FIRM PROFILE Ezra Matlala Attorneys Established in March 2011, Ezra Matlala Attorneys (EM Attorneys) is a dynamic boutique law firm based in Johannesburg. The firm was founded by Mr Ezra Mzwandile Matlala. The founder of the firm and his associates are qualified and duly admitted attorneys of the High Court of South Africa. EM Attorneys has set up strategic associations with Mervyn Taback Incorporated (Tabacks) - a highly reputable corporate and commercial law firm. The association with Tabacks provides the firm with the necessary infrastructure and support to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. At EM Attorneys, we have unrivaled passion for excellent and professional service coupled with timeous delivery. We are committed to being professional in every service that we offer, and to render legal services of a highest calibre and quality. Our business is built on exceptionally profound principles of allegiance, commitment, excellent service, passion and professionalism. Our Approach EM Attorneys is founded on a strong value system and we treat our clientele with the utmost regard. We are able to utilise our current experience coupled with our strategic association with Tabacks, to deliver effective and efficient services to our clientele. Thereby offering exceptional legal services to our clients ensuring that we maintain these values, as this is very important to us. We also naturally appreciate the precise nature of our clients business and this results in our ability to deliver sound and appropriate advice, which is tailor made to yield maximum advantage and benefit for our clients.
Pedigree Mr Ezra Matlala and his associates have received extensive legal training and experience at various prestigious law firms. In 2007 Mr Ezra Matlala served his articles of clerkship at Kekana Hlatshwayo Radebe Incorporated, a civil litigation law firm based in Johannesburg thereafter he ceded his articles to Tabacks, a coporate and commercial law firm based in Parktown. In May 2010, Mr Ezra Matlala was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa, thereafter he worked as an associate at a corporate and commercial law firm based in Sandton. Mr Christopher Silas Moyo a senior associate at EM Attorneys was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 2006, he served his articles of clerkship at Van Heerden s Incorporated, a civil and commercial law firm until 2005, in 2006 Mr Christopher Silas Moyo was appointed as a director at the firm a position he held until 2007, whereafter he headed the newly established Homeloans Debt Review Department at Nedbank Limited, he then proceeded to practice for his own account until 2012. Practice Areas EM Attorneys is a dynamic law firm with a commercial and corporate law focus, specialising in the following practice areas:- 1. Corporate and Commercial Law 2. Civil and Commercial Litigation 3. Competition / Antitrust Law 4. Employment and Labour Law 5. Mining Law 6. Consumer Law Advisory
PRACTICE AREA DETAILS Corporate and Commercial Law The nature and context of our indifferent African environment can offer unique challenges to businesses. At EM Attorneys we possess a home grown understanding coupled with an excellent track record and a je ne sais quoi, we are truly well positioned to meet opportunities and challenges together with our clientele. We are able to provide sustainable solutions to meet the ever changing demands required to excel. Together with our strategic associate our highly skilled team of corporate and commercial advisors can assist our clientele with amongst other things: mergers, acquisitions and take-overs listings schemes of arrangement capital restructurings structured finance transactions Civil and Commercial Litigation In recent years, we have been involved in a large number of high level litigious matters. We are able to provide a full range of effective and solution based dispute resolution services.
In most instances, litigation matters can be long and arduous. However, at EM Attorneys we seek to circumvent litigation where possible and, as an alternative, provide advice before any litigations process may ensue. It is our litigation strategy to ensure that any potential litigation complexities are disentangled and resolved at the earliest possible opportunity, and this is done in the most cost-effective and efficient manner. Where litigation proves inevitable, we are able to utilise our skills and expertise to try and ensure effective resolution of a wide range of dispute resolution matters. We have wealth of experience in civil and commercial litigation in the Magistrate s Court Practice, High Court Practice and the Supreme Court of Appeal. Competition / Antitrust Law We have expertise in a wide range of competition law aspects. Our practice involves: assisting clients to obtain approvals for mergers and acquisitions and providing pre-transaction advice on the prospects of obtaining such approvals, advising clients on issues relating to compliance with the Competition Act, which includes reviewing firms' business practices and agreements such as pricing policies, distribution arrangements, joint venture agreements as well as the rules and practices of industry associations; and advising clients on prohibited practices. Employment and Labour Law We have extensive skills and expertise in this arena and possess specialist knowledge in all relevant aspects of Employment and Labour law, discrimination
in the work place, protected disclosures in the context of the Protected Disclosures Act (PDA), and employee benefits, for instance, pension fund related issues. We offer our clients advice on the following aspects: drafting employment agreements, conducting disciplinary enquiries and arbitrations, unfair labour practice disputes, occupational detriment and/or whistle blowing as envisaged in the PDA, all aspects of unfair dismissals, retrenchments, employment transfers in terms of section 197 of the Labour Relations Act (LRA), Employment Equity Act (EEA), Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), and Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA). Mining Law EM Attorneys with its strategic associate have the necessary expertise to provide an invaluable service to industry participants. Since the advent of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 28 of 2002 ("MPRDA") including the draft amendment bill, this field offers its fair share of challenges, and any participant would require an evolving and dynamic firm by their side. With an abundance of mineral resources which account for a significant proportion of world production and reserves, mining companies in South Africa are key players in the global industry. The changing nature of mining regulation from a common-law base to a largely legislated system subject to both constitutional and administrative law principles has brought with it new challenges for businesses operating in this sector, and it is vitally important not only to understand the law but to implement all transactions accordingly.
We specialise in offering the following expert services: advice on the MPRDA and BEE legislation new applications for rights, permits and permissions conversion of rights and permits under the MPRDA transfers of mining and prospecting rights all relevant mining and prospecting agreements share and business sales of mining-related operations due diligence investigations Consumer Law Advisory Our Consumer Law department is well equipped to offer advice to business on important consumer legislation. With experience in the National Credit Act as well as involvement with the implementation of the Consumer Protection Act, this department is very fortunate to have the necessary expertise required to assist business navigate the often challenging requirements of trade and industry. Vision EM Attorneys seeks to establish itself as a passionate and sought after firm that will invoke a strong sense of national and continental pride. Our goal is also to transgress the socio-economic divide through fair and exceptional representation.
Black Economic Empowerment EM Attorneys is a 100 percent Black Owned Entity; we are fully compliant with empowerment directives. Our major objective is also to provide the necessary skills training to our fellow previously disadvantaged candidate attorneys, personnel and paralegals. Fees Our fees are based mainly on time spent, albeit other factors discussed and agreed with the client may be taken into consideration. Hourly billing rates vary according to seniority of the attorney. It is our practice to discuss fees with clients and to ensure that work is done cost effectively by professionals with the relevant and applicable skills and expertise. Contact Us: Ezra Matlala Attorneys (EM Attorneys) 6 th Floor North City House 28 Melle Street Braamfontein, 2001 Tel: 011 047 1427 Fax: 086 694 3942 Email: ezra@emattorneys.co.za Ezra Mwzandile Matlala: 082 679 8443 www.emattorneys.co.za