Landmarks

"At the forefront of
environmental and sustainability
law since 1997"

Rated (joint) leading environmental law firm in South Africa by the authoritative Practical Law Company (formally Global Counsel) in 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 with Cormac Cullinan rated highly recommended. This rating is based on independent surveys of various people, including clients.

Advised and assisted the Champions of the Environment Foundation on the setting up of its operational structures.

Represented the Cape Institute for Architecture in appeal proceedings to ensure better protection of the cultural heritage of the Boschendal Estate.

Provided an opinion to Animal Rights Africa on the validity of the regulations permitting elephant culling.

First law firm to form a Project 90 x 2030 club to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Advised the South African Constitutional Assembly on the formulation of the environmental right in the Bill of Rights.

Drafted and argued the first administrative appeal brought under the Genetically Modified Organisms Act against the trial and general release of genetically modified maize event Bt11.

Prepared the legal aspects of the first EIA undertaken in Zambia.

Involved in significant environmental litigation such as:

  • successful application for access to information on behalf of South African NGO Biowatch SA, relying on the Constitutional right of access to information, prior to the commencement of the Promotion of Access to Information Act;

  • several review applications brought under the Environment Conservation Act on behalf of Sasol Oil (Pty) Ltd in the interests of determining the ambit of environmental decision-making and the extent to which it includes the consideration of trade-related concerns of competitors;

  • advising the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa in the “Paradyskloof matter” in which it was recognised that planning decisions should be informed by environmental impact assessments.

Developed a training programme for environmental decision-making by government officials and presented it to provincial and municipal decision-makers, across five provinces.

Acted for the eThekwini Municipality in opposing an application brought under the Development Facilitation Act for the development of the valuable Hawaan coastal forest in KwaZulu-Natal.

Conducted an extensive study of the public participation process in environmental decision-making of the SADC countries, in terms of a consultancy to the Southern African Institute for Environmental Assessment, and prepared a written report detailing the findings of the study.

Acted as lead consultants and drafters of a range of new environmental laws in South Africa and other African countries, including:

  • a new Namibian Parks and Wildlife Management Bill, regulating protected areas and all indigenous flora and fauna in Namibia;

  • a draft Namibian Pollution Control and Waste Management Bill;

  • a national South African Integrated Coastal Management Bill to implement the White Paper for Sustainable Coastal Development in South Africa;

  • a draft provincial Sustainable Development Bill for the Western Cape, to provide for the integration of environmental, planning and heritage considerations into one integrated decision-making process for land use authorisations;

  • a draft provincial Waste Prevention and Management Bill for KwaZulu-Natal, to provide for the regulation of natural resource use and the responsible management of waste;

  • a draft Land Use Management Bill and Regulations for the North West Province;

  • a draft Biodiversity Conservation Bill for the Western Cape Province.

Drafted a range of policies and strategies including:

  • the legal components of the CAPE strategy and action plan to protect the Cape Floral Kingdom, under contract to the Global Environment Fund;

  • a ballast water policy for the national Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism: Marine and Coastal Management;

  • the legal components of an integrated coastal management programme for the Western Cape.

 

Undertook a review of biosafety laws and policy in South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Zambia, under contract to the Heinrich Böll Foundation.