Since 2011, CDH's Pro Bono & Human Rights practice (Pro Bono practice) has been at the heart of our firm's commitment to making a real difference. Over the past decade, our Pro Bono practice has passionately championed the cause of public interest, providing pro bono legal support to clients in need. The decision to establish a dedicated practice was motivated by our belief in giving back to the communities in which we operate and in the power of the legal profession to spark positive...

Lucinde Rhoodie and Belinda Scriba in the Corporate Debt, Turnaround & Restructuring sector recorded an episode of CDH Conversations on Monday, 21 October 2024, where they spoke about the ongoing battle between South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the business rescue practitioners and business rescue scenarios. The battle began in the infancy of business rescue when SARS insisted it be treated as a preferred creditor in business rescue, akin to its treatment in liquidation and...

Every month CDH Kenya Partner Njeri Wagacha publishes a podcast 'Njeri Talks Law'. In this month’s podcast, Njeri spoke with Kageni Mbungu, Director of Compliance, Anne Muruka, Head of Commercial and Legal, and Evelyn Manasseh, also Head of Commercial and Legal, all from M-Kopa Kenya In this month’s podcast, Njeri spoke with Kageni Mbungu, Director of Compliance, Anne Muruka, Head of Commercial and Legal, and Evelyn Manasseh, also Head of Commercial and Legal, all from M-Kopa Kenya. M-Kopa...

Almost two years after the Companies Act was amended to provide for a beneficial ownership disclosure regime, questions still abound as to its interpretation and implementation. What if there is a trust involved in the control structure? Is a director a beneficial owner? Where does the so-called "5% rule" come from? Director, Yaniv Kleitman and Professional Support Lawyer, Roxanne Bain in our Corporate & Commercial practice, sit down to discuss all your burning questions and give...

Join Trusts & Estates practice Director, Emily West as she sits down with Practice Head, Gretchen Barkhuizen-Barbosa to discuss a critical yet often overlooked topic: Estate Planning for Women-Owned Businesses in South Africa. In this episode, they dive deep into the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs when it comes to securing their legacies and protecting their businesses. They cover key points: Why is estate planning crucial for women-owned businesses? What are the...

Every month CDH Kenya Partner Njeri Wagacha releases a new episode of her podcast, 'Njeri Talks Law' In this month Njeri speaks to Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya, and a Partner at Ombok & Owuor Advocates. Together, they discuss Faith's pivotal role in defending the rights of peaceful protesters during the July 2024 protests in Kenya. She exemplifies true leadership and integrity.

The Department of Employment and Labour has recently conducted labour inspection raids that have attracted significant attention from the media and employers. It is essential that employers understand the origins and scope of these possible inspection raids so that they can prepare themselves and the business accordingly. In this week’s episode of CDH Conversations, Employment Law Director Yvonne Mkefa and Senior Associate Leila Moosa answer critical questions for employers, including:...

Since 2013, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr's (CDH) Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice (Pro Bono Practice) has been at the heart of our firm's commitment to making a real difference. Over the past decade, our Pro Bono Practice has passionately championed the cause of public interest, providing pro bono legal support to clients in need. The decision to establish a dedicated practice was motivated by our belief  in giving back to the communities in which we operate and in the power of the legal...

In this insightful interview, Puleng Mothabeng, Associate in our Tax & Exchange Control practice, sits down with Director, Jerome Brink to discuss the evolving gender dynamics within tax careers in South Africa. They explore the barriers women face in the field, the critical differences between mentorship and sponsorship, and how both can be leveraged to advance women’s careers. Gain valuable insights on how men can effectively mentor and sponsor women in the tax profession, overcome...

The public interest assessment element of merger control has undergone significant transformation since the Competition Act's inception. While nobody would debate the urgent need for socio-economic change and transformation in South Africa, the extent to which the Competition Authorities, as gatekeepers for merger control, ought to be placing onerous policy obligations on an increasingly beleaguered M&A space remains a subject of debate. Do the ends justify the means, or is the policy...

Tax & Exchange Control Director, Howmera Parak and Associate, Puleng Mothabeng engage in a dynamic conversation about the current state of women's representation in the legal and tax professions in South Africa. Puleng shares her journey, highlighting the barriers she has encountered and her vision for the future. Howmera discusses her experiences, the progress made over the years, and the initiatives in place to support women in the tax field. Together, they explore how increasing...

Every month CDH Kenya Partner Njeri Wagacha publishes a podcast 'Njeri Talks Law'. This month's guest is Eric Mwangi, Director Technology Innovation at Capita. Eric is currently a programme lead, working on the UK governments Level up programme. He is a founding member of Fairbanc and is investor and advisor to FINGO.  Listen to this success story which is an inspiration of all founders, entrepreneurs, and dreamers.

