Sarah Dodd
A Director who was admitted in 2002 and heads up the firm’s Deceased Estates Department. Sarah specialises in the Administration of Deceased Estates, Trusts, Curatorships and the drafting of Wills. She has recently been appointed to stand on the Cape Law Society’s Committee for Wills, Estates and Trusts.
Basil De Sousa
A Director who has been practising with the firm since August 1985 and was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court in 1987. Basil is also admitted as a Notary Public and as an Attorney Advocate thus giving him right of appearance in the High Court. Basil is also appointed to the panel of Arbitrators of the Arbitration Foundation of South Africa. His expertise lies with Commercial Law, Company Law, Litigation, Law of Construction, Marine Law and Property Law. He as provided legal turn key solutions for specialised Property Development including Residential Golf Estates, Residential Wine Estates, Hotels, Rental Pool Schemes, Share Block Schemes, Fractional Ownership and Time Share Schemes.
Juan Smuts
A Director who has been practising as an attorney since 1992 and joined the firm in 1999. He specialises in High and Magistrate’s Court Litigation, Commercial Law, Family Law, Intellectual Property Law, Franchising and Insolvency Law.
Jeremy Simon
A Director who has been with the firm since 2002 and has been in practice since 1986. He specialises in Commercial Law, Labour Law and Insolvencies. Jeremy is also a member of the High Court Committee of the Cape Law Society.
John Simon
A Consultant and Notary Public who rejoined the firm in 2005. He has been practicing since 1953 and specialises in Commercial Law, Intellectual Property Law, Estate Planning and Trusts. John has been published in the South African Law Journal (1982) and is Chairperson of the Commercial, Company and Tax Law Committee of the Cape Law Society. He was recently presented by the Cape Law Society, with its Lifetime Achievement Award for his service to the profession.
David Kagan
A Consultant who practiced with the firm from 1973 to 1988 and then rejoined it in 1998. He is a leading specialist in Residential Lifestyle Estates and Sports Administration. David is currently the President of Hamilton-Sea Point Rugby Football Club as well as an active member of the Western Province Rugby Football Union Executive Committee. David areas of expertise covers to Property Law including Rezoning and Subdivision of Land, conveyancing of Residential, Commercial and Industrial Properties including Sectional Title Schemes, including all matters relating to Sports Administration including Preparation of Sporting Bodies Constitution and Bye-Laws.
Gary Cox
An Associate who was admitted in 2009 and later joined the firm in early 2010. He studied at UCT, where he obtained degrees in Law and Psychology. Gary has a keen interest in, and focuses on, Commercial and General Litigation matters. He also attends to Criminal and Family Law matters.
Bertus Preller
A Consultant who joined the firm in 2010 and who specialises in Family Law and Divorce Law he has more than 20 years experience in most sectors of the law and 13 years as a practicing attorney. He is frequently quoted in magazines and newspapers on Family Law issues. His areas of expertise include Divorce Law, Family Law, International Divorce Law, Divorce Mediation, Parenting Plans, Parental Responsibilities and Rights, Custody (care and contact) of children, same sex marriages, unmarried father’s rights, domestic violence matters, digital rights, media law and criminal law.
Lindsey Thorpe
An Associate who was admitted in 2013. She studied at Rhodes University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2010. Lindsey has a keen interest in, and focuses on, Commercial and General Litigation matters. She also attends to Family Law matters.
Chris Brown
An Associate who was admitted in 2013. He studied at Stellenbosch University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Commerce (BComm (LLB)) degree in 2008 and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 2010. Chris has a keen interest in, and focuses on, Commercial and General Litigation matters.
Melissa Ellis
Melissa Ellis joined the firm as a Junior Associate in 2013 and practises in the Family Law Department. Having attended Stellenbosch University she obtained a Bachelor of Commerce (BComm (LLB)) degree in 2008 and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 2010. Melissa completed her articles at the law firm Heyns and Partners Inc., where she worked mainly in the Commercial Law Department, but also gained valuable experience in other areas of law including Family Law. Her areas of expertise are uncontested divorces, international divorce law, unmarried father’s rights, same-sex disputes and domestic violence matters.
Mariska Taylor
Mariska Taylor joined the firm as a Junior Associate in 2012 and practises in the Family Law Department. Having attended Stellenbosch University she obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2010. Mariska completed her articles at the law firm Van Der Spuy and Partners in Cape Town.
Mariska is regarded as a specialist on unmarried fathers rights and maintenance law and have dealt with numerous child maintenance and spousal maintenance cases before the maintenance court. In addition Mariska also specialises in divorce law, care and contact and parental responsibilities and rights disputes.
