Think DM, Think Contemporary Law Firm

Practical experience

Curwin specializes in labour and employment law but his practice extends to a varying array of matters. His duties and responsibilities include the effective management of processes and legal advice in respect of various aspects within the legal sector including but not limited to regulatory compliance and the effective management of labour and employment law issues as well as civil and commercial litigation, general litigation, land lord and tenant disputes, evictions, the debt recovery processes, administrative and public law disputes and personal injury law. Curwin often appears in various forums including the High Court, Magistrates Court, Labour Court, Labour Appeal Court, the CCMA and bargaining councils. Some of the matters that he has been involved in include the following:

• Assisted the Central Energy Fund to advise on labour and employment aspects of the merger of its subsidiaries to establish a single petroleum company of South Africa.
• Assists PRASA in defending various personal injury claims resulting from rail commuter incidents.
• Assists various municipalities with administrative reviews of the award of tenders and preparation and drafting of tenders. Curwin is currently part of a team of procurement attorneys instructed to review and draft bespoke tenders to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory compliance, and in accordance with the client’s interests.
• Assisted clients with various legal opinions stemming from forensic investigations and advising on disciplinary action to be taken.
• Advises and represents clients on complex and high-level labour and employment law matters including initiating and chairing disciplinary enquiries and representation of clients at the CCMA and Bargaining Councils in respect of alleged unfair dismissal and unfair labour practice disputes, as well as the institution of or opposition of reviews of awards stemming from binding disciplinary enquiry rulings or CCMA and bargaining council awards.
• Assisted a private wine distribution company with the enforcement of restraint of trade provisions in contracts of previous employees and proceeded with subsequent damages claims against such employees, which included the necessity for an anton pillar application to secure evidence.
• Represented PRASA Cres (PRASA’s property division) with the management of their landlord and tenant portfolio which included the general advice and management of the commercial and residential properties and specifically proceeding with litigation for the recovery of arrear rental and eviction proceedings against the tenants of the properties upon termination of the leases as well as any commercial disputes related thereto.
• Assisting clients with POPIA compliance, drafting relevant opinions and relevant policies relating to governing and procurement solutions.
• Advising clients on property law and management relates aspects, including advising on the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act.
• Drafted and reviewed various complex and high level contracts on behalf of numerous private clients.
• Curwin’s regular clients include the Department of Home Affairs, City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality, Road Accident Fund, Transnet National Ports Authority, Airports Company of South Africa, Passenger Rails Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and the Strategic Fuel Fund

Area of expertise

• Administrative & Public Law;
• Corporate and Commercial Law;
• Procurement Law;
• Labour and Employment Law;
• Personal Injury Law;
• Property Law and Management;
• Evictions & Landlord and Tenant Disputes; and
• Commercial, General Civil and Labour Litigation.

Qualifications

• Admitted and practising Attorney (2017)
• LLB
• School for Legal Practice
• Certificate in Practice Management