Specialities

Practising attorney and notary public born in 1941 in Johannesburg and qualified and admitted to legal practice in 1967 and since then practised as an attorney, notary, advocate, online publisher, author and part-time lecturer and continues to do so.

South African Employment & Labour Relations Law.

 

Practising attorney and notary public

 

 

 

Main focus: sourcing and aggregating material and updating GilesFiles, the South African Work Law Resource.   Also contributes to books on Labour Law and lectures at Stellenbosch University.   Practising attorney and notary public with substantial knowledge and experience acquired over more than 60 years of legal practice as an attorney, advocate and in-house legal adviser.   Places a high premium on providing pre-emptive legal advice and support in Employment & Industrial Relations Law in South Africa.

Graham Giles: A Lifetime in Law and Labour Relations

Graham Giles is a practising attorney and notary public with over 60 years of experience in legal practice, specializing in Employment and Industrial Relations Law. Throughout his career, he has combined legal expertise with academia, research, and publishing, contributing significantly to the development of South African employment and labour law.

Since 2008, he has been a senior associate at Michalsons Giles Inc, where he focuses on sourcing and aggregating legal materials for GilesFiles, a comprehensive South African Work Law resource. In addition to maintaining this vital database, he contributes to two leading LexisNexis publications—

He also lectures part-time at Stellenbosch University, furthering the education of future legal professionals.

Pioneering Contributions to Employment and Labour Law

Graham’s dedication to labour law dates back to 1981, when he founded GilesFiles, a first-of-its-kind on-line legal resource that provides practitioners with up-to-date cases and analysis on Employment and Industrial Relations Law. This initiative has played a crucial role in shaping workplace legal discourse in South Africa.

Beyond his work at Michalsons Giles Inc, where he has been a Senior Associate since 2008, Graham has been a lecturer, researcher, and author for several institutions. He was a visiting associate professor at the University of Johannesburg (1991–2020), where he co-established and designed the first Post-Graduate Diploma in Labour Law alongside Professor Marius Olivier in 1990. He has also lectured part-time at the University of Cape Town, University of the Western Cape, and USB Executive Development Ltd, covering topics ranging from MBA courses to wine management and executive development programmes.

His legal expertise has also been recognized internationally. As a member of the International Bar Association (1990–2002), he joined the Employment & Labour Law Committee and was elected vice-chairman, contributing to global discussions on workplace law.

A Distinguished Legal Career

Graham’s legal career spans decades of private practice, advocacy, and corporate advisory roles. After qualifying as an attorney in 1967, he worked at prominent law firms, including:

    • Webber Wentzel Hofmeyr Turnbull, now Webber Wentzel (1964-1967) – articled clerk and creator of their first legal library.
    • Hayman Godfrey & Sanderson, now Bowmans (1970-1975) – Partner and head of litigation department.
    • Livingstone Doull & Winterton (1981–1983) – Early career role focusing on the emerging field of Employment Law in South Africa.
    • Shepstone & Wylie (1983–1989) – Partner, specializing in labour law litigation and handling high-profile cases in the Industrial Court, Supreme Court, Labour Appeal Court, and Supreme Court of Appeal.
    • Graham Giles Inc (1989–1998) – Founder of his own law firm in Durban, focusing on Employment & Labour Law and Industrial Relations, representing major corporate and individual clients.
    • Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc (1998–2002) – Director, providing expert legal counsel in employment law while working from offices of Cluver Markotter in Stellenbosch.
    • Michalsons Giles Inc (2008 onwards) –Senior Associate and head of Employment and Labour Relations law.

His career also includes five years as a practising advocate (1976–1981) in Pietermaritzburg and Durban, during which time he built a strong foundation in litigation before transitioning back into legal practice as an attorney.

Additionally, he played a key role in establishing the Independent Mediation Services of South Africa (IMSSA) in 1984, where he served on mediation and arbitration panels.

From 1983 and for about 17 years thereafter and at the request of the then Law Society of SA, Graham conducted the first regular annual training seminars for attorneys throughout South Africa after the creation of the Industrial Court following the recommendations of the Wiehahn Commission in 1979.

Early Career and Education

Before fully committing to law, Graham initially studied Mining Engineering at Wits University (1959–1960) and spent two years working as an underground surveyor at gold mines in East Daggafontein and Welkom. Though he ultimately pursued a legal career, this technical background provided him with valuable insights into employment and labour relations—a field where he later made significant legal contributions.

Graham’s journey in law began in 1961 with his studies at the University of Stellenbosch, where he graduated with a BA (Law) (1961–1963) while actively participating in student affairs and playing rugby.

He then completed an LLB (1964–1966) at the University of the Witwatersrand, whilst studying part-time and while articled at Webber Wentzel, where he helped establish the firm’s first permanent law library and even became a backup telex operator for South Africa’s first legal firm to acquire the technology.

In 1969, while employed as the first Legal Adviser at Murray & Roberts Holdings Ltd he further honed his business and leadership skills by completing an Executive Development Programme at Wits Business School, one of the institution’s earliest intakes.

Personal Life and Interests

Born in Johannesburg in 1941, Graham Giles has always had a keen interest in history, law, and organizational frameworks. Beyond his legal and academic contributions, he has a deep appreciation for architectural history, Africana book collecting, and fine wines.

Together with two close colleagues—the late Daan Groeneveldt and Sarah Christie—he co-founded the Work Science Institute of South Africa, which promotes organizational development, strategic planning, and corporate measurement.

He also spent nearly seven years farming cattle and sheep on his family farm, purchased in 1963 by his parents George Stanley Giles and Seville Mary Ingleton Giles (née Muller), now known as Lythwood Lodge, in Lidgetton near Howick, KwaZulu-Natal.

Graham was a scholar for 10 years at the preparatory and senior schools of King Edward VII School and elected head boy in 1958 and awarded colours and half-colours for athletics, rugby and cricket.

While studying at University of Witwatersrand in 1959 and 1960 Graham played in the under 19 rugby team which won the championship in both years and also played for Transvaal under 19, including a curtain-raiser in 1960 to the first test against New Zealand All Blacks at Ellis Park.

Graham has been married to Elizabeth Lynn Giles (née Frank) since January 1966. They have three children:

    • A daughter, Karen, a teacher, married to Liam and living in London, with two teenage granddaughters.
    • A son, Christo, a craft potter, also based in the Western Cape.
    • A son, John (Michalson Giles Inc) and a practising attorney in the Western Cape, with two grandchildren who are both students at Stellenbosch University.

Legacy and Ongoing Impact

With an unparalleled career spanning six decades, Graham remains an active force in Employment and labour law, legal education, and publishing. His work with GilesFiles, his contributions to leading labour law textbooks, and his ongoing involvement in legal research and academia ensure that his influence on Employment and Industrial Relations Law continues to shape the field for generations to come.