Legal Team
Paul Joseph Pretorius
Paul Pretorius was admitted as an advocate in 1977. He took silk in 1994.
Paul practised as an advocate at the Legal Resources Centre for a period of 5 years under former Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson.
He has acted as a judge in the High Court and Labour Court on several occasions. Paul specializes in Labour Law and Public Law.
He is a mediator and arbitrator in all aspects of law. He is the chair of The Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa Mediation Division.
He is a member of the Law Reform Commission on alternative dispute resolution and mediation.
Isaac Vincent Maleka
Professional membership:
Johannesburg Society of Advocates (Johannesburg Bar) 1989
Place of practice:
Thulamela Chambers, 1A Protea Place Off Friedman Sandton.
Professional standing:
29 years practice as an advocate. 16 years practice as Senior Counsel, since May 2002.
Legal Experience:
Appearances in all High Courts and Appeal Courts and Constitutional Court in South Africa; and also in High Court and Supreme Court in Namibia.
Type of cases:
Constitutional and administrative law and human rights litigation; Telecommunication, Pension and Media law regulatory litigation, commercial arbitrations under the auspices of AFSA and ICC.
Arbitration Experience:
Appearance in domestic and international arbitration cases and arbitration appeals in construction, contractual, commercial and regulatory disputes. Appointed as an arbitrator and a member of arbitration appeal tribunal in construction, contractual, commercial and regulatory disputes. Participated as a member of ad hoc Dispute Adjudication Board appointed in terms of FIDIC Contract.
Other professional activities:
• Panelist in the Cameroon Commission of Inquiry; the Hoexter Statutory Panel and prosecuting counsel in the Motsuenyane Commission of Inquiry. • Acting appointment as Acting Judge of the High Court (South Gauteng High Court) and Labour Court. • Chairperson of the Gauteng Gambling Board (1995 - 2002) • Chairperson of schemes of arrangement in terms of the Companies Act, including scheme of arrangement between Standard Bank Group Limited, the Standard Bank Group and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. • Assistant to the Commissioner appointed to inquire into and report on the collapse of African Bank Limited by the Governor of SARB in 2014, in terms of section 69A of the Banks Act. • Trial advocacy trainer for General Bar Council members; Black Lawyers Association members and Johannesburg Bar members. • Deputy Chairperson of Disciplinary Committee of Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors. • Group Leader and Chairman of Duma Nokwe Group of Advocates (2 years). • Group Leader and Chairman of Thulamela Chambers (3 years)
Leah Gcabashe
Current:
• Member of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates as of 1997 (Senior Counsel)
• Vice Chairman of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates 2017/2018
• Member of Thulamela Chambers
• Member of Advocates for Transformation
Previous activities:
• Appointed as an Acting Judge of the High Court in various divisions over the past 8 years • Former Senior Lecturer, University of Natal, Howard College • Former member of the Technical Committee to Theme Committee 5 of the Constitutional Assembly • Former member of the Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission • Former Head of Legal Services in the Presidency • Former member (alternative AFT nominee) of the Judicial Services Commission
Thandi Victoria Norman
Past achievements
• MARCH 1988 - 1990 PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, ZWELITSHA CISKEI • 1991 TUTOR - CONSTITUTIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY OF TRANSKEI • 4 JUNE 1992 ADMITTED AS AN ADVOCATE • 1993 AND 1994 PART-TIME LECTURER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FORT HARE - CIVIL PROCEDURE • 1994 APPOINTED AS A PRESIDING OFFICER IN THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN KING WILLIAM'S TOWN • 1992 TO 1995 STATE ADVOCATE BISHO • 1995 SECONDED TO THE GOLDSTONE COMMISSION WHICH ENQUIRED INTO TAXI VIOLENCE IN THE EASTERN CAPE • 1995 TO JULY 1996 SENIOR LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL, BISHO • AUGUST 1996 TO NOVEMBER 1996 ENROLLED AS A PUPIL AT THE DURBAN BAR • 4 DECEMBER 1996 COMMENCED PRACTICE • JANUARY 1997 JOINED THE BISHO BAR • 1999 TO 2000 MEMBER OF THE BAR COUNCIL BISHO • 2001 ORGANISED MOCK TRIALS FOR PUPILS IN BISHO • FEBRUARY TO MARCH ATTENDED THE WOMEN'S WORLD 2001 CONFERENCE - LONDON • FEBRUARY 2002 JOINED THE DURBAN BAR - DUAL MEMBERSHIP • 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 AND ACTED AS A JUDGE IN MTHATHA,BHISHO 2007, 2008, 2010,2014,2016 GRAHAMSTOWN, PORT ELIZABETH, DURBAN , PIETERMARITZBURG AND SOUTH GAUTENG • OCTOBER 2002, 2007, 2008 , 2015, SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE KWAZULU-NATAL BAR COUNCIL • AUGUST 2004 TO JANUARY 2005 A TRAINEE AT HOLLAND AND KNIGHT, NEW YORK IN MARITIME LAW • 23 JUNE 2005 OBTAINED A CERTIFICATE IN TUTORSHIP COURSE ON UNDERSTANDING SHIPPING FROM THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED SHIPBROKERS, DURBAN. • 2007 TO 2009 PRESIDENT - SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (SAWLA) - KZN REGION • 2009 TO APRIL 2011 MEMBER OF THE BID ADJUDICATION TRIBUNAL KZN • JUNE 2011 ATTAINED SILK STATUS • 08 FEBRUARY 2005 SERVED ON THE BOARD: USHAKA MARINE TO 24 JANUARY 2011 DURBAN MARINE THEME PARK • 2014 TO DATE MEMBER OF THE BOARD FOR THE COEGA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION • 28 FEBRUARY 2013 APPOINTED BY PREMIER, KZN AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE RTI RECRUITMENT COMMISSION • JULY 2015 TODATE ELECTED TO SERVE ON THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE BAR AS AN ASSISTANT HONORARY SECRETARY • APRIL 2017 APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA TO SERVE ON THE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION NOVEMBER 2017 CHAIRPERSON OF THE ADVOCATES FOR TRANSFORMATION IN KWAZULU-NATAL
