healthcare & life sciences...044236 werksmans healthcare practice area.indd created date:...
TRANSCRIPT
Few matters cut deeper into the pockets of both individuals and businesses than healthcare costs. Medical scheme fraud, reported to be widespread, has added substantially to these costs, as has the onslaught of HIV/Aids. Legislative change has also been dramatic in the healthcare industry, resulting in a rash of disputes over dispensing fees, medicine pricing and the advertising of health products.
In this context, the fi rm is at the cutting edge of legal developments in the health, pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors. For instance, the Werksmans Healthcare & Life Sciences team has helped to clamp down on fraudulent medical claims by representing medical schemes and administrators against erring healthcare service providers. We have also assisted employers in implementing workable, cost-effective HIV/Aids workplace programmes.
The diversifi ed knowledge of the team is complemented by in-depth insight into South Africa’s evolving legislative and regulatory environment. This includes the black economic empowerment requirements of the Health Charter and the legal implications of the National Health Act, Consumer Protection Act and foodstuff laws as well as the proposed National Health Insurance Scheme. Other sought-after skills of the team include know-how in product liability matters, consumer protection, licensing, distribution agreements and compliance with clinical trials regulations.
Expertise in these fi elds is sharpened by extensive international involvement, which includes representation at the World Association of Medical Law and the World Congress on Public Health Law & Ethics. Team members are often speakers at local and global conferences, covering topics ranging from stem cell research and euthanasia to traditional African medicine.
The Healthcare & Life Sciences practice works closely with other practices within the fi rm in order to provide a holistic service to clients. Practices with which the Healthcare & Life Sciences practice works include, but are not limited to, the Environmental practice, the Dispute Resolution practice, the Mining practice and the Competition practice.
Services include advising on matters relating to or dealing with the provision of and access to healthcare in general and matters of administrative law, the latter including, but not limited to:
> medical schemes and their regulatory environment;
> medicines, food stuffs, cosmetics and disinfectants, hazardous substances, fertilisers, farm feeds, agricultural remedies and stock remedies;
> liquor and tobacco products;
> the regulation of all health professions;
> land reform and the restitution of land rights;
> consumer laws;
> gambling;
> transport;
> privacy and data protection;
> advertising;
> human rights;
> genetically modifi ed organisms and agriculture law;
> all aspects of the abovementioned areas from a dispute resolution, commercial and competition law perspective;
> access to information, equality, administrative justice and review law, and sports and recreation regulations;
HEALTHCARE & LIFE SCIENCESPRACTICE AREA
> all of these areas of law from a commercial perspective in relation to the conclusion of commercial contracts law to the structuring of commercial arrangements and the practising of various healthcare professions; and
> matters of a pro bono nature associated with or dealing directly with any or all of the above matters.
MEET THE HEALTHCARE & LIFE SCIENCES TEAM
INA MEIRING
ROGER WAKEFIELD
NEIL KIRBY
GERHARD CLOETE
BULELWA MABASA
DOMINIQUE ARTEIRO
AHMORE BURGER-SMIDT
MONIQUE PANSEGROUW
HERMAN VAN NIEKERK
ANELE KHUMALO
Title: Director Offi ce: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8465Email: [email protected]
Title: Director Offi ce: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8209Email: rwakefi [email protected]
Title: Director and practice area headOffi ce: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8198Email: [email protected]
Title: DirectorOffi ce: TygervalleyDirect line: +27 (0)21 910 9085Email: [email protected]
Title: DirectorOffi ce: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8330Email: [email protected]
Title: DirectorOffi ce: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8309Email: [email protected]
Title: DirectorOffi ce: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8462Email: [email protected]
Title: DirectorOffi ce: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8466Email: [email protected]
Title: DirectorOffi ce: TygervalleyDirect line: +27 (0)21 910 9030Email: [email protected]
Title: Senior AssociateOffi ce: JohannesburgDirect line: +27 (0)11 535 8114Email: [email protected]
Established in the early 1900s, Werksmans Attorneys is a leading South African corporate and commercial law firm serving multinationals, listed companies, financial institutions, entrepreneurs and government.
Operating in Gauteng and the Western Cape, and connected to an extensive African legal network through LEX Africa, the firm’s reputation is built on the combined experience of Werksmans and Jan S. de Villiers, which merged in 2009.
LEX Africa was established in 1993 as the first and largest African legal network and offers huge potential for Werksmans’ clients as it provides a gateway to Africa to companies seeking to do business on the continent. Each LEX Africa member firm specialises in corporate and commercial law and dispute resolution combined with intimate knowledge of the local customs, business practices, cultures and languages of each country.
With a formidable track record in mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, and commercial litigation and dispute resolution, Werksmans is distinguished by the people, clients and work that it attracts and retains.
Werksmans’ more than 180 lawyers are a powerful team of independent-minded individuals who share a common service ethos. The firm’s success is built on a solid foundation of insightful and innovative deal structuring and legal advice, a keen ability to understand business and economic imperatives and a strong focus on achieving the best legal outcome for clients.
ABOUT WERKSMANS ATTORNEYS