Michelle Posemann

Michelle holds a BA (Law) and LLM in Dispute Resolution (cum laude) from the University of Stellenbosch, and LLB & PG Dipl in Maritime Law from UKZN.

She has trained as an arbitrator through both AMSSA and AFSA and as a mediator through ADR group UK (international accreditation in civil and commercial mediation) and is passionate about dispute resolution and conflict management, holding panelist positions with Conflict Dynamics, Mediators in Motion, and Mediation Pan African and is an EXCO member of the Western Cape Society of Mediators; and a registered medical mediator with the SA Medico-Legal Association.

She lectured for 12 years at the Durban School for Legal Practice in High Court Practice, Appropriate Dispute Resolution, Mediation Skills and Labour Dispute Resolution.

She is currently a director of Garlicke & Bousfield Attorneys and a reports editor for Juta’s Industrial Law Journal, and Company Secretary for Odfjell, a Norwegian shipping company.

Michelle has extensive experience as a mediator, arbitrator and facilitator, in both the employment and civil, commercial and medico-legal sectors. She was involved in the pro bono mediation project at the Durban Labour Court and has been extensively involved in the SAMLA-RAF and Gauteng Health Department pilot projects to contribute to the development of medical mediation in South Africa. She has more recently been involved in training for the University of Cape Town in workplace mediation using restorative justice principles and a pro bono mediation project at the Western Cape Labour Court.

As an Associate of Extraordinary Hospitals of Africa, she co-developed training material for the World Bank Group on ethical principles in healthcare and assists with the development of medico-legal products contributing thought leadership through articles on medical malpractice for the Healthcare Business Review.

Her preferred mediation style is facilitative or transformative, and she believes in the power of constructive engagement in conflict and the importance of bringing matters to a sensible conclusion at the earliest opportunity.