Current Activities:
• PRACTISING AT : SALMON GROVE CHAMBERS • ALSO AT : THULAMELA CHAMBERS
AREAS OF INTEREST
I have appeared in the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal, in almost all the High Courts in the country, the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, the Labour Courts, the Land Claims Court and the Water Tribunal. I have an interest in Maritime, Administrative and Constitutional Law. I also do a lot of medical negligence cases, cases on administrative law, land claims, commercial and tax matters and also handled cases on constitutional challenges of certain pieces of legislation.
Viwe Notshe
Over 30 years experience as an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa. Awarded Silk in 2005.
Acting Judge of the High Court of South Africa in different divisions over a period of 15 years. Several judgements reported in the South African Law Reports included one case that was referred for confirmation by the South African Constitutional Court. Appeared in several high profile matters reported in the general press, law reports and journals.
Known and respected in the broader South African legal fraternity as a successful litigator in the fields of tax, commercial, delictual, labour, competition, land claims and admiralty law. Member of the prestigious Maisels Group of Advocates several of whom hold Senior Counsel status.
Regularly briefed by a dedicated attorney base. Has appeared in the High Courts of all main jurisdictional divisions in South Africa, including the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court.
Masters Degree in Law (LLM) in International Human Rights Law and Labour Law from Harvard Law School, Boston, MA. Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of the Witwatersrand. Post Graduate Certficate in Advanced Taxation from the University of South Africa (UNISA). Post Graduate Diploma in Shipping Law from the University of Cape Town.
Participates in the training Pupil Advocates.
Enjoys a reputation for applying a pragmatic approach to law. Passion for the development of Common Law including Indigenous Law.
Runs an independent practice within a group structure of advocates in Johannesburg. Since 2012 a member of the prestigious Maisels Group. Previous groups of Advocates have included Duma Nokwe and The Bridge, Bisho and Grahamstown.
Has appeared in numerous matters in respect of which judgements have been reported in the monthly South African Law Reports and journals. Areas of law in this regard include constitutional and administrative law, law of contracts and delict, competition law, interpretation of Uniform Rules of Court, restitution of rights in land claims, labour and tax law.
Additional areas of expertise handled in the practice, include interpretation of statutes and contracts, restitution of rights in land claims, road accident fund, medical negligence, property law, evictions, building contract disputes and defamation cases. Has vast experience in civil and motion litigation and arbitration proceedings.
2005 Elevated to Senior Advocate status.
1985 Admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa.
2013 Post graduate Diploma in Shipping Law from the University of Cape Town. Part-time study.
2001 Advanced Post Graduate Certificate in Tax from the University of Cape Town. Part-time study.
1987 Masters Degree in Law (LLM) in International Human Rights Law and Labour Law from Harvard Law School, Boston, MA, United States. Two years full time study.
1984 Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Three years full time study.
1981 Bachelor of Law (B Juris) from the University of Zululand, KwaZulu/Natal, South Africa. Four years full time study.
Kate Hofmeyr
EDUCATION
2006: MPhil, with distinction, University of Oxford.
2005: BCL, University of Oxford.
2002: LLB, with distinction, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits).
2000: BA Honours in Philosophy, with distinction (Wits).
1999: BA, with distinction, (Wits).
AWARDS AND APPOINTMENTS
2016: ProBono.Org Director's Special Mention Award for contribution to pro bono work in 2015
2005: Skye Foundation Scholarship to read for an MPhil degree at the University of Oxford.
2004: Commonwealth Scholarship to read for the BCL degree at the University of Oxford. Chevening Scholarship to read for the BCL degree at the University of Oxford - declined.
2003: Law School Endowment Prize awarded to the student who has combined excellent academic results with distinguished service to the School of Law
2002: Winner of the World Championship Jessup International Law Moot Competition held in Washington DC in March 2002 - represented South Africa at the Competition
2001: Edward Nathan and Friedland Scholarship. Elected to the Wits Law Students' Council.
2000: Faculty of Arts Silver Medal. University of Witwatersrand Post-Graduate Merit Scholarship. Bradlow Trust Scholarship. National Research Foundation Scholarship.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Jan 2008 onwards: Practicing advocate at the Johannesburg Bar; member of Thulamela Chambers.
