CDH Conversations

Join Trusts & Estates practice Director, Emily West as she sits down with Practice Head, Gretchen Barkhuizen-Barbosa to discuss a critical yet often overlooked topic: Estate Planning for Women-Owned Businesses in South Africa.

In this episode, they dive deep into the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs when it comes to securing their legacies and protecting their businesses. They cover key points:

Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting your journey, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you future-proof your business.

Watch and gain expert advice on securing your business’s legacy and the impact it can have on your community or click here to listen to this insightful discussion.

Every month CDH Kenya Partner Njeri Wagacha releases a new episode of her podcast, 'Njeri Talks Law'

The Department of Employment and Labour has recently conducted labour inspection raids that have attracted significant attention from the media and employers.

It is essential that employers understand the origins and scope of these possible inspection raids so that they can prepare themselves and the business accordingly.

In this week’s episode of CDH Conversations, Employment Law Director Yvonne Mkefa and Senior Associate Leila Moosa answer critical questions for employers, including: How are labour inspectors empowered? What are their powers? Do they need a warrant to enter work premises? And how can they be identified?

Since 2011, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr's (CDH) Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice (Pro Bono Practice) has been at the heart of our firm's commitment to making a real difference.Over the past decade, our Pro Bono Practice has passionately championed the cause of public interest, providing pro bono legal support to clients in need. The decision to establish a dedicated practice was motivated by our belief  in giving back to the communities in which we operate and in the power of the legal profession to spark positive change.
 
But our contribution to access to justice doesn’t end with our Pro Bono Practice.  Across our entire firm, fee-earners have eagerly and generously volunteered their expertise to provide pro bono assistance. This collective effort demonstrates our firm's commitment to social justice and our belief that access to quality legal representation should never be a privilege, but a right. 
 
In the launch of our exciting new podcast series, "Justice and Public Interest on the Mic", we're thrilled to introduce you to Jacquie Cassette, the Head of our Pro Bono Practice and Director in our Johannesburg office; Brigitta Mangale, Director in our Cape Town office; and Thobeka Dhlamini, a Candidate Attorney in our Johannesburg office. Together, they discuss the heart of our Practice's mission, sharing the work we do and the challenges and successes that shape our work. Join them, as they reveal what's in store for this series, highlighting the true impact of our efforts and the lives we've touched. 

In this insightful interview, Puleng Mothabeng, Associate in our Tax & Exchange Control practice, sits down with Director, Jerome Brink to discuss the evolving gender dynamics within tax careers in South Africa. They explore the barriers women face in the field, the critical

The public interest assessment element of merger control has undergone significant transformation since the Competition Act's inception.

While nobody would debate the urgent need for socio-economic change and transformation in South Africa, the extent to which the Competition Authorities, as gatekeepers for merger control, ought to be placing onerous policy obligations on an increasingly beleaguered M&A space remains a subject of debate. Do the ends justify the means, or is the policy extracting rents from merging parties?
 
In this podcast, legal experts Chris Charter and Duran Naidoo delve into the evolution of the public interest paradigm, analysing how it has shaped merger assessments and its broader implications for South Africa.
 
The conversation reflects on the public interest assessment pre and post-legislative amendments to the Competition Act. They discuss how the amendments have expanded the scope of public interest considerations, compelling merging parties to address not just traditional competition concerns in merger filings, but also a range of public interest factors. They also discuss strategies for navigating the complexities of the regulator’s expectations, emphasising the importance of merging parties being proactive and creative when dealing with the public interest assessment. 

Tax & Exchange Control Director, Howmera Parak and Associate, Puleng Mothabeng engage in a dynamic conversation about the current state of women's representation in the legal and tax professions in South Africa. Puleng shares her journey, highlighting the barriers she has encountered and her vision for the future. Howmera discusses her experiences, the progress made over the years, and the initiatives in place to support women in the tax field.

Together, they explore how increasing women's representation can drive encourage more women to pursue a career in tax and offer practical advice to young women aspiring to enter the profession. 

Every month CDH Kenya Partner Njeri Wagacha publishes a podcast 'Njeri Talks Law'.

This month's guest is Eric Mwangi, Director Technology Innovation at Capita. Eric is currently a programme lead, working on the UK governments Level up programme. He is a founding member

Listen to this success story which is an inspiration of all founders, entrepreneurs, and dreamers.

CDH is excited to bring another episode in our CDH Conversations Women's Empowerment series as part of commemorating Women's Month this year. Hosted by

We believe these conversations are crucial in highlighting the issues affecting women and recognising the importance of these discussions throughout the year.

Click here to listen our more conversations about women

CDH is excited to bring another episode in our CDH Conversations Women's Empowerment series as part of commemorating Women's Month this year.

In commemoration of Women's Month, CDH is proud to present a special podcast series dedicated to women's empowerment.

Join us as we discuss the critical legal protections for LGBTQ+ women in the workplace with Employment Law Directors, Asma Cachalia and Nadeem Mahomed. Learn about the significant challenges that LGBTQ+ women face and understand how workplace culture can be improved and how existing laws can be used to ensure a safer, more inclusive environment. Don’t miss this insightful conversation aimed at fostering equality and support for all women.