Russel Manuel
Summary
Dynamic Associate Attorney with a proven track record at Lionel Murray Schwormstedt & Louw, excelling in litigation in civil, media law, administrative and labour law. Spearheaded legal strategies with senior attorneys and counsel, achieving successful outcomes in high-stakes litigation. Extensive experience in drafting urgent applications and opinions in pivotal cases involving municipalities, showcasing exceptional case management and advisory skills.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Associate Attorney
Lionel Murray Schwormstedt & Louw
Cape Town
02.2022 - Current
- Various appearances in District and Regional Courts.
- Appear in motion court and conduct own hearings.
- Appearances at CCMA in arbitrations.
- Appearances at Local Government bargaining council and assisted clients with appearances at bargaining council and successfully challenging dismissal.
- Drafted and reviewed legal documents, including contracts, pleadings, and motions, ensuring accuracy and compliance with applicable laws.
- Managed a diverse caseload, prioritizing tasks to meet deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
- Streamlined internal processes by developing templates for commonly used legal documents and correspondence in relating to PIE and ESTA matters.
- Conduct extensive labour law research.
- Provide opinion on labour disputes to clients in business.
- Provided legal advice to political parties in municipal by-elections.
- Instruct and brief counsel in challenging a Municipality in Western Cape.
- Analysed complex legal issues for clients across multiple industries, demonstrating adaptability and versatility in problem-solving skills.
Candidate Attorney
Lionel Murray Schwormstedt & Louw
Cape Town
01.2020 - 02.2022
- Appearances in District, Municipal and Regional Courts in Cape Town in civil and criminal matters.
- Appearance at Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in arbitrations.
- Conduct research for clients in matters relating to commercial contract and cross-border transactions.
- Draft and settle contracts in commercial matters.
- Act as company secretary for transport company in Cape Town.
- Draft pleadings and notices in both Magistrate and High Court.
- Develop strategies in complex administrative law matters involving organs of state.
- Conduct extensive research in electoral laws, both national and local government.
- Involve in cases relating to local government and assisting counsel with drafting.
IT Student Technician
ITHub: Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch
01.2016 - 12.2019
- Automated manual processes through the implementation of custom scripts and tools.
- Assist students in registration of personal computers.
- Repair student and university staff computers.
- Conducted thorough testing procedures to identify and rectify application bugs before deployment to students.
- Managed server configurations to maintain optimal performance levels of university network.
- Contributed innovative ideas during brainstorming sessions for new product features or enhancements to existing systems.
Education
Bachelors of Law - Law
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa12.2019
BTh - Theology
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa12.2016
Skills
- Client Communication
- Contract drafting
- Legal Research
- Legal writing
- Arbitration and civil litigation
- Opinion drafting
- Employment law
- Local government litigation
- Corporate Law
- Legal Advisory
- Case Management in High Court matters
Affiliations
- Legal Practice Council
Certification
- Introduction to Legal Project Management
- Rules of Evidence
- Local Government
- Court room Techniques
Languages
Afrikaans
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Timeline
Associate Attorney
Lionel Murray Schwormstedt & Louw
02.2022 - Current
Candidate Attorney
Lionel Murray Schwormstedt & Louw
01.2020 - 02.2022
IT Student Technician
ITHub: Stellenbosch University
01.2016 - 12.2019
Bachelors of Law - Law
Stellenbosch University
BTh - Theology
Stellenbosch University