Imraan Abdullah
Imraan Abdullah is a Senior Associate in our Dispute Resolution practice. Imraan operates primarily in the Public Law Sector, focusing on constitutional, administrative and regulatory law. Imraan also has experience in dealing with matters in the Oil and Gas sector, with a particular focus on downstream operations in South Africa.

About Imraan
About Imraan
After completing his articles at a small firm, Imraan joined the South African History Archive and was an attorney and researcher in the Freedom of Information Programme. Imraan spent two years at the South African History Archive and simultaneously completed his LLM degree in Constitutional and Human Rights Law.
At the end of his stint at the South African History Archive, Imraan was fortunate to have been offered a clerkship with Justice Johan Froneman at the Constitutional Court, where he served Justice Froneman for a year as an Associate before joining Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr as an Associate in the Dispute Resolution practice.
Imraan was appointed Senior Associate in 2021.
Credentials
Credentials
Education
- Registered with the Legal Practice Council
- BA (Law and International Relations), University of Witwatersrand
- LLB, University of Witwatersrand
- LLM, (Constitutional and Human Rights Law), University of Johannesburg
- Year of admission as an attorney: 2016
About Imraan
After completing his articles at a small firm, Imraan joined the South African History Archive and was an attorney and researcher in the Freedom of Information Programme. Imraan spent two years at the South African History Archive and simultaneously completed his LLM degree in Constitutional and Human Rights Law.
At the end of his stint at the South African History Archive, Imraan was fortunate to have been offered a clerkship with Justice Johan Froneman at the Constitutional Court, where he served Justice Froneman for a year as an Associate before joining Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr as an Associate in the Dispute Resolution practice.
Imraan was appointed Senior Associate in 2021.
Credentials
Education
- Registered with the Legal Practice Council
- BA (Law and International Relations), University of Witwatersrand
- LLB, University of Witwatersrand
- LLM, (Constitutional and Human Rights Law), University of Johannesburg
- Year of admission as an attorney: 2016
Experience
Public Sector: Administrative, Regulatory Constitutional Law
Advising in relation to the PFMA, the MFMA and the associated regulatory frameworks (including procurement, delegations of authority and supply chain management issues)
Procurement
Advising private entities on interactions and relations with government departments and public entities and operating within highly regulated industries (including advice on contractual interpretation)
Procurement
Advising in relation to the PPPFA, the associated regulatory framework and the procurement of goods and services
Procurement
Advising financial services clients with advice on public law risks relating to the provision of finance to their clients and the security those clients offer
Administrative and Constitutional Law
Advising in relation to the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act and litigating on behalf of clients when necessary
Administrative and Constitutional Law
Drafting parliamentary submissions on proposed legislation in respect of various matters
Administrative and Constitutional Law
Applying for, and defending against applications for, access to information under the Promotion of Access to Information Act
Administrative and Constitutional Law
Advising departments, municipalities and public entities on contractual relationships with service providers
Administrative and Constitutional Law
Advising departments, municipalities and public entities on contractual relationships with service providers
Administrative and Constitutional Law
Providing public and private entities with opinions on regarding a wide variety of legal questions arising out of various regulatory frameworks that the entities operate in
Administrative and Constitutional Law
Advising on the full suite of electoral laws which includes the Electoral Act, the Electoral Commission Act and the Regulations thereto
Administrative and Constitutional Law
Advising and preparing client's on their participation in the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture
Oil and Gas (and petrochemical)
Advising in relation to the Petroleum Products Act and the the associated regulatory frameworks in respect of downstream activities
Oil and Gas (and petrochemical)
Advising in relation to the Petroleum Products Act and the the associated regulatory frameworks in respect of downstream activities
Oil and Gas (and petrochemical)
- Advising in relation to the Petroleum Products Act and the the associated regulatory frameworks in respect of downstream activities
News

The implications of the Constitutional Court’s decisions on defamation and the existence of the SLAPP suit defence
For any infrastructure development project, regardless of the sector, the environmental and social impact assessment thereof is fundamental for the approval of the development by regulatory authorities,...

Drawing lines in the sand: The promulgation of new Preferential Procurement Regulations and what it means for organs of state and the public
On 4 November 2022, the Minister of Finance promulgated the Preferential Procurement Regulations, 2022 (2022 Regulations) in terms of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework...

Shifting sands: A recent shakeup to the preferential procurement regime in South Africa
Procurement by organs of state is comprehensively regulated; section 217(1) of the Constitution provides that when procuring entities contract for goods or services they must comply...

Exemption clauses and liability for damages
Pens are mightier than swords! None more so than the one used to draft exemption clauses, aka “disclaimer clauses”. An exemption clause is a contractual modification to the common...

Unsuccessful in bidding for a public tender? Think twice before instituting a claim for delictual damages
Under the Constitution, an organ of state must contract for goods and services in accordance with a system that is “ fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost effective”....

Recent judgment declaring level 3 and 4 lockdown regulations invalid and unconstitutional
Dispute Resolution Associate Imraan Abdullah recently joined The Honest Truth with Benito Vergotine to discuss the recent judgment declaring level 3 and 4 lockdown regulations invalid...

Liquor and tobacco ban during level 4
Imraan Abdullah, Associate in our Dispute Resolution practice joined Benito Vergotine on Smile FM to discuss the liquor and tobacco ban during level 4 of the national lockdown.
Expertise

Dispute Resolution
Our lawyers work together with clients to find business-oriented dispute resolution solutions.

Public Law
We have experience across key areas of public law and understand the relevant legal and policy frameworks.

Regulatory
CDH offers expert advice on transactions across many different jurisdictions.