimination claims. Graham Damant and Mbali Mnyandu are key names in the department.

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr’s employment team reports an uptick in matters involving allegations of discrimination, and has also been kept busy handling disputes relating to strike management, a key area of expertise for Hugo Pienaar. Department head Aadil Patel represents prominent private and public sector employers in a wide range of employment issues, and Fiona Leppan is highly regarded for acting for engineering, mining and metals, financial services and retail clients. Imraan Mahomed is very experienced in handling employment litigation, compliance and transactional work. Anli Bezuidenhout and Phetheni Nkuna are key figures in the practice. Faryn Nana joined the team in July 2023.

ENSafrica‘s employment law practice continues to act for prominent mining, retail, aviation and financial sector clients on a broad spectrum of matters. Dion Masher, who is the national head of the employment department, has a solid track record in handling work for public sector entities, and counts pension fund issues, collective bargaining, corporate restructurings, restraints of trade and industrial action matters as key areas of expertise. Brian Patterson specialises in compensation work, and Muzi Khoza is especially active in labour litigation. Fritz Malan is a key contact for sports-related employment issues, and Joe Mothibi  regularly acts for telecoms and technology clients. Balindile Shezi, Audrey Johnson, Stuart Harrison and Ross Alcock are key practitioners to note.

The ‘very professional‘ team at Webber Wentzel ‘has extensive experience in labour matters‘, and stands out for its strength in advising fintech, mining and financial services sector clients on a spectrum of employment issues. Lizle Louw has a specialist focus on assisting clients from the mining industry with individual and collective labour law matters; she co-heads the department with Eugene Phajane, who is sought after for his strength in labour litigation and industrial relations disputes. Nivaani Moodley handles transfers of business and retrenchment matters, and Mehnaaz Bux  is well versed in advising on unfair dismissals and collective bargaining work. Siya Ngcamu is singled out for his contributions, and Johan Olivier and Nick Robb have excellent reputations for their longstanding expertise in the employment law space.

Fasken’s employment practice has an especially strong reputation for advising on a wide range of pension fund matters, including restructuring and regulatory issues. Collective bargaining, restraint of trade and unfair dismissal disputes are other pillars of strength for the group. Paul Fouche, who heads the practice, is a key name for handling labour disputes. Neil Searle acts for senior executives and employers in the pharmaceutical, construction, mining and logistics industries, and stands out for his work in business transfers and market exits. Ludwig Frahm-Arp has an excellent reputation for his work in pensions matters. Daphney Willem handles the employment aspects of transactions, as well as a broad range of employment-related litigation. Owethu Mbambo and Alice Letsoalo play important roles in the department.

The employment and labour team at Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa Inc has an established track record in advising on a range of contentious and non-contentious work. The group continues to handle a high volume of mandates involving industrial action issues, unfair dismissals and business transfers. Mohammed Chavoos has noted expertise in handling cases involving executive dismissals, and department head Murray Alexander brings experience in collective bargaining, restructurings and retrenchments, and outsourcing issues. Other key practitioners to note are Jason Whyte , Karen Ainslie and Laura Macfarlane.

At Werksmans Attorneys, the ‘very thorough‘ labour and employment team stands out for its strength in assisting prominent domestic and multinational clients with restructuring pension funds, employment contracts and collective bargaining issues, alongside advising on the implementation of employment policies. Practice head Sandile July is a specialist in litigation and labour law, and Jacques van Wyk advises on executive terminations, corporate restructurings and the employment aspects of M&A transactions. Bradley Workman-Davies acts on pension cases, and Andre Van Heerden advises on restraints of trade issues, dismissals claims and employment-related dispute resolution. Nonkosazana Nkosi is singled out for her contributions to the practice group.

At Baker McKenzie Johannesburg, the ‘very responsive‘ employment and compensation practice stands out for its ‘professional, effective, practical advice‘, and has notable strength in handling cross-border work for multinational clients. Corporate restructurings, pensions work, collective agreements and labour disputes are prominent areas of instruction for the group. Department head Johan Botes‘ areas of expertise include transfers of undertakings and industrial relations matters. Shane Johnson plays an important role in the team. Tracy van der Colff left the firm in September 2023.

Melanie Hart leads Beech Veltman Inc’s employment practice, which continues to be kept particularly busy advising clients from the mining sector on a range of employment matters; infrastructure and natural resources work remain key pillars of strength for the group. Firm CEO Warren Beech has a solid track record in representing companies in inquiries and inquests arising from workplace accidents. Bryan White assists with mining-related commercial agreements, regulatory issues and compliance work. Mbuyi Katumba stands out for his contributions. Refiloe Vengeni left the firm in October 2022.

The experienced Monique Jefferson heads DLA Piper Advisory Services (pty) Ltd’s employment practice, and is well-versed in assisting clients from the technology, insurance, retail, life sciences and financial services sectors with a range of employment matters. The team is sought after for advising on collective bargaining, industrial relations, the employment aspects of corporate transactions and workplace misconduct issues. Justine Katz is a key name in the group. Faryn Nana left the firm in June 2023.

Eversheds (SA) Inc. (a member of Eversheds Sutherland)‘s employment practice has a solid track record in handling a wide spectrum of matters, including workplace misconduct, unfair dismissal disputes, retrenchments and business transfers. Department head Sandro Milo is sought after for his expertise in assisting clients within the tertiary education sector, also a key area of strength for Nadia Froneman. Tasso Anestidis regularly handles retrenchment matters. Justine Shear and Kyle-Terry Lamb are notable names in the practice group.