our people

Cecil Gelbart is an Executive Consultant at ENS in the Dispute Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Mediation practice, and is admitted as a notary public. He specialises in contractual disputes, company law, shareholder issues, international trade, and administrative law. He provides sound strategic advice and direction on all commercial and company issues.

He is an accredited mediator with the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (The largest conflict management and resolution body in the world), as well as with the Conflict Dynamics and Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement. He has encouraged the appropriate use of mediation in the resolution of all disputes.

He has acted for various international and cross-border trade, transport, and construction companies, as well as clients in the healthcare and medical schemes industry. He has also acted for major banks, financial institutions, leading retailers, property groups, as well as high net worth entrepreneurs and individuals.

Cecil has actively been involved in a number of major planning and environmental disputes in the Western Cape, including Oudekraal and the Sea Point Pavilion.  He also has a wealth of experience in review applications, including tender disputes and all areas of administrative law including successful reviews against tenders awarded by local and provincial government.  He has engaged high profile tender reviews in the Western Cape including the Princess Vlei Development. 

In addition, Cecil was key legal advisor and mediator against the Plettenberg Bay Harbour Development in the Western Cape.

Cecil also has experience in aviation law, and is a director of two helicopter companies operating internationally, as well as having been involved in claims against international aviation companies.

He serves as a trustee of a number of trusts and has written articles on the rights of beneficiaries and obligations of trustees in connection with Trusts.

Cecil also serves on the department of Environmental Affairs’ Panel of Environmental Mediators and Arbitrators in terms of Chapter 4 of NEMA, is a member of the International Bar Association and the Institute of Directors Southern Africa (IoDSA). He also serves as a chairman of the Cape Law Society Panel for Taxation of Legal Fees.

Cecil is recognised as a leading/recommended lawyer by:

• Best Lawyers® 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 – Litigation (South Africa)

• BCom (University of Cape Town)
• LLB (University of Cape Town)
• LLM (Company Law and Maritime Law) (cum laude) (University of Cape Town)
• Leading Professional Service Firms course (Harvard Business School)
• Conflicts Dynamics Accredited Mediator
• Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement Accredited Mediator
• Accredited Mediator (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR)) 
• Admitted as an attorney and notary public of the High Court of South Africa