Deirdre Phillips

Deirdre Phillips is a Senior Consultant at Bowmans in the Johannesburg office, specialising in Employment Law with a focus on employee benefits, pension law and medical schemes law. She advises retirement funds, employers, administrators and service providers on all aspects of pension fund regulation, governance and compliance.

Deirdre is a seasoned litigator who has acted before the High Courts, the Supreme Court of Appeal, the Constitutional Court, the Financial Services Tribunal, the Office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator and the Council for Medical Schemes. Notable matters include advising Transnet SOC Ltd in opposing the first class action certified in South Africa—the largest civil action claim in the country—and acting for Liberty Group Limited in securing the reinstatement of 25 deregistered pension funds through the High Court. She has also advised on the proposed two‑pot retirement system, unclaimed benefits, and beneficiary payment disputes.

Deirdre holds an LL.B. from North-West University and a Certificate in Pension Law from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is a member of the Pension Lawyers Association (South Africa) and serves on its Steering Committee.