Zaheer O'Brien
Zaheer is an associate attorney at Witz Inc. law firm in Rosebank, Johannesburg, where he assists within the firm’s Criminal Law and Labour Law Departments.
Zaheer hails from Gqeberha, where he began doing his articles before taking up a position at Witz Inc in 2019. He completed his articles under the guidance of Witz Inc founder and head of the firm’s Criminal Law Department, Daniel Witz.
Prior to commencing his articles, Zaheer spent a year as a Teaching and Research Assistant at Nelson Mandela University, where he presented lectures to law students. Zaheer also gained valuable experience in Labour Law and general litigation, while serving articles at Brown Braude & Vlok Inc. in Gqeberha.
“I assist Daniel with many of the high-profile cases he handles,” says Zaheer. “Not only is he an incredibly accomplished and exemplary attorney, but he is sincerely one of the best employers I have ever had– or had the privilege of learning from.”
No stranger to the public eye, Zaheer regularly appears alongside Daniel Witz on national news channels during coverage of high-visibility cases, and also assisted during the national Commission of Inquiry into State Capture.
Zaheer says that Witz Inc. embodies a balanced, intelligent practice of law that is always aimed at achieving the best possible outcome for clients.
“In a sense, we’re talking about genuine redress and justice,” he says. “The law is intended to be an instrument of fairness, and ultimately, justice. This is a law firm that walks the talk, and always puts the client first.”
Zaheer points out that it is this quality that elevates Witz Inc above the crowd: a sense of principled ethics exemplified by the ways in which clients and matters are handled.
“There’s a respect for the law and for others that is really remarkable,” he says. “For example, Daniel has taught me to ‘fight the case, not the opponent’, and where it’s feasible to do so, to mediate matters so that the client obtains the best possible benefit.”
The team dynamic at Witz Inc., says Zaheer, is one built on the solid experience of the directors, who between them bring multiple decades of high-level legal experience to the table. This enables Witz Inc., as a medium-sized law firm, to punch far above its weight and deliver services and results that are extraordinary.
“This is a lateral-thinking and dynamic law firm,” he says. “It’s definitely not staid or traditional. To our clients, that means greater accessibility to the legal services they want, personalized service, and a relationship of trust, clear communication, and helpful interaction every step of the way. It’s a powerful combination.”