Jan 2007 - November 2007: Serving pupilage at the Johannesburg Bar.
July-November 2006: Part-time lecturer at University of Witwatersrand in Criminal Law and Constitutional Law.
July 2003 - August 2004: Clerk to the Chief Justice of South Africa at the Constitutional Court. Part-time lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand School of Law in Jurisprudence.
PUBLICATIONS: 8 academic publications.
Pule Seleka
• Year of Admission to the Bar: 2001
• Conferment of Silk: 2016
Pule is a graduate of the University of Potchefstroom where he obtained his BA Law and LLB cum laude. He was a research clerk at the Constitutional Court for Chief Justice Chaskalson. He was called to the Bar in December 2001 and began his full-time practice in 2003. Before then, he was a lecturer at the School Law, Wits University, where he taught Unjustified Enrichment, Introduction to Constitutional Law, Introduction to South African Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
He was conferred silk in 2016, and has acted as an arbitrator and a Judge in both the High Court and the Labour Court.
He was the Group Leader of the Duma Nokwe Group of Advocates in 2018 and 2019.
His areas of practice include commercial and high court litigation, Constitutional & Administrative Law, Competition Law, Labour Law, Mining & Company Law, etc.
He enjoys classical music and Neuroscience.
Veruschka September
Veruschka September completed her pupillage in 2011 and has been a member of the Johannesburg Bar since then. Her areas of practice are mainly in Labour and Employment, Contract, Commercial and Administrative Law. During her career in law, her dominant industry exposure has been in public and private sectors in Energy, Defence, Sport, Construction, Metal and Engineering, and Mining. She holds local and international accreditations in Commercial Mediation and Arbitration.
2017: Commercial Arbitrator and Mediator, Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa
2016: Commercial Mediator, Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (U.K.)
2015: Commercial Mediator, Conflict Dynamics
Veruschka is a member of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates; Group One Advocates; the South African Society for Labour Law; and the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa Mediation Division.
After completing her schooling in Cape Town, she pursued and completed her LLB from the University of the Western Cape. Since being admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 2002, she traversed different roles in practice and in the private and public sectors. With her passion for continuous learning, Veruschka has completed various courses over the years including Advanced Programme in Alternative Dispute Resolution (awarded with distinction), Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa and University of Pretoria (2017); Civil and Commercial Mediator Skills Training for Voluntary and Court Referred Disputes, Conflict Dynamics (2015); Advanced Public Administrative Law, University of the Witwatersrand (2010); BLA Commercial Law Practice (2007).
Her appointments of significance included Legal Advisor (RSA), MATCH Event Services (Pty) Ltd appointed as FIFA's agent and service provider to deliver the ticketing, official accommodation, (ground) transportation and event information technology solutions for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and related events. The role included providing in-house commercial, regulatory, employment, and dispute resolution legal support to the local operational requirements and to the global offices. Member of the "MATCH Enforcement Team" working with various local, national and international entities and authorities to combat the worldwide unauthorised sale of tickets and ticket-inclusive commercial hospitality packages and related intellectual property/trademark infringements. Involved in legislative analysis and development of ticket-touting laws; special tax regulatory dispensation (Special Tax Measures) and related South African Revenue Service and South African Reserve Bank rulings. Ad-hoc legal support to MATCH Event Hospitality (Pty) Ltd, the official worldwide exclusive rights holder of the FIFA Hospitality Programme for the same events. Legal support to winding down South African operations.
Amy Armstrong
• Amy Armstrong was admitted to the Johannesburg Bar in December 2017.
• Areas of practice include constitutional, administrative, commercial and insolvency law.
• Ms Armstrong has appeared before the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court of Appeal, Competition Appeal Court, High Court, Competition Tribunal and Gauteng Gambling Board.
• BSocSci in Law and Economics (with distinction)
• LLB (magna cum laude) (both University of Cape Town)
• LLM (New York University).
Before joining the Bar, Ms Armstrong clerked at the Constitutional Court and was an admitted attorney practising at Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Inc.
Zinhle Buthelezi
• Qualifications BA, LLB Wits.
• Trained Mediator and Arbitrator.
• Joined Johannesburg Bar in 2004.
• Currently Affiliated to Pabasa as Secretary General
• Have acted as a Jugde at South Gauteng High Court.
• Areas of practice: Public Administration Law, Criminal Law and Clinical Negligence Law.
Garth Hulley
• Adv Hulley was admitted to the Bar (the Johannesburg Society of Advocates) on 7 July 1997. • He took silk (granted my letters patent) on 16 September 2014. • B. Com.: 1991 (graduation 1992); • LLB: 1993 (graduation 1994). • Started practice in July 1997. • Since then he has been involved in various cases, mostly in the South African High Court and Labour Court. • He has also appeared in the Labour Appeal Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court in matters ranging from criminal and labour law, on the one hand, to the judicial independence of the magistrates' courts and the constitutionality of municipal rates, on the other. • He has also appeared in the Industrial and High Courts of Swaziland in a series of high profile cases in Swaziland.