Honita Prayag Poonith
Vacoas
Summary
A highly accomplished and experienced International Mediator with a proven track record of success in resolving complex disputes. Accredited by the Academy of International Dispute Resolution & Professional Negotiation (IDRN) in 2023 and certified by the Centre de Mediation et d’Arbitrage de Paris in 2014. Admitted to the Mauritian Bar in 2008 and the Bar of England & Wales in 2006. Extensive experience in employment law and industrial relations, including serving as Acting President of the Commission for Conciliation and Mediation and Chairperson of the Audit Committee of the Ministry of Labour. Proven ability to effectively analyze disputes, facilitate constructive dialogue, and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes for all parties. Committed to promoting industrial peace and fostering harmonious workplace environments.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
2024
2024
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Acting President
Commission for Conciliation and Mediation
04.2015 - 10.2016
- Work involves providing a conciliation/mediation and advisory services for promoting the improvement of employment relations and industrial peace
- Analysing the receivability and investigating into any labour dispute being reported to the Commission
- Conducting research into matters relevant to the functions of the Commission
- Creating deadlock breaking mechanisms, preventing and resolving disputes and grievances
- Chairing conciliation and mediation meetings in view of a settlement
- In cases where no agreement is reached, the parties to the dispute can opt to refer same to the Employment Relations Tribunal (ERT) or where the trade union reported the dispute, the latter may ask the Commission to come out with a report and thereafter they can have recourse to strike
- Initiated and worked towards ISO Certification of the Commission with the Mauritius Standards Bureau and achieved ISO 9001:2008 since December 2015
- Followed many conciliation and mediation workshops organised by private sectors and Ministry of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms
- Conducted conciliation and mediation workshops at Business Mauritius, for Unions, Federations and Confederation, at the ICAC, at the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training, at different parastatal bodies, on behalf of the Commission
- Personal assignment, by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), to work on the project of Decent Work Country Profile - Mauritius Legal Framework in April 2011
- Acting as President of CCM as and when required
Barrister
22, Lislet Geoffroy Street, Cathedral Square
Port Louis
05.2009 - 02.2010
- Company Overview: Barrister at law
- Conducted Civil and Criminal Cases
- Barrister at law
Paralegal
Vyman Solicitors
11.2009 - 03.2009
- Work involved drafting witness statement in litigation cases, research on Wills and Probate & Property law
Assistant Employment Case Worker
Hillingdon Law Centre
Hillingdon
11.2009 - 03.2009
- Work involved client interviews, drafting witness statement, skeleton argument and oral presentation of clients’ cases to the Employment Tribunal in London with regards to various employment related issues
Paralegal
ALD Legal Ltd Solicitors
03.2008 - 09.2008
- Insight into Personal Injury, Family, Criminal and Employment law, to gain practical experience of English law and practice
- Issued at Court
- Attended hearings as clerk to Counsel on contested applications including applications for injunctive reliefs under section 37 MCA 1973 and s3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997
- Helped with preparation on interim applications before District Judges and applications for committal for breach of an injunction order and applications for warrant of arrest both made under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997
- Assisted with preparation on two substantial and hotly contested ancillary relief matters
- Completed legal aid application forms, prepared court bundles, and drafted clients’ witness statement and briefs to Counsel
- Assisted with general litigious preparation, including preparation of bundles, schedule of loss and damages, applications for pre-action disclosure with statement in support in personal injury actions and drafted letters to clients
- Researched on employment law and assessed cases for legal aid purposes
- Some limited assistance with a small number of criminal files involving basic familiarity with Advance Information, custody records and disclosure
Pupillage
Antoine Domingue Chambers
10.2006 - 10.2007
- Insight into corporate, construction, property, family, employment, personal injury and criminal law
- Conducted legal research for the preparation of court cases, drafted witness statements, plaints with summons, pleadings and skeleton arguments, prepared bundles and assisted with pre-hearing case working
Mini-pupillage
Chambers of Rock Tansey QC
07.2007 - 08.2007
- Shadowed Counsel in the Central Criminal Court on a murder trial and a terrorism case and in the High Court on a human rights challenge to a control order
- Researched the law and attended conferencing with clients
Mini-pupillage
Three Dr Johnson’s Buildings
07.2007 - 08.2007
- Attended Counsel in the High Courts of the Royal Courts of Justice and the Principle Registry of the Family Division on divorce and children matters
Legal Assistant
McKenzies Solicitors
05.2004 - 09.2004
- Representative of Criminal firm in Court, annotating, proceedings, liaising with clients, counselling, conducting legal research, note taking during conferencing, preparation of briefs and Court reports for counsels
Education
Professional International Mediator -
Academy of International Dispute Resolution & Professional Negotiation
Accredited Mediator - undefined
Centre de Mediation et d’Arbitrage de Paris
Admitted to the Mauritian Bar - undefined
Admitted to the Bar of England & Wales - undefined
Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
LLM Advanced Legal Practice - Company Law
Northumbria University
Bar Vocational Course - undefined
Northumbria University
LLB Hons - undefined
Staffordshire University
Dr Maurice Cure State Secondary School - undefined
Skills
- Microsoft Office
- Lead qualification
- Project Management
- Online Legal Research tools
- Lexis nexis
- Lawtel
- Westlaw
Custom
Available upon request
Languages
English
Fluent
French
Fluent
Hindi
Fluent
Creole
Fluent
Timeline
Acting President
Commission for Conciliation and Mediation
04.2015 - 10.2016
Paralegal
Vyman Solicitors
11.2009 - 03.2009
Assistant Employment Case Worker
Hillingdon Law Centre
11.2009 - 03.2009
Barrister
22, Lislet Geoffroy Street, Cathedral Square
05.2009 - 02.2010
Paralegal
ALD Legal Ltd Solicitors
03.2008 - 09.2008
Mini-pupillage
Chambers of Rock Tansey QC
07.2007 - 08.2007
Mini-pupillage
Three Dr Johnson’s Buildings
07.2007 - 08.2007
Pupillage
Antoine Domingue Chambers
10.2006 - 10.2007
Legal Assistant
McKenzies Solicitors
05.2004 - 09.2004
Accredited Mediator - undefined
Centre de Mediation et d’Arbitrage de Paris
Admitted to the Mauritian Bar - undefined
Admitted to the Bar of England & Wales - undefined
Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
LLM Advanced Legal Practice - Company Law
Northumbria University
Bar Vocational Course - undefined
Northumbria University
LLB Hons - undefined
Staffordshire University
Dr Maurice Cure State Secondary School - undefined
Professional International Mediator -
Academy of International Dispute Resolution & Professional Negotiation
Similar Profiles
Mbulelo DikgacwiMbulelo Dikgacwi
Receptionist/Case Management Officer at Commission for Conciliation Mediation and ArbitrationReceptionist/Case Management Officer at Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration
Clerence Pompi ShikwaneClerence Pompi Shikwane
Case Management Officer - CCMA Welkom Office at Commission For Conciliation, Mediation And ArbitrationCase Management Officer - CCMA Welkom Office at Commission For Conciliation, Mediation And Arbitration
Carrie FosterCarrie Foster
Commissioner at Federal Mediation and Conciliation ServicesCommissioner at Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services
Anne-Gaëlle THOMASAnne-Gaëlle THOMAS
Administrative Assitant & Student Liaison at Flymates LtdAdministrative Assitant & Student Liaison at Flymates Ltd
Salvesh JhummunSalvesh Jhummun
Sales Representative at SSS Furniture LTDSales Representative at SSS Furniture LTD