Aadil Patel

Summary Profile

Aadil is a Director and National Head of the Employment practice. He has extensive experience in all matters concerning employment law and has acted extensively for various employers including state owned entities. Aadil also has experience in the areas of public sector law, general commercial law, employee benefits law, administrative, constitutional law.

Career

Aadil began his career as a Candidate Attorney in 1997 at the Wits Law Clinic. In 1998, Aadil was promoted to the position of Associate. Aadil became a Non-Capital Partner in 2001 at a medium sized law firm and was further promoted to Partner in 2002 at Kathrada Norval Rice Patel Attorneys. Aadil joined Cliffe Dekker as a Director in 2006 and in September 2008 became a Director of Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr.

Education/ Qualifications

BProc, LLB, LLM, HDip (Company Law), University of the Witwatersrand
Certificate in Telecommunications & Broadcasting Law, University of the Witwatersrand
Date of admission: 1999

Experience in Employment

• Drafting papers for urgent applications, unfair dismissals, retrenchments, transfers, prosecuting and opposing review applications, rescission application and interlocutory application

• Drafting of various court applications, opinions on all aspects of labour law

• Providing strategic advice to employers regarding collective bargaining and advice on the interpretation of the constitution

• Advising State-Owned Entities on collective bargaining transfers in terms of section 197 benefits as well as strikes

• Providing opinions to employers on all aspects of employment law

• Advising clients on dismissals/ unfair labour practice

• Drafting of employment contracts

• Representing executives in dismissals/ unfair labour practices

• Providing clients with advice on essential services, minimum services agreements and compulsory arbitrations

• Conducting employment audits for State-Owned entities

• Compiling employment law packages for clients

• Presenting to clients on various pieces of legislation

Experience in Administrative Law

• Drafting and commenting on legislation for government departments and state-owned entities

• Preparing tenders

• Extensive experience regarding various pieces of legislation that impact on the public sector

• Extensive experience regarding all aspects of administrative law

General Commercial Experience

• Appearing and litigating in the High and Magistrate's Court

• Drafting opinions on restraint of trade and interpretation of contracts

• Involved in trials, urgent applications, interdicts, reviews and general contract litigation

• Litigating on behalf of a number of state-owned entities in both the High and Magistrate's Court

• Conducting a contracts audit

• Drafting various types of commercial agreements in particular, shareholders agreements, memorandum of understandings, sale and lease agreements and joint venture agreements

Experience in Employee Benefits

• Drafting opinions in relation to various issues relating to pension funds

• Referring disputes to the Pension Fund Adjudicator

• Conducting arbitration regarding whether there is a duty to bargain regarding the formation of a pension fund.

• Advising clients regarding non-compliance with the Rules and the Act

Other Experience

• Lectured part-time at Midrand Campus in commercial law for 6 months

• Guest lecturer at the University of Witwatersrand in employment law

• Presentations to clients on various pieces of legislation

• Hosted a free talk show on a community radio station

Accolades/ Achievements

• PLC Which Lawyer? 2008 Yearbook: Rates Aadil as Recognised in Labour and Employee Benefits. It notes that he has 'a strong practice covering employment litigation and advice, including misconduct and other general issues for public sector employers.