JJ van der Walt

JJ frequently prepares clients for, and advise clients on, inquiries against executive and other senior employees. He regularly acts as the lead attorney, and ultimately appears, in review and urgent applications, trials, and various interlocutory applications in the Labour Court.

Multinational companies often approach JJ to restructure their local operations in South Africa or to facilitate multi-jurisdictional projects.

After having conducted investigations, he would advise clients on disciplining employees as well as on mitigating risk associated with criminal misconduct. Clients often approach JJ to engage regulatory bodies and government institutions on their behalf.

He has gained extensive experience in preparing and advising on workplace policies and employment contracts, and has prepared various opinions on employment and related issues.

JJ has been involved in high-profile multi-jurisdictional investigations that includes the application of eDiscovery software and preparation of various forensic reports after reviewing, analysing, and verification of evidence.

He has also guided clients through interaction and co-operation with public bodies. Allied hereto, he often prepares opinions on criminal offences, including the obligation of self-disclosure.

Experience obtained prior to joining Baker McKenzie.

Employment law

• Advised a mining company and producer of phosphates and phosphoric acid in successful disciplinary proceedings concerning senior employees implicated in tender corruption, fraud and other irregularities.
• Advised a multinational and listed integrated energy and chemical company in the investigation of systemic harassment and abuse of a Covid-19 vulnerable employee.
• Advised a multinational and listed integrated energy and chemical company in Labour Court trials regarding a large-scale retrenchment with the nature of risk being the fairness of process of dismissing 5,000 employees.
• Advised a multinational and listed integrated energy and chemical company in complex Labour Court review applications with a risk value of ZAR 30 million.
• Advised and successfully represented a coal mining company in an essential services investigation valued at ZAR 2 million.

Investigations

• Advised a multinational global paint pigment manufacturer on investigations of large theft and criminal obligations.
• Investigated a multinational listed integrated energy and chemical company concerning threats of death and advised on remedies and managing organised labour.
• Investigated a multinational software applications corporation concerning alleged involvement in ‘state capture’, valued at ZAR 70 million.
• Investigated one of the largest multinational management consulting firms concerning illegal transactions involving the South African Revenue Service, valued at ZAR 164 million.
• Investigated allegations of misconduct against the general secretary of the Federation of Unions, valued at ZAR 1 million.

• Law Society of South Africa - Member