Full Profile
Athol's primary area of interest for the last decade has been in the field of medical negligence. In this capacity he has represented hundreds of medical and related practitioners in relation to all aspects of professional practice, including claims, disciplinary proceedings, inquests and professional conduct matters.
Athol also has considerable general litigation and advisory experience across most sectors. To mention a few, he has acted for a global energy company in a dispute with the DME (as it then was) relating to the mandatory offtake of product from a state refinery. He has another oil company in relation to a dispute with a product buyer relating to the application of the Platts Index for various products. He also advised the same OilCo in relation to allegations of pollution of an underground aquifer in South Africa and the remediation plan implemented to address same.
More recently Athol has also provided litigation advice to clients engaged in the growing sustainable energy generation sector in South Africa. In addition to this Athol has acted in disputes arising in the tourism sector, between hotel operators and owners and leisure activity operators and their customers. Athol has also represented contractors and employers in construction industry disputes.
Aside from his general corporate and commercial litigation practice, Athol has litigated and provided advice in the area of sports and entertainment law to top international and local acts and sports stars, authors, film producers and musicians.
Athol obtained a BA LLB from the University of Cape Town and was admitted as an Attorney in the Supreme Court of South Africa in 1995.
Experience
- Acting for an international mutual indemnity association in defending one of the longest running medical negligence claims in South Africa.
- Advising an international mutual indemnity association in relation to the joinder of a litigation funder to proceedings as a party at risk for an adverse costs award.
- Advising an international oil company in relation to the contractual methodology. employed in the calculation of the sale price of certain product flowing from the refinery of oil into fuel, thus avoiding litigation.
- Advising the authors and publisher of "Oscar: An accident waiting to happen". This work was on the shelves the day after Oscar Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide.
- Advising the producers and directors of the documentary "Blood Lions“.
- Representing an international fast food restaurant in relation to all its public liability and related insurance claims.
