Staff at Warburton Attorneys
Catherine Warburton
Managing Partner
Catherine Warburton practised as an attorney, concentrating on environmental legal issues for two and a half years before joining the Anglo American Group as an environmental legal advisor until the end of 2000. Thereafter she established Warburton Attorneys. She therefore has more than fourteen years of practical experience in the relatively new field of sustainability law in South Africa. Catherine’s experience has been developed across a broad spectrum of government projects and large industrial and mining concerns. Catherine has also been involved in a number of Arbitration concerning the appointment of environmental liabilities.
Catherine has completed a two and a half year international sustainable development training programme entitled LEAD i.e. Leadership for the Environment and Development. Catherine has experience in climate change law dating back to 1999 when she first advised Anglo Coal on the full range of climate change related issues. She has been involved in the Gautrain Project as specialist adviser to the Province from 2002. The Practical Law Company in London has rated Catherine as a "highly recommended" attorney in the field of environmental law in South Africa from 2007 to 2011. Catherine is the Chairperson of the Law Society of South Africa's Committee for Environmental Law.
Andrew Gilder
Senior Associate
Andrew Gilder is an admitted attorney and holds the BA LLB degrees and a master’s degree in Marine and Environmental Law (LLM). His LLM Dissertation focused on the South African legal regime pertaining to UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.
Andrew co-drafted a manual on the practical implementation of biosphere reserves in South Africa published under the auspices of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB).
Andrew drives Warburton Attorney’s Climate Change and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) specialist consultancy unit which involves: providing ongoing legal advice to our clients with respect to the developing international and national climate change regimes, assisting clients in the practical implementation of CDM projects in South Africa (including, where appropriate, dealing with the environmental legal aspects of projects), assisting in the negotiation of Emissions Reductions Purchase Agreements (ERPAs) and drafting of required project documents, including ERPAs and other relevant instruments.
Andrew has drafted or co-drafted various papers inter alia on the interaction of the international and South African domestic climate change legal regimes. This work has been published in various fora - both locally and internationally.
Michael Vermaak
Consultant
Michael Vermaak holds a BSc (Honours) degree in plant sciences and geography and an LLB degree and has practiced as an attorney specialising in environmental law for over twelve years. Michael has also had direct exposure to environmental consulting, a background reinforces his interest in the practical application and implications of environmental law and the challenges of achieving and sustaining compliance in the highly fragmented South African environmental legal regime. Michael's areas of practice specifically focus on all aspects mining and industrial environmental legal compliance, including environmental permitting, licensing and authorisation processes. Recent matters he has assisted in include applications for rectification in terms of section 24G of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, appeals against decisions on environmental authorisation (EIA) applications and to the Water Tribunal against a directive in terms of section 19 of the National Water Act 36 of 1998, advising on acid mine drainage issues, advising on contaminated land issues for purposes of a due diligence investigation and advising on various mining, EIA, waste licensing, and air emission licensing issues. Michael has also presented training courses and presentations on a range of environmental legal issues.
Alistair Young
Associate
Alistair Young is an admitted Attorney who completed his tertiary education at the University of Cape Town where he obtained a BA degree specialising in environmental science, a LLB degree, and a Master’s degree specialising in International and South African Environmental Law. His LLM dissertation focuses on the negative impacts of large dams on the environment and the curtailment of such impacts through the application of relevant international environmental conventions and indigenous environmental legislation.
Alistair completed his articles through a general practice firm of Attorneys based in Cape Town and was, upon his admission as an attorney in the beginning of 2006, appointed as a professional assistant. Alistair operated in such capacity until his appointment at Warburton Attorneys in March 2007.
Dr Marie Parramon-Gurney
Para-legal
Dr Marie Parramon-Gurney is a para-legal at Warburton Attorneys. She is not an admitted South African attorney but she has obtained a Maîtrise en Droit (equivalent LLB) in Judicial Law from the Universite Paul Cezanne, Aix-en-Provence France and an LLB in Business Law from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland (through an exchange program).
She has also completed a Masters in Environmental Law (LLM) at the University of the Western Cape. She has certificates in project management and public relations. Finally, she has successfully finalised her LLD on the Regulation of Land-Based Marine Pollution in South Africa and France, with the North West University. Marie’s first language is French and so she is able to assist with matters which may require French language skills.
 Gillian Arenstein
Professional Assistant
Gillian Arenstein is an admitted South African Attorney who completed her tertiary education at the University of Witwatersrand where she obtained a BA degree specialising in industrial psychology and law, an LLB degree, and a master's degree specialising in South African Environmental Law (LLM). Her LLM dissertation focused on the relationship between environmental impact assessments and climate change.
Gillian completed her legal articles with Warburton Attorneys in April 2011 and was admitted as an attorney in the June 2011. Gillian's areas of practice specifically focus on all aspects mining and industrial environmental legal compliance, including environmental permitting, licensing and authorisation processes. She has conducted numerous environmental legal compliance audits, evaluations, reviews, risk assessments and other similar exercises for both mining and industrial companies.
 Nokuthula Dube
Candidate Attorney
Nokuthula Dube studied at the University of Limpopo and obtained her LLB. She is currently reading for her LLM in environmental law, focusing on Sustainable Development and Environmental Law, International Environmental Law and the Promotion of Access to Information.
Her interest in environmental law was precipitated during her undergraduate studies where she chose Environmental Law and Mining as an additional course. In 2008 she completed her Practical Legal Training Programme through the Law Society of South Africa, and in 2010 completed her attorney's admission exams. She commenced her Articles of Clerkship at Warburton Attorneys in January 2011 and works as a Consultant for IMBEWU Sustainability Legal Specialists (Pty) Ltd.
Thembi Nxumalo
Administrative Manager and Bookkeeper Thembi Nxumalo is Warburton Attorney’s Administrative Manager and Bookkeeper.
Lulu Lewis
Marketing Coordinator and Administrative Assistant
Lulu Lewis holds a BA degree in Law and Psychology. She manages Warburton Attorney’s marketing initiatives and assist with office administration.
Thuli Nkanyani
Receptionist and Administrative Assistant
Thuli Nkanyani is Warburton Attorney's Administrative Assistant and she manages our reception. |
