Fiona Leppan
Fiona Leppan is a Director in our Employment Law practice. She has extensive experience in the field of employee relations both from a litigation perspective and in terms of strategic planning. Training and development in this field has been a focal point. Fiona has actively trained clients on how to deal with internal disputes and to conduct enquiries and arbitrations. Fiona previously served as Joint Head of the Mining & Minerals sector. She has also established entire dispute resolution processes for a number of mining houses where disputes were dealt with by way of private conciliation and arbitration. Fiona works in various industries including mining, metals, engineering, retail, broadcasting, financial services and the commercial distributive trade. She has also been involved in occupational health and safety work.
Fiona's sector specialities include Employment litigation, individual labour law, collective bargaining law and strategic planning and Occupational Health & Safety in Mining & Minerals.
About Fiona
About Fiona
Fiona began her career as registrar to Mr Justice Margo in the then Supreme Court. In 1983 Fiona joined Webber Wentzel as a Candidate Attorney where she was later promoted to Partner. She subsequently joined Deneys Reitz as a Partner. In 1998, she left Deneys Reitz to establish the law firm Leppan Beech Attorneys. In 2007 Fiona joined Cliffe Dekker (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) as a Director.
Credentials
Credentials
Education
- BA LLB, University of Witwatersrand
- LLM (with distinction), University of the Witwatersrand
- HDip (Advanced Company Law), University of the Witwatersrand
- Certificate course (Mining and Prospecting Law) with distinction, Mandela School of Law, University of Witwatersrand
- Year of admission as an attorney: 1986
- Registered with the Legal Practice Council
Memberships
- Member of the SAEFA Industrial Relations Forum in the Metals' Industry
- SASLAW
Languages
Languages
- English
About Fiona
Fiona began her career as registrar to Mr Justice Margo in the then Supreme Court. In 1983 Fiona joined Webber Wentzel as a Candidate Attorney where she was later promoted to Partner. She subsequently joined Deneys Reitz as a Partner. In 1998, she left Deneys Reitz to establish the law firm Leppan Beech Attorneys. In 2007 Fiona joined Cliffe Dekker (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) as a Director.
Credentials
Education
- BA LLB, University of Witwatersrand
- LLM (with distinction), University of the Witwatersrand
- HDip (Advanced Company Law), University of the Witwatersrand
- Certificate course (Mining and Prospecting Law) with distinction, Mandela School of Law, University of Witwatersrand
- Year of admission as an attorney: 1986
- Registered with the Legal Practice Council
Memberships
- Member of the SAEFA Industrial Relations Forum in the Metals' Industry
- SASLAW
Languages
- English
Experience
Ground breaking cases
Conducted many ground breaking reported cases in the Labour Court, Labour Appeal Court, High Court and Land Claims Court.
Lonmin Platinum
By way of example, she represented the then Lonmin Platinum at the Marikana Commission of Inquiry. She represented Sibanye Gold in the recent 2019 Gold Strike and played an imported role in the resolution of that matter.
Occupational health and safety
Undertaken occupational health and safety work and conducted serious incident and fatal accident inquiries.
Developed Land Law
Developed Land Law as an area of expertise, inclusive of community relocations and land claims.
News
Mental illness as a compensatable disease under COIDA: Key lessons from Urquhart v Compensation Commissioner
In Urquhart v Compensation Commissioner 27 ILJ 96 (E), the High Court addressed whether post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) qualifies as a compensatable illness under section 91...
Mental health and workplace safety: Evolving employer responsibilities under occupational health and safety
Mental health is increasingly recognised as integral to workplace safety. While physical health has traditionally been a focal point for health and safety practitioners, key legislation...
Guidance Note for the Management of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in the South African Mining Industry
On 11 October 2024, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) released the Guidance Note for the Management of Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) in the South African...
Guidelines released by the Department of Employment and Labour: What every employer and worker should know about workplace safety
On 3 October 2024, the Department of Employment and Labour published a critical guide titled: What every worker and employer should know about health and safety in the workplace ....
Strict liability and employers’ approach to the Occupational Health and Safety Act: Lessons from Joubert v Buscor Proprietary Limited
In Joubert v Buscor Joubert v Buscor Proprietary Limited (2013/13116) ZAGPPHC 1024, the application of strict liability under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 (OHSA)...
Health and Safety in the Workplace: Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) - Pending Amendments
Webinar Recording | The new Labour Court and Labour Appeal Court rules: A roadmap to efficiency
On 3 May 2024, new Labour Court and Labour Appeal Rules were published that will soon replace the existing court rules.
Webinar Recording | Health and Safety in the Workplace webinar series: COIDA
Health and safety is an important component of all workplaces. Watch the first webinar discussion of our Health and Safety series.
How well do women fare in the South African labour market
Employment Director Fiona Leppan joined Newzroom Afrika to take a look at whether South African employers are being sufficiently receptive to the additional burden of family responsibility...
Gender parity in the workplace
Fiona Leppan, Director in the Employment practice joined Morning Live on SABC 2 to discuss gender parity in the workplace.
Criminal charges laid by employer? An employer can still take disciplinary action!
The Labour Court held that criminal charges laid by the employer against an employee can never stand in the way of that employer subjecting the employee to a disciplinary enquiry in...
Can an employee be dismissed for refusing to obey an instruction to work overtime?
Recently the labour court handed down a judgment in which it had to consider whether dismissal for insubordination was an appropriate sanction for employees who refused to obey an...
Four day work week
During her interview with 702, to discuss the global trend of a four-day work week, Fiona Leppan, Director in our Employment Law practice noted that, "doing collaborative sessions...
Firefighter injured on Duty – A closer look into inherent job requirements and reasonable accommodation
Recently, the Constitutional Court decided the case of Adam Damons v City of Cape Town, where an employee firefighter who was injured at work and sustained a disability (as a result...
Religious and cultural wear at work
Religious and cultural expression is of paramount importance among South Africans, and as we come down from the high of Heritage Day on 24 September, the conversation around religious,...
Market recognition
- Chambers Global 2018–2024 ranked Fiona Leppan in Band 2 for employment.
- The Legal 500 EMEA 2022–2024 recommend Fiona for mining.
- The Legal 500 EMEA 2019–2024 recommended her as a leading individual for employment, and recommended her from 2012–2018.
Market recognition
- Chambers Global 2018–2024 ranked Fiona Leppan in Band 2 for employment.
- The Legal 500 EMEA 2022–2024 recommend Fiona for mining.
- The Legal 500 EMEA 2019–2024 recommended her as a leading individual for employment, and recommended her from 2012–2018.
Expertise
Employment Law
CDH offers support to clients engaging in the complex and constantly evolving people management space.
Occupational Health & Safety
Our Occupational Health & Safety team delivers clear and precise legal advice.
Mining & Minerals
We help our clients navigate legal and administrative complexities in this key economic sector.
Industrials, Manufacturing & Trade
We provide a multidisciplinary approach to legal and commercial matters across Africa.
Technology & Communications
Our team offers advice on a wide range of functions and sector-related issues.