Aadil Patel

Summary Profile

Aadil Patel is a director and National Head of our Employment practice. He has broad experience in employment law and has acted extensively for various employers, both public and private entities. Aadil also has experience in the areas of public sector, employee benefits, administrative, constitutional and Islamic Finance law.

Career

Aadil joined Cliffe Dekker (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) as a director in 2006.

Education

• BProc LLB LLM HDip (Company Law), University of the Witwatersrand.
• Year of admission as an attorney: 1999

Memberships

Law Society of the Northern Provinces

Experience

Employment Law

Aadil has expert legal knowledge and experience in the following:

• The drafting papers for urgent applications, unfair dismissals, retrenchments, transfers, prosecuting and opposing review applications, rescission applications, and interlocutory applications.
• Collective bargaining and the interpretation of the constitution as well as collective bargaining transfers in terms of section 197 benefits and industrial action.
• All legislative aspects of strikes.
• Dismissals and unfair labour practice and the drafting of employment contracts.
• The representation of executives in dismissals and unfair labour practice cases.
• Advice on essential services, minimum services agreements and compulsory arbitrations
• Employment audits and employment law packages.
• Presentations to clients on various pieces of legislation.
• The drafting of opinions on restraint of trade and interpretation of contracts.
• Advised and represented a large state owned entity on one of the biggest interest arbitration involving salaries and terms and conditions of employment
• Advised and represented a large state owned entity on aspects relating to essential services and minimum services

Administrative Law

• Aadil has undertaken the following for client's within this area:
• Conducted training to various tender bodies and to their rights and obligations regarding procurement.
• Drafted supply chain management policies.
• Litigated and advised clients on all aspects of administrative law.

Employee Benefits

Aadil is a specialist in drafting opinions in relation to various issues relating to pension funds. He is also oversees the referral of disputes to the Pension Fund Adjudicator and conducts arbitration relating to whether there is a duty to bargain regarding the formation of a pension fund. He is a specialist in advising clients concerning non-compliance with the Pension Fund Rules and the Act.

Islamic Finance

Aadil has specialist experience regarding all aspects of Islamic Finance, in particular setting up financial structures which are Sharia compliant. He advises and provides opinions on aspects of Sharia law as they relate to Islamic Finance.

Market Recognition

• Legal 500 EMEA 2010 – 2012 named Aadil as a recommended lawyer having excellent credentials as head of the team.
• Who’s Who Legal – The International Who’s Who of Management Labour and Employment 2011: Aadil has been selected by clients and peers as being among the world’s leading Management Labour and Employment lawyers.
• Practical Law Company (PLC) Which Lawyer? 2008 - 2010 endorsed Aadil in Labour and Employee Benefits with:

"a strong practice covering employment litigation and advice, including misconduct and other general issues for public sector employers and also advises on business immigration and occupational health and safety".