Employ women but talk about their impact
Last year NSDV announced a 70% women-led legal team and with seven new appointments this year, the firm maintains it’s exceptional status as a women-led team in a male dominated industry.
“As a woman who employs other women within male-dominated fields, I want to tip the scales when I can, but we are not specifically trying to build a women-only firm. The women I work alongside are the most capable, creative, and collaborative lawyers I’ve ever worked with. Our work with our clients should be the story – and until it is, we continue celebrating our unique position in the market,” says Lili Nupen Co-founder and Director of Mining and Environmental Departments at NSDV.
New appointments seem in keeping with President Ramaphosa’s sentiments that mining is booming. According to his address at Investing In Mining Indaba 2023, the mining sector has contributed to close to half a million direct and a million indirect jobs. This is evident in the growth of businesses who service the mining industry.
“We’ve received many new opportunities from some of the big players expanding and the junior miners who follow us on LinkedIn or have heard of us through their networks. In addition to providing legal advice, we sometimes just introduce parties within our network because we think there might be synergies. As we expand, employing the right team is critical for us to maintain our culture of approachability paired with expert advice and experience that matters.” Adds Nupen.
NEW BLOOD
Nicole Sebanz (Kruger) was welcomed as an Associate in the Mining and Environmental Law Department. She has particular experience with the environmental legal obligations associated with mining operations and renewable energy developments.
Joining Nicole is Methembeni Moyo, an experienced lawyer and an admitted legal practitioner of the High Court of Zimbabwe. Methembeni has practised Mining Law in Zimbabwe and Construction Law in South Africa, offering client extensive cross-border and African commercial transaction council.
Noreen van der Merwe is an Associate Designate in the Corporate Commercial Department and joins NSDV from a firm in Cape Town. Noreen will take care of commercial legal matters in theagricultural, property development, energy, mining and banking sectors; and eventually stop being amazed at how green Joburg actually is.“Mett, Noreen, and Nicole are such incredible people who have joined our firm and we’re very fortunate to have attracted passionate professionals who suit our brand of business so well,” adds Nupen.
The firm also welcomes Trevana Moodley, Dominic Varrie, Velile Mulindelwa, and Vanessa Stander as Candidate Attorneys within the mining, construction, commercial, and environmental teams. NSDV Directors and associates rely on CA’s for filing in court and drafting of documents, undertaking research, taking part in client consultations, and attending the occasional site visit to bolster their legal experience in specialist areas like mining, construction, and environment law. NSDV is the first fully integrated law specialising in mining, construction, energy, and environmental law and most recently boasts close to 70% women-led legal team.
