Gavin Smith took up his LLB at the University of Johannesburg, which he completed in 1993. He was then appointed as an attorney by the High Court of South Africa in 1996. 

Currently, he’s a Senior Associate attorney at Lanham-Love Galbraith-Van Reenen Attorneys (LLGV). Atty. Smith also mentors three candidate attorneys at the firm, two of whom work on articles for him.

Atty. Smith specialises in five areas of law, including contractual law. It’s also worth mentioning that he’s assigned lead for all cases that involve employment issues.

Aside from his apparent wealth of experience, clients are impressed with the chemistry of Atty. Smith’s legal team. We think it’s a nice assurance to know that their attorney is supported by competent candidates.

Take note, though, that this team also handles several cases in other fields of law and is often busy with bigger cases, which Atty. Smith’s team prioritises.

LLGV, where he practises, is a newly-established law firm built in 2021 when Lanham-Love Attorneys (Est. 2003) and Galbraith Attorneys (Est. 2006) merged into one company.

One of the law firm’s competitive advantages is its reasonable pricing for legal assistance. Lawsuits can be expensive, and we appreciate the firm’s effort to make legal guidance affordable.

We just have a slight issue with LLGV’s client servicing. Previous clients shared with us their disappointment with their lack of responsiveness, leaving their questions and concerns unattended.

Arilia du Plessis is one of Smit Sewgoolam Incorporated’s distinguished directors. We selected her for her impressive educational and professional backgrounds.

Aside from her LLB, which she completed at the Rand Afrikaans University in 1994, she also has a certificate in Relationship Agreements & Dispute Resolution from the University of Stellenbosch.

After she was appointed as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa, Atty. de Plessis started her specialisation in labour law. On top of that, she’s an expert in  property and insolvency law.

We’re also impressed to find that Atty. de Plessis is an accredited member of several law associations, including the Law Society of the Northern Provinces (LSNP) and Johannesburg Attorneys Association (JAA), which we think increases her credibility.

For labour law cases, Atty. de Plessis provides legal assistance in internal disciplinary processes and external litigation. While her legal advice is highly valued by her previous clients, we’re told her law firm charges higher rates compared to others.

Smit Sewgoolam Incorporated is a multi-awarded business that provides legal assistance in various areas of law. They’re popular for their solid track record of successful cases and for having top-notch attorneys.

They’re also a Level 2 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Contributor. We appreciate the company’s conscious effort to support and strengthen the Black economy.

Nonetheless, there are a handful of complaints regarding Smit Sewgoolam Incorporated’s customer service. 

Apparently, previous clients are concerned that they’re not given updates regarding their cases, and that it’s difficult to reach out to the law firm’s representatives.

Rod Harper is recognised as one of the best employment attorneys in South Africa by several international publications. He’s a very prominent and well-seasoned attorney, so placing him in this list is a no-brainer.

He’s considered as one of the principal contributing attorneys in South Africa’s employment law because of his high involvement in more than 100 reported cases that shaped the law.

We find it so impressive how, through those cases, policies were created to protect and empower the rights and interests of employees. 

Atty. Harper is an experienced Employment Law Department Head, having been appointed three times for different law firms. Currently, he leads Employment, Benefit, Industrial Relations and Discrimination at Cowan-Harper-Madikizela.

He’s part of a powerful network of employment law experts and is also a member of the Labour Law Committee of the International Bar Association. In addition, Atty. Harper is highly knowledgeable about several Unions like NUM, NUMSA, AMCU and BCAWU.

Atty. Harper is also often hired as a strategic advisor for employment law and industrial relations by many companies.

Because everyone wants the best attorney to represent them, Atty. Harper’s schedule is always jampacked. As a result, you need to be lucky to land an appointment with his team.

It’s also not helpful that Cowan-Harper-Madikizela Attorneys is apparently difficult to reach out to. Previous clients report that the firm’s representatives are very slow to respond to clients’ questions and complaints.

Annelle Kamper is one of Andersen’s employment law experts. She completed her LLB at the Stellenbosch University in 2015, and was appointed as an attorney by the High Court of South Africa in 2018.

Presently, Atty. Kamper is a Senior Associate at Andersen. She’s one of the three brilliant attorneys in the firm who specialise in employment law and dispute resolution.

She’s also an active member of the South African Society for Labour Law (SASLAW), where she works pro bono at the Labour Court in Johannesburg.

We included Atty. Kamper in our list for her extensive experience and impressive in-court performance when handling legal cases that involve labour and employment.

She offers a broad range of legal assistance in several aspects of employment law including retrenchments, unfair and constructive dismissals, labour practices, sexual harassment and section 197 transfers. 

Atty. Kamper is also a skilled arbitrator and litigator.

Andersen is a well-established global law firm that caters to multinational clients. They’re composed of legally separate, independent, and collaborating firms from 256 locations around the world.

The law firm is highly sought-after for its quality service and highly-skilled attorneys. However, previous clients mentioned that they found Andersen’s pricing costly.

We also have minor issues with the quality of Andersen’s support staff. A client shared with us their experience dealing with staff who were rude and dismissive while assisting them.

Tshiamo Sedumedi is one of MNS Attorneys’ top-notch appointed directors. He took up his B.Proc., LLB and H.Dip in Company Law at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Aside from his responsibilities as a law firm director, he’s also currently the lead for all labour and employment law cases that the law firm handles. Atty. Sedumedi is in demand for his impressive performance in and out of court.

In fact, he’s also often outsourced as a consultant, particularly for labour and employment law issues, by various private and public companies.

One of the features we love about his work is his passion and involvement in all the cases he handles. Previous clients are also impressed with Atty. Sedumedi’s organisation and commitment to the planned timeline.

MNS Attorneys, where he practises, is one of Johannesburg’s highly regarded law firms. We find it admirable that their establishment in 2004 was brought by the founders’ desire to empower the black legal profession in the country. 

We love that the company’s growth throughout the years also mirrors the advancement of the careers of lawyers from previously underprivileged backgrounds.

While attorneys from the law firm are often complimented for the quality of their work, we’re dispirited to hear that some of their administrative staff are average at best. 

Previous clients find it an inconvenience that communication can be difficult with MNS Attorneys. Even potential clients struggle just to get a quote from the firm.

What concerns us more, though, is a troubling report on the racist treatment of a receptionist towards a client. We hope that the firm takes this report seriously and addresses it, as it goes against the firm’s values and purpose.

With a legacy spanning five decades, Bregman Moodley Attorneys Inc has established itself as a stalwart in the legal landscape, unwaveringly dedicated to delivering holistic and ethical legal solutions.

Bregman Moodley Attorneys’ holistic legal approach sets them apart in the industry, with a commitment to resolving conflicts in a manner that nurtures healing and fosters mutually beneficial outcomes.

This approach prioritizes the well-being of all parties involved, making them an ideal choice for clients seeking a balanced and compassionate legal experience.

While their focus is on employment law, the firm offers a comprehensive range of legal services that cater to a wide spectrum of client needs. This diverse offering ensures that clients can rely on Bregman Moodley Attorneys for various legal matters, providing a one-stop solution for their legal requirements.

The firm’s core principles of excellence, integrity, accountability, and a commitment to acting in the best interests of their clients demonstrate their dedication to putting clients first. Their values of peace, love, and compassion underscore their empathetic approach to legal problem-solving.

As a smaller law firm, Bregman Moodley Attorneys Inc may face resource limitations compared to larger legal firms. Clients with complex, high-volume cases that require extensive resources and support staff may need to consider whether this firm can meet their specific needs.