CDH is excited to bring another episode in our CDH Conversations Women's Empowerment series as part of commemorating Women's Month this year. Hosted by Yvonne Mkefa, Director in the Employment Law practice, in our latest episode, Yvonne is joined by Nadeem Mahomed, Director in our Employment Law practice and Knowledge Management Department, to discuss effective legal frameworks for preventing workplace harassment, fostering inclusive environments, and advocating for systemic changes to...

CDH is excited to bring another episode in our CDH Conversations Women's Empowerment series as part of commemorating Women's Month this year. In commemoration of Women's Month, CDH is proud to present a special podcast series dedicated to women's empowerment. Join us as we discuss the critical legal protections for LGBTQ+ women in the workplace with Employment Law Directors, Asma Cachalia and Nadeem Mahomed. Learn about the significant challenges that LGBTQ+ women face and understand how...

The South African construction sector is under siege from extortion, which has escalated from sporadic incidents in 2015 to a widespread crisis. This illicit activity is often attributed to unlawful activities conducted organised extortionists and criminal organisations also known as the construction mafia. Proactive stakeholder engagement is imperative to mitigate the detrimental effects of criminal elements on construction projects. Fostering positive relationships with affected...

In this episode of CDH conversations, Zachary Kokosioulis and Tayyibah Suliman discuss the role of women within the technology law space, and also discuss emerging trends and corporate practices of the technology sector at large.   Tayyibah Suliman is a Director in our Corporate & Commercial practice and is the Sector Head for our Technology & Communications specialisation. Having spent majority of her career within the technology sector she shares her experiences as a woman in the...

Furthermore, social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) have enabled users to connect and communicate with people who are on the other side of the world with a few strokes of a keyboard. However, it is unfortunately not uncommon for users of social media platforms to misuse or abuse these platforms.  In today's podcast, we discuss the dangers of social media use in the workplace, the steps that the legislature has taken to address the growing trend of...

Parties to a construction contract usually agree to the obligation to conclude separate financial arrangements with third parties for the purposes of ensuring financial security and project success. Parties to a construction contract usually agree to the obligation to conclude separate financial arrangements with third parties for the purposes of ensuring financial security and project success. One such arrangement is a retention guarantee. Although not as popular as the other form of...

Retha Beerman, Director and head of the CDH Knowledge Management department; Calinka Murray, Practice Development Director in our Dispute Resolution practice; Kirsty de Sousa, Professional Support Lawyer in our Real Estate Law practice, and Stephanie Goncalves, Professional Support Lawyer in our Banking, Finance & Projects practice, and Knowledge Management department joined CDH Conversations for the second episode of a three-part series on " Empowering women in legal support roles"....

Retha Beerman, Director and head of the CDH Knowledge Management department; Calinka Murray, Practice Development Director in our Dispute Resolution practice; Kirsty de Sousa, Professional Support Lawyer in our Real Estate Law practice; and Stephanie Goncalves, Professional Support Lawyer in our Finance & Banking practice and Knowledge Management department, joined CDH Conversations for a three-part series on "Empowering women in legal support roles". In the first episode, we delve into...

On 16 May 2024, CDH Kenya hosted a breakfast forum for a diverse group of industry leaders from banking and finance, private equity, logistics, betting, and education. The event centred on critical tax proposals outlined in the recently unveiled Finance Bill 2024.   A shared concern emerged among participants: Kenya's economic resilience and attractiveness are threatened by frequent, poorly timed, and inadequately designed tax amendments. Specific anxieties were voiced regarding the...

Guarantees are common in construction and engineering projects. Performance guarantees are designed to ensure that the contractor delivers goods or performs services in accordance with the terms of the contract. If the contractor fails to perform in terms of the contract, it is likely that the employer will suffer a loss. This may be because of delay or because the employer is obliged to pay a higher price to acquire the goods or services elsewhere or in procuring completion of the relevant...

In this first episode Njeri Wagacha, talks to CEO, Christine Maina and COO, Jacklyne Iminza-Anyamba of EAVCA. In this first episode of the CDH and EAVCA podcast series, CDH Kenya Partner Njeri Wagacha, talks to the recently appointed EAVCA Chief Executive Officer, Christine Maina, and Chief Operating Officer, Jacklyne Iminza-Anyamba. They take a deep dive into EAVCA as an institution, the the journey it has taken over the past 10 years since inception, developments in the industry, what...

The upcoming Freedom Day on 27 April 2024 marks 30 years since our country's first democratic vote. In this episode, produced in commemoration of Freedom Day, CDH Pro Bono & Human Rights Director, Brigitta Mangale sits down with 4 inspiring women dedicated to making a positive contribution in their local communities and to human rights awareness in all spaces. Janet Jobson, CEO: Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, Sanelisiwe Sibiya, Group Legal Advisor (Litigation): Nedbank,...