Law Firms News Updates 2020

lawyers for former rugby players will send a letter of claim to World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union on Tuesday in a class-action suit which alleges that their failure to protect them has led to early onset of dementia.

In a recent judgment, the Labour Appeal Court (LAC) had to once again deal with the issue of a resignation with immediate effect and disciplinary action, says law firm Webber Wentzel.

lawyers for former rugby players will send a letter of claim to World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union on Tuesday in a class-action suit which alleges that their failure to protect them has led to early onset of dementia.

lawyers for former rugby players will send a letter of claim to World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union on Tuesday in a class-action suit which alleges that their failure to protect them has led to early onset of dementia.

The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has announced an interim six-member South African Airways (SAA) board as the airline prepares to relaunch in 2021. In a statement on Wednesday, the department said Geoff Qhena will chair the board, which also comprises Peter Tshisevhe, June Crawford, Bembe Zwane, Professor Edna van Harte and Nick Fadugba. The six, said DPE, are expected to restore proper governance and oversight of the airline during the implementation of a business rescue plan. As a shareholder on behalf of government, the DPE is delighted that these experienced professionals have agreed to join the board of SAA. Their combination of academic, financial, legal and aviation experience, with deep knowledge of global aviation and transportation trends, will bring a new perspective as the national carrier prepares to relaunch next year. The appointments, it said also enhances the independence and balance of the board, whilst continuing the process of transformation and renewal. Qhenais a qualified Chartered Account and a seasoned finance executive. He is a former Chief Executive Officer of the Industrial Development Corporation, where he was at the helm for 13 years. Tshisevheis a mergers and acquisitions lawyer with extensive experience in transaction advisory services. He is a director and partner at TGR Attorneys, a leading commercial law firm in Johannesburg. He is also a part-time lecturer at Wits University law School. He has been retained from the previous board to provide continuity. Crawford, wholeads the Aviation Working Group of the South African Business Council, is a leading aviation and tourism leader and professional. She has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Airlines Representatives of South Africa, director at the Air Traffic and Navigation Services and Deputy Chairperson of the Tourism Council of South Africa. Meanwhile, Zwaneis an aviation entrepreneur who is a part-owner in an aviation training solutions provider, a car rental business and an aviation logistics business. She is a former executive at Imperial Logistics and Equity Aviation. Professor Van Harteis an academic and former dean of the faculty of Military Science at the South African National Defence Force's military academy at Saldanha Bay and former Chairperson of the Defence Service Commission. She has served on various boards and commissions. Sixth board member Nick Fadugba,is an aviation professional with many years in consulting and promoting aviation development on the African continent, including leading the African Airlines Association. He has served as the Chairperson of African Business Aviation Association and has been involved in discussions on a Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). In charting the way forward, the DPE said it believes that the key to solving the difficulties facing SAA is the finalisation and implementation of the business rescue process, followed by the start of a restructured airline; appointment of a leadership team; and securing a credible strategic equity partner who can introduce the required technical, financial, and operational expertise into the business. The new airline will be run in a professional and sustainable manner to support key economic sectors including tourism, trade with the continent, the local aeronautics industries and local service providers, said the department.

The Covid-19 pandemic has created additional complexity for employer considerations during the festive season, particularly at the cusp of what seems to be the dreaded 'second wave', says law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr.

The innovative AI technology developed by Moroccan startup ATLAN Space has attracted a $1.1-million Series A funding round from Maroc Numeric Fund. In an official press release, Dounia Boumehdi, Managing Director of MITC Capital, which is the management company of Maroc Numeric Fund II, commented on the research and development made in AI which resulted in the creation of ATLAN Space. The fund management team is proud to support Atlan Space, a Moroccan startup that is the result of many years of R D in artificial intelligence, and which has a proven technology with several clients internationally and in Morocco, with a high environmental and humanitarian impact. AI with a purpose Founded in 2016 by Younes Moumen and Badr Idrissi, ATLAN Space has developed cutting-edge AI technology that guides unmanned aircrafts, including drones to identify environmental and marine areas that face potential threats. ATLANs patent technology assists institutions and governments in combating environmental crime and assisting vulnerable populations. The AI-focused startup has received numerous accolades for its unique product, such as the African Entrepreneurship Award in 2017, and was acclaimed as one of the top 10 AI startups in Europe in 2018. Previously funded by the Caisse Centrale de Garantie (CCG) as part of the Innov Start program and by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), ATLAN has proven investor-ready as it received seed funding in 2019 from Katapult Ocean Fund, a Norwegian Investment fund. ATLAN Space aims to drive ethical uses of technology to assist with environmental protection and sustaining human life. Badr Idrissi, CEO of ATLAN Space, explained the development of artificial intelligence and how it assists with sustaining the environment. ATLAN Space is developing artificial intelligence to enable UAVs to carry out tracking missions in total autonomy and without human intervention. This is for humanitarian purposes or to fight environmental crimes such as illegal fishing or deforestation. Accelerating high potential startups through investment Maroc Numeric Fund has been operating since 2010. It is an investment fund targeting technology startups in Morocco. The expertise offered by the management team has resulted in several Moroccan success stories as it amplifies high potential startups. Participants in the Series A investment round also included Legal counsel, Hilmi law Firm, and Certified Public Accountant, Cadex Group which is represented by Mr. Yassine Benhammou.

The next few months are going to be very busy for retirement funds and their administrators. This is because the new tax rules regarding the annuitisation of provident funds will be coming into effect on 1 March 2021, says law firm Bowmans.

Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu has welcomed the Government Employees Medical Schemes (GEMS) undertaking to validate the qualifications of an executive. This comes after media reports alleging that GEMS Corporate Services Chief Officer, Dr Sam Lewatle, held a fraudulent PhD qualification. In a statement responding to the allegations, GEMS Chief Marketing Officer, Dr Phumelela Dhlomo, confirmed that Dr Lewatle did not hold a PhD qualification and clarified that the same was not a requirement for the position held by Dr Lewatle. Dr Dhlomo further mentioned that a number of allegations had been made in respect of the qualifications of the Schemes Executive Committee members. Mchunu said, in order to investigate the veracity of the allegations made, GEMS has since appointed an independent law firm to verify and confirm the validity of the qualifications held by all the Executive Committee members. The Minister welcomes the undertakings by the Scheme in the validation of the qualifications and looks forward to receiving the final legal report with the relevant findings. As no corruption and misrepresentation of any nature will be tolerated in the public service, the Minister commends the Scheme for its transparency and proactivity in ensuring that the integrity of the Scheme is kept intact, the Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

New legal representatives will advise on how to release the full Fundudzi forensic report