After attaining her LLB (cum laude) from the University of Pretoria in 2000 and subsequently completing her articles with Newton’s Attorneys in Pretoria, Deanne was admitted as an attorney of the High Court and retained as an associate with that firm in 2002. An Advanced Certificate (with distinction) in Labour Law in 2002, a Sports Law Certificate in 2003, and a Master’s degree in Mercantile Law (including Individual Labour Law, Collective Labour Law, Insolvency Law, and Specific Contracts) followed in 2004, and all served to refine, enhance, and specialise her expertise and areas of practice.
Between December 2003 and September 2005, she developed valuable employment litigation experience at Perrott van Niekerk and Woodhouse Inc, which ultimately prepared and prompted her towards setting up her own firm. As such, Deanne launched Howes Incorporated in September 2005, and over the last 17 years, has directed the firm ably by delivering sound, professional legal advice and services that consistently seek to maximise commercially sensible results.
As someone who relishes both the art of litigation and an intellectual grapple with technically challenging matters, Deanne is well-positioned to advise the firm’s clients on a range of South African labour and sport-related matters. To date, her experience has included representation and litigation for various educational institutions on employment, school, and Constitutional issues; representation and guidance of both corporate and individual clients through complex disputes and the intricacies of the South African labour law environment including some complex commercial litigation; and a number of particularly interesting sports law matters.
In addition to the above, Deanne runs labour law training sessions for corporate clients, including chairperson training, and is adept at drafting opinions, employment and consulting contracts, company policies and procedures, restraint of trade and confidentiality agreements, and mutual separation agreements. She has extensive experience as an independent external chairperson in cases of internal disciplinary enquiries, has been mandated to conduct independent investigations within client operations, and is also asked to appear as a speaker or guest lecturer on employment topics.
Deanne sat as a pro bono Acting Judge of the Labour Court in January 2016, and this experience greatly enhanced her understanding of the importance of fair and ethical employment outcomes that uphold the spirit of South Africa’s labour laws.
Deanne’s values-based approach and passionate drive towards positive results for the firm’s clients therefore make of her an exceptionally ally in any employment matter.
Don't raise your voice,
improve your argument.
