Denis Peterson

• Leadership in Legal Affairs:

In my capacity as the General Counsel, I have demonstrated comprehensive leadership in managing legal affairs, encompassing entities such as Mercedes-Benz South Africa Limited Group.

• Corporate Secretarial Expertise:

My role as Company Secretary entailed ensuring regulatory compliance and providing pivotal support to the Board and its committees, reinforcing corporate governance frameworks.

• Governance and Compliance Oversight :

I have managed governance compliance within a multinational holding structure, ensuring adherence to both local and international legal frameworks.

• Comprehensive Compliance Management :

My responsibility in compliance management extends across various domains, including the development, implementation, and monitoring of relevant policies and regulations.

• Legal Advisory and Reporting:

I am adept at providing legal opinions, drafting, and finalizing legal reports, and have been responsible for board-level reporting and regulatory engagement with entities such as the Competition Commission, National Credit Regulator, and National Consumer Commission.

• Strategic Implementation and Government Liaison :

I have been instrumental in implementing continuous improvement strategies, engaging with government entities including the Office of the President, the Department of Trade and Industry, and Parliament.

• Organizational Structuring :

My expertise includes managing company structuring and restructuring projects, as well as the management of entity trusts.

• JSE Compliance and Investor Relations:

I have ensured compliance with JSE debt listing requirements, managing investor relations, and overseeing bond issuances, including short-term and long-term funding arrangements.

• Litigation:

Skilled in commercial litigation, including contractual, consumer, and credit disputes, with proficiency in alternative dispute resolution and experience across various courts, including the Arms Procurement Commission.

• Corporate Law :

Experienced in corporate governance, including company secretariat functions for listed and unlisted entities, compliance with the Companies Act and King Reports, and assistance with JSE listing requirements.

• Contractual and Commercial Drafting :

Comprehensive drafting skills covering a wide range of agreements, from service level and credit agreements to intellectual property and commercial leases, coupled with providing expert opinions on contractual matters.

• Public Law :

Adept at assisting public entities with compliance related to public finance management and treasury practices, including investigating financial irregularities and drafting procurement policies.

• Environmental Law :

Active contribution to the Natural Scientific Act amendments and involvement in professional conduct investigations as a member of the Disciplinary Committee of the South African Council for Natural Scientists.

• Consumer Protection and National Credit Act :

Expertise in ensuring compliance with the Consumer Protection Act, conducting audits and seminars, and advising on the National Credit Act.

• Intellectual Property :

Experience in managing intellectual property, including trademark registration and disputes, and addressing cyber-related issues.

• Leadership in Legal Services:

Oversee legal services team performance, including appraisals, objective setting, and employee development in line with business and legal objectives.

Manage legal budget and implement cost control strategies.

Ensure efficient client service agreement management.

• Legal Reporting and Strategy :

Prepare and provide legal insights in reports to inform business decisions and legal implications.

Advise the Board and Executive Committee on aligning business strategies with legal principles for risk mitigation.

Align legal services strategy with overall business goals to position legal services as a strategic business partner.

• Procurement and Compliance :

Manage procurement processes and ensure compliance with the Public Finance Management Act and organizational policies.

Oversee legal services management in accordance with PFMA, fraud prevention, risk management principles, and relevant legislation.

• External Legal Management :

Supervise external attorneys, ensuring alignment with business and legal accountabilities.

Influence service delivery across the business to improve coordination and facilitate legal interventions for strategic alignment.

• Corporate Governance:

Promote good corporate governance and produce timely monitoring reports to achieve business objectives.

• Employment Law:

Represent the company in various labour disputes and courts.

Draft employment agreements and handle high-profile disciplinary inquiries.

Provide strategic employment advice to Group Executives and assist the Industrial Relations Committee.

Draft legal opinions and reports on labour issues and handle employment law matters for subsidiaries.

• Litigation:

Handle litigation across various courts, provide legal opinions, and assist in debt collection and civil litigation.

Manage contingent liabilities to reduce risks.

• Commercial and Corporate Law :

Assist in company secretarial functions and ensure compliance with relevant acts and regulations.

Draft and vet various agreements, advise on risks, and assist in procurement and governance matters.

• Intellectual Property :

Manage intellectual property plans, including registration and renewal of trademarks, designs, or patents, and manage dispute resolutions for cybercrimes.

• Regulatory, Legislation, and Insurance :

Assist in drafting new legislation, manage regulatory compliance, provide corporate governance assistance, and offer legal support to various divisions

• Litigation and Court Representation :

Draft and manage a range of applications in Labour, Lower, and High Courts, including review applications, interdicts, summonses, and appeal applications.

Represent clients in lower, higher, Labour, and Labour Appeal Courts.

Handle arbitrations, mediations, conciliations, and representation in bargaining councils and tribunals for labour disputes.

• Specialized Legal Services:

Specialize in labour-related disputes, commercial litigation, contract actions, divorce, and family matters.

Chair disciplinary inquiries and manage demarcations at bargaining councils and CCMA.

• Legal Opinions and Agreement Management :

Provide legal opinions on litigation possibilities, risks in commercial and labour matters, and proposed ventures.

Prepare and vet legal agreements, ensuring robust legal governance for client companies.

Manage client litigation, contract administration, and third-party obligations.

• Client Support and Contractual Activities:

Offer strategic advice on strikes, retrenchments, disciplinary inquiries, and labour disputes.

Draft and review contracts and agreements, including labour and commercial transactions.

Administer client's liability and warranty dispute funds.

Assist in plant-level negotiations, compliance with bargaining council agreements, and sectoral determinations.

• Policy Development and Training:

Draft and review policies and internal procedures for clients.

Conduct training sessions on labour-related matters and assist in business transfers and compliance orders.

• Legal Research:

Conduct extensive legal research on various matters.

• Litigation Management:

Authorize and manage Labour Court and Labour Appeal Court litigation nationwide.

Correspond with and instruct attorneys and advocates for litigation matters.

Monitor and track litigation progress involving our clients.

• Legal Applications and Representation:

Assess reviewability of arbitration awards and oppose applications against clients and the organization.

Assist in drafting review applications, interdicts, rescission applications, and other Labour Court applications.

Represent clients in Labour and Labour Appeal Courts, including pre-trial matters.

• Specialized Legal Services:

Draft opposing papers for claims such as unfair dismissal and strikes.

Provide specialized training to legal advisors on new Labour Court judgement.

Source and distribute new labour policy developments.

Offer legal opinions on Labour Court and Labour Appeal Court actions.

• Interdicts and Legal Ventures:

Address interdicts and contempt of court applications.

Draft opinions on proposed legal ventures.

Manage liability fund claims and payments.

• General Legal Experience:

Draft and review company policies and employment contracts for compliance.

Chair disciplinary inquiries and advise on retrenchment procedures.

Provide assistance on fairness of disciplinary inquiries, dismissals, strikes, and lockouts.

Negotiate with unions on wages, recognition agreements, and organizational rights.

• Labour Dispute Representation:

Represent clients in labour disputes including unfair dismissals, strikes, and lockouts.

Maintain an excellent record of accomplishment in arbitrations and conciliations.

Research labour related matters for knowledge and quality management.

• Compliance and Advice:

Assist clients with compliance of bargaining council agreements and sectoral determinations.

Advise clients on labour related incidents and demarcations at bargaining councils