Fiona Leppan

Director

Fiona Leppan is a Director in our Employment Law practice. She has extensive experience in the field of employee relations both from a litigation perspective and in terms of strategic planning. Training and development in this field has been a focal point. Fiona has actively trained clients on how to deal with internal disputes and to conduct enquiries and arbitrations. Fiona previously served as Joint Head of the Mining & Minerals sector. She has also established entire dispute resolution processes for a number of mining houses where disputes were dealt with by way of private conciliation and arbitration. Fiona works in various industries including mining, metals, engineering, retail, broadcasting, financial services and the commercial distributive trade. She has also been involved in occupational health and safety work.

Fiona's sector specialities include Employment litigation, individual labour law, collective bargaining law and strategic planning and Occupational Health & Safety in Mining & Minerals.

Fiona Leppan

About Fiona

About Fiona

Fiona began her career as registrar to Mr Justice Margo in the then Supreme Court. In 1983 Fiona joined Webber Wentzel as a Candidate Attorney where she was later promoted to Partner. She subsequently joined Deneys Reitz as a Partner. In 1998, she left Deneys Reitz to establish the law firm Leppan Beech Attorneys. In 2007 Fiona joined Cliffe Dekker (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) as a Director.

Credentials

Credentials

Education

  • BA LLB, University of Witwatersrand
  • LLM (with distinction), University of the Witwatersrand
  • HDip (Advanced Company Law), University of the Witwatersrand
  • Certificate course (Mining and Prospecting Law) with distinction, Mandela School of Law, University of Witwatersrand
  • Year of admission as an attorney: 1986
  • Registered with the Legal Practice Council

Memberships

  • Member of the SAEFA Industrial Relations Forum in the Metals' Industry
  • SASLAW

Languages

Languages

  • English

About Fiona

Fiona began her career as registrar to Mr Justice Margo in the then Supreme Court. In 1983 Fiona joined Webber Wentzel as a Candidate Attorney where she was later promoted to Partner. She subsequently joined Deneys Reitz as a Partner. In 1998, she left Deneys Reitz to establish the law firm Leppan Beech Attorneys. In 2007 Fiona joined Cliffe Dekker (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) as a Director.

Credentials

Education

  • BA LLB, University of Witwatersrand
  • LLM (with distinction), University of the Witwatersrand
  • HDip (Advanced Company Law), University of the Witwatersrand
  • Certificate course (Mining and Prospecting Law) with distinction, Mandela School of Law, University of Witwatersrand
  • Year of admission as an attorney: 1986
  • Registered with the Legal Practice Council

Memberships

  • Member of the SAEFA Industrial Relations Forum in the Metals' Industry
  • SASLAW

Languages

  • English

News

Determining whether the OHS Act or MHSA’s safety legislation applies to processing activities
Employment Law

Determining whether the OHS Act or MHSA’s safety legislation applies to processing activities

In UASA-The Union v Anglo American Platinum Ltd & Others (10 May 2024: J400/23), UASA-The Union sought a declaratory order in the Labour Court against Anglo American Platinum (AAP)...

Navigating the legal landscape for private cannabis use and how that may impact the workplace: A case of unfair dismissal
Employment Law

Navigating the legal landscape for private cannabis use and how that may impact the workplace: A case of unfair dismissal

In the recent case of Enever v Barloworld Equipment South Africa, a Division of Barloworld South Africa (Pty) Ltd (JA86/22) ZALAC (23 April 2024), the Labour Appeal Court (LAC) considered...

Is a clear criminal history an inherent requirement of the job?
Employment Law

Is a clear criminal history an inherent requirement of the job?

In the recent case of O’ Connor v LexisNexis (Pty) Ltd (P18/24) ZALCPE 11, the Labour Court considered, on an urgent basis, whether the refusal to appoint an individual on the basis...

CCMA commissioners’ authority to expedite dispute resolution under the LRA: A discussion of <em>SAA v SACCA and NUMSA</em>
Employment Law

CCMA commissioners’ authority to expedite dispute resolution under the LRA: A discussion of SAA v SACCA and NUMSA

In 2020, South African Airways (SAA) underwent a restructuring exercise, which involved large-scale retrenchments and significant changes to terms and conditions of employment, impacting...

The over-sensitivities of an individual  employee do not amount to harassment  or unfair discrimination
Employment Law

The over-sensitivities of an individual employee do not amount to harassment or unfair discrimination

In the recent decision of La Foy v Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and Others 1952/2017 , the Labour Court dismissed an application by an employee who sought relief...

Market recognition

  • Chambers Global 2018–2024 ranked Fiona Leppan in Band 2 for employment.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2022–2024 recommend Fiona for mining.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2019–2024 recommended her as a leading individual for employment, and recommended her from 2012–2018.

Market recognition

  • Chambers Global 2018–2024 ranked Fiona Leppan in Band 2 for employment.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2022–2024 recommend Fiona for mining.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2019–2024 recommended her as a leading individual for employment, and recommended her from 2012–2018.