Chris is a lead trainer, coach, and assessor on the Conflict Dynamics mediator skills training course. He was accredited by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) as a commercial mediator in April 2007 and his mediation experience includes representing parties in mediations and serving as mediator in high-stake employment and commercial disputes.

Chris has BA Honours degrees from the University of Cape Town and Oxford (Jurisprudence). He has practiced in all areas of employment law from his admission as an attorney in 1996, with a special focus on employment and dispute resolution in the public law sphere. He has advised extensively on the employment law implications of business transfers in the public and private sectors, privatisation initiatives, and outsourcing.

He is co-author of multiple academic works including on mediation (Commercial Mediation, a User’s Guide, Juta, 2012 ) and on employment rights in business transfers (Business Transfers and Employment Rights in South Africa, 2004; Lexis Nexis, 2004; Collective Bargaining Law, 2004; and Contracts of Employment, 2008). As well as this, he is a lecturer and programme developer for post-graduate courses on negotiation at Wits University’s Mandela Institute the University of Cape Town.

After a two-year stint practicing in a corporate mergers and acquisitions team, Chris returned to a dispute resolution practice, providing advisory and litigation services in employment, public law, and ADR. During his dispute resolution practice Chris has represented local government clients in High Court litigation over public sector pension fund restructuring, involving several years of complex litigation and ADR; and in employment litigation at various levels including public and private employment law tribunals, in the Labour Court, Labour Appeal Court and Constitutional Court. He has also represented a range of public sector clients in boardroom or senior executive disputes and in related mediation or facilitation processes; and pro bono in public interest matters for NGO clients. Chris has advised BUSA in the most recent round of negotiations on amendments to labour laws.

Chris’ dispute resolution career includes roles as an adjudicator, having served two periods as an acting judge of the Labour Court and on private tribunals in employment disputes.

Chris is available to train in English.