Rising Star of the Year nominee 2013: Melissa Powys-Rodrigues

Name: Melissa Powys-Rodrigues

High School: Durban Girls’ College and Westville Girls’s High School
Tertiary Education: University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban
Qualifications: B.Social Science, LLB
Lives In: London, United Kingdom
Company: Colman Coyle Limited
Title: Associate, Employment
Duration of time within your company: 1 Year

Professional Membership held: Attorney of the High Court of South Africa

• Solicitor of England and Wales
• Employment Lawyers Association (ELA)
• Executive Committee member and member of the South African Chamber of Commerce

Previous positions held: Senior Associate, Ashby Cohen Solicitors

• Assistant Solicitor, Thomas Mansfield LLP

What are your main achievements in the category you are being nominated for?

Since joining Colman Coyle, I have started to build up an employment law practice from scratch. In 12 months, I have added a portfolio of commercial clients with businesses in excess of £40 mil turnover.I have instigated, led and presented at several very successful first time events for the firm including seminars on social media and mock tribunals attended by up to 90 guests.

I am part of a Legal 500 firm and playing a part in keeping it there. I enjoy developing business relationships for the firm both from inside and outside the South African community.

I have lately been involved in setting the wheels in motion to develop a working relationship between the oldest law firm in South Africa, Fairbridges and Colman Coyle, with a view to providing holistic and seamless advice in both jurisdictions.

What makes you most proud about your work?

I am most proud that after a two-year extended maternity leave period (which I was very lucky to have), I came back to my profession with renewed energy, passion and drive. I joined a supportive team at Colman Coyle, who have given me an opportunity to grow within the firm but also to trial new ideas, which are sometimes unconventional!It certainly has helped that I have joined a collegiate and experienced department, who are involved in exciting and challenging work. We are also very down to earth and certainly not pretentious!

Community Involvement: I am engaged on a daily basis with the South African community in the UK, helping individuals and businesses understand what their rights and obligations are as employees or employers. Similarly, I help start up businesses achieve their objectives by making sure they do so within the realms of the law, whilst building businesses with firm values and objectives. This can be of particular importance to companies who have bases elsewhere in the world. To this end, much of my advice is pro bono in the initial stages.

Friends and family have also enjoyed the benefits of having an “in-house” advice centre. Such strategic advice on a pro bono basis, has seen many remain gainfully employed. I provide my community with opportunities to attend seminars and information sessions to help educate them about new areas of interest.

I am also looking forward to assisting in the Citizenship Foundation’s Lawyers in Schools Volunteer Programme, to educate children about the law and how it affects them.

Directorship / Leadership positions: I sit on the Executive Committee for the South African Chamber of Commerce, strategically furthering the development of business and trade between South Africa and the UK.

Recent Awards: Part of Legal 500 2013 rated employment law team.

Favourite Business Quote: “I have not failed. I’ve found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” — Thomas Eddison, US Investor and businessman

Mentor:

• David Short, Fairbridges Attorneys, Johannesburg, South Africa, for spending countless hours on my training 13 years ago, allowing me the opportunity to experiment, teaching me to believe in myself and having the utmost confidence in my abilities. I am eternally indebted.
• My husband, Marcio Rodrigues, for helping me to think out of the box, to put the business into law (something lawyers tend to overlook) and most of all for his unconditional support.
• My parents, Selwyn and Sandra Powys, for making me strive to achieve and for leading by example — hard work does pay off!
• Vikki Bentwood, Marketing & Business Development Manager at Colman Coyle, for her never ending support and advice.

Voting for all nominees has now closed. Each comment posted in response to the CV/bio of your chosen nominee, which is connected to a unique, legitimate e-mail address and IP address, will be counted as a vote. Comments made by the public will contribute to 30% of the total vote. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 28 November.

Entry, voting, participation and judging of the South African Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2013 are governed by the Rules and Regulations.