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Daphney Willem, Partner | Labour, Employment & Human Rights

Daphney Willem

Partner Fasken
The heart of labour laws is fairness and justice
Jurisdiction South Africa, 2017
Language(s) English, Sesotho
Office(s) Johannesburg
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Overview

Daphney is an Employment, Labour and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment law lawyer. Daphney’s areas of focus include advising clients on compliance with general employment and labour law in South Africa which includes preparing and reviewing employment contracts, employment related agreements, workplace policies and practices.  Daphney advises clients on the implementation and enforcement of the workplace rules and policies.  She also conducts investigations and prepares investigation reports on behalf of companies.

Daphney’s practice also includes advising and representing clients in employment related litigation which includes, internal hearings, unfair dismissal disputes, unfair labour practice disputes, unfair discrimination disputes and restraint of trade litigations. Daphney has chaired disciplinary hearings and has appeared in the CCMA, NBCCI, MEIBC and the Labour Court.

Daphney also advises and represents clients in various commercial transactions and projects such as mergers and acquisitions, retrenchment and restructuring exercises undertaken in terms of section 189 and 189A of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 and the employment law aspects of sale of businesses and sale of shares transactions.  Daphney has been part of numerous due diligences aimed at determining companies’ compliance with the various employment law in South Africa. 

Daphney advises clients on collective bargaining matters, including disputes concerning the enforcement and application of collective agreements, and strike related matters.

Over and above providing clients with general employment advice, Daphney advises clients on the application of and compliance with the Codes of Good Practice and sector codes issued in terms of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, as well as the Mining Charter. Daphney has been involved in the establishment of employee share ownership schemes which are aimed at facilitating transformation of companies’ ownership and management. She has had frequent engagements with the B-BBEE Commission on the structuring of companies’ black shareholding and represented companies in investigations initiated by the B-BBEE Commission.

Daphney was part of the team that advised ICASA in the public participation process in respect of Regulations in respect of the Limitations of Control and Equity Ownership by HDG and the application of the ICT Sector Code. Daphney and the team were also intricately involved in the drafting of the final Regulations in respect of the Limitations of Control and Equity Ownership by HDG and the application of the ICT Sector Code which were published in terms of the ICASA Act and the Electronic Communications Act.

Daphney further advises clients in health and safety inquiries conducted by the Department of Labour and the Department of Mineral Resources.

Daphney recently completed her LLM, in Labour Law at the University of Witwatersrand. It included courses in individual and collective labour law.

 

Achievements

  • Recognised Nationwide as a Next Generation Partner in Employment, The Legal 500 Europe Middle East and Africa 2024
  • Best Lawyers 2023, Best Lawyers 2023
  • Best Lawyers, Best Lawyers 2022
Best Lawyers Publication name with laurels Best Lawyers Best Lawyers 2023 Recognised by Best Lawyers in the categories of Labour and Employment Law
Best Lawyers Publication name with laurels Best Lawyers Best Lawyers Recognised by Best Lawyers in the categories of Labour and Employment Law

Client Work

  • Innovators Resources Proprietary partnered with Wescoal Mining Proprietary, [Deal - Innovators Resources Proprietary Limited]

Career & Education

Education

  • LLM, Labour Law University of the Witwatersrand
  • Certificate, B-BBEE Management Development University of the Witwatersrand
  • HDip, Tax law University of the Witwatersrand
  • LLB University of Witwatersrand

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Member Legal Practice Council of South Africa 2017
  • Member South African Society for Labour Law

Knowledge

  • Implementation Date for Employment Equity Act Amendments Announced, 12/9/2024
  • The Commission’s Approach to ESOPs in Mergers, 10/17/2024
  • No right to use replacement labour in a defensive lock-out after the strike has ended, 7/3/2024

Events

Publications

  • Tax Relief Measures Introduced To Curb The Effect Of The Covid-19 Pandemic In South Africa, 5/6/2020

Speaking Engagements

  • POPI Act Requirements for SMME's, 8/17/2021
Speaker POPI Act Requirements for SMME's UJCfE

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