On 1 September 2021, Lesley Mokgoro took over the reins from Jan Berry, his predecessor, as CEO of Phatshoane Henney Attorneys.

As Director in the firm’s Dispute Resolution Practice Group, he has up till now been specialising in all aspects of individual and collective employment law and has built a niche practice of servicing various institutions of Higher Learning in the Higher Education Sector. Apart from this, he has provided specialised professional services to various local government municipalities and entities which have also received attention in the employment sphere. In addition to his practice, Lesley also served as the Head of Business Development focusing mainly on client relationship building and the development of existing and new practice areas.

Having been born and schooled in the township of Galeshewe in Kimberley, Lesley’s journey with Phatshoane Henney Attorneys started just over 17 years ago when the Integrated Bar Project managed by the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria placed him at the firm for a three-week internship in his final year of LL.B studies at the then Vista University (Bloemfontein Campus). This time in 2003 he fondly recalls as professionally and personally enriching. In 2004 he joined the firm as candidate attorney and upon completion of his articles was appointed as an associate. Only a year later he was promoted to director in the Employment Law division under the leadership of one of the firm’s founding partners, Violet Phatshoane - who is now the Deputy Judge President of the Northern Cape Division of the High Court.

During this period he sharpened his legal expertise by attaining two Masters Degrees at the University of the Free State in law and corporate law respectively, one of which was attained cum laude. He also lectured at the university’s Mercantile Law department on a part-time basis for a period of five years running. 

His fervent passion for Phatshoane Henney Attorneys originates from his belief that what differentiates the firm, is how it sets the standard and leads from the front. “Our emphasis on speciality is what ensures our continued success in rendering the best legal services to our clients.” To his mind, one of the firm’s strongest attributes is that it is not complacent and continuously works at being the best Free State law firm (as has been awarded to the firm by PMR.africa for the past decade running). “Our exceptional, innovative services to our clientele and how we care for the personal and professional development of our employees, is what has and will remain to set us apart.”

Mokgoro struggles to find the right words to describe the honour and privilege he feels in now being the CEO of Phatshoane Henney Attorney. “Looking back on where we come from and where we are today, to say I am proud will be an understatement. As much as it is formidable task given the huge shoes that I need to fill following my predecessor, the unwavering support pledged to me from the board of directors and all staff members is what makes this moment for me a supremely joyful one.”

He gives much credit to the many people and past experiences who have made such a substantial impact on the direction his life has taken. “The role that the founders of the firm and in particular the Chairman of the board of Directors, Jan Berry, played in both my personal and professional life, has put my life on a different and most welcome trajectory. Life on its own is a continuous learning journey, and I have early in my career learnt that once you are a lawyer you will always be a student. I am lucky to have been taught the importance of teamwork and leading with confidence and humility. Most of all, I today sincerely appreciate and understand the less fortunate because I know how it is not to have what I have now.”
               
Mokgoro counts himself as especially fortunate to have been part of the firm’s executive committee for the past 10 years, where he has already played a part in steering the firm in the direction it has taken to date. “My vision for the firm is growth and establishing practice fields which are traditionally not seen as possible in the Free State. Technology has shown us that if you invest therein, then your footprint cannot be limited to any geographical area. While aiming to grow the firm, this goes hand in hand with ensuring and maintaining our status as the best firm in central South Africa.”

He expresses great appreciation for the unique opportunity the firm has to make a difference in South Africa. “We are already impacting people’s everyday lives in terms of the legal services we render, ranging from individual clients to parastatals, institutional clients, local and provincial government departments. Apart from this we also make a difference in terms of our community involvement and assisting with accelerating the rate of employment. This again on our part, is nothing to be arrogant about but everything to be grateful for.”