Jean-Pierre Van Zyl
Partner
Specialist in Employment Law.
I joined Short Richardson and Forth LLP in April 2005 having qualified as a Solicitor here during 2003 and prior to that as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa during 1998. I have specialised in both contentious and non-contentious employment law for over 16 years.
I provide day-to-day advice and practical guidance on a wide range of HR issues, but continue to enjoy the buzz of advocating at Employment Tribunals and Employment Appeal Tribunals.
I have particular expertise dealing with terminations; negotiating exit packages and resisting claims of unfair and wrongful dismissal. As the trend toward multi-jurisdictional claims continues I am also well versed with complaints of discrimination on the grounds of sex, race and disability.
A regular speaker at client and public seminars I have also appeared on BBC 1’s Inside Out programme to explain the status of workers, employees and the self employed and have commented on BBC Radio Newcastle on the dismissal of poorly performing employees.
Chambers Guide to the legal profession has recognised me as a leader in employment law in its 2012 edition...
Recently I have dealt with executive terminations/boardroom disputes acting for individuals and commercial clients across a broad range of sectors. I have dealt with a number of claims of unfair dismissal and unfair constructive dismissal (including a potentially high value claim brought by the Managing Director of an international company); two high value race discrimination claims and a high profile claim of sex discrimination/harassment. I have both prosecuted and defended appeals in the Employment Appeal Tribunal and have defended a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive regarding multiple alleged breaches of the Working Time Regulations. I have also advised a number of clients in relation to apprentices and effects of the Agency Workers Regulations.
My clients include Alkor-Venellia GmbH, Entrust, Esso Petroleum Company Ltd, Gigant (UK) Ltd, Henry Colbeck, ISIS Property Services, Piramal UK Ltd, The Protector Group, and colleagues in the legal profession.
Client Feedback Includes:
“We have built up a special relationship with our key lawyer, JP van Zyl who has successfully defended us in a number of complex and potentially high profile cases. Advice is practical, commercially astute, relevant and provided in a timely fashion. Over time we have developed a strong partnership and I recommend the firm highly and with no reservation.”
“advice from JP at the earliest possible stage allowed us to be well prepared and pre-empted issues before they arose. This saved us a considerable amount of money and avoided litigation.”
“he has taken the time to get to know our business as it has grown. As always, he is practical, flexible yet always decisive-just wish we had him on board 15yrs earlier”
Industry Associations/Memberships
The Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society, The Employment Lawyers’ Association.
Away from work I enjoy time with my family, good food and fine wine. When inclined I am an unenthusiastic jogger and fair weather cyclist.