Proud Legal Partners of
Contents Real people, Real Solutions. About Us 1 What Sets Us Apart 2 What We Offer 2 Our People 3 Services 7 Correspondence Services 12 We support the spirit of broad-based economic empowerment and are committed to uplifting the skills of our staff.
About Us Pather & Pather is a full-scale, dynamic law firm offering services that span over a dozen branches of law. We ve been around for almost 20 years, and between our Directors and Associates we have over 100 years experience. We are a firm with vast integrity. We put our clients first by ensuring that we understand their needs and exceed their expectations. To achieve this, we work hard and smart, and we deliver on-time solutions. We re real people with real solutions and we aim to exceed expectations every time. To be a high-calibre firm, we recognise the importance of highly-qualified people with integrity and a commitment to great work. We are a family-orientated firm and as such, we are able to take great care in what we do. Our expertise is not confined to the courtroom but also extends to the boardroom. The Directors and staff sit on various executive committees of leading businesses which continue to meaningfully add to their growth. At Pather & Pather, we provide a working environment that is based on open communication, strong teamwork and mutual respect. We support the spirit of broad-based economic empowerment and are committed to uplifting the skills of our staff. We reward loyalty and encourage initiative. 1
What Sets Us Apart We are innovative, we take initiative, we are team players and leaders, and we understand that part of great leadership is serving the community. We are real people with real solutions. What we offer We are a full-service firm with expertise and experience in multiple branches of law. From Commercial and Insurance Law, through to Family, Litigation, Property Law, and everything in between, we have done it all. 2
Our People Sivi Pather Director Sivi has been in practice since 1996. He has extensive High Court litigation experience including alternative dispute resolution by arbitration. He sits on and advises various Executive Committees of some of his substantial commercial clients. His experience includes setting up of large businesses, franchises and South Africa s first black owned airline. Sivi has been a Commissioner on various Bargaining Councils throughout the country and is experienced in labour mediation and arbitration. Edward Abraham Director Edward joined P&P in 2007 serving his Articles. He was admitted as an Attorney in 2009, when he became an Associate at the firm. He is now a director. He deals Civil Litigation and specialises in Insurance and Administrative Law. He has vast experience in dealing with the Short and Long Term Insurance Ombudsman and the Financial Services Board. He has also been involved in leading Administrative Law cases across the country. Kassim Suliman Director Kassim joined P&P in 2009 as an Associate. He was previously employed by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development as a State Prosecutor for 3 years before presiding as a Magistrate for 12 years. Kassim heads the Debt Recovery Department and specialises in Magistrates Court litigation. 3
Irfaan Abdulla Director Irfaan joined P&P in 2013 as an Attorney and Notary. He has a BA LLB that he attained from WITS and an LLM degree in International Trade Law from Stellenbosch University. He is a specialist in Commercial and Corporate Law. Pearl Lugomo Director Pearl joined P&P in 2015 as an Associate. She Graduated from UKZN Howard College in 2012 with her LLB degree. She is currently obtaining her LLM in Business Law Pearl has extensive knowledge in property law, collections and Insurance law. Ashton Naidoo Director Ashton is a UKZN graduate having completed both his B.Soc Sci and his LLB degrees there. He joined P&P in 2010 as an Article Clerk, after working as a legal advisor for Legal Wise. He specialises in Litigation & heads up the Family Law department. 4
Our People Kuben Moodley Director Kuben joined P&P in 2010 as a Candidate Attorney. He is a UKZN Law graduate, Class of 2010. He was admitted as an attorney in 2012. He also holds a Bachelor of Social Science degree which was obtained in 2007. Siddharth Singh Director Siddharth joined P&P in 2014 as an Associate. He graduated from UKZN Howard College with his LLB in 2010. He was admitted as an Attorney in 2012. Siddharth specialises in Civil Litigation and Labour Law 5
Raul Sewpersadh Candidate Attorney Lavona Appanna Candidate Attorney Gerard Vadivalu Candidate Attorney 6
Services In Commercial and Corporate law, we focus on drafting contracts, whether they are International, Franchise-related or Employment-related, Negotiations, Restraint Agreements, establishment of Joint Ventures or, through specialist partners, all areas of Intellectual Property law which includes the registration of Patents and Trademarks. We are also skilled in the areas of Structured Finance and Public Private Partnerships. Contractual Law This department focuses on drafting of agreements as well as providing legal advice and opinion on a range of contractual matters. These types of contracts cover all areas of Commercial and Corporate law, Banking and Financial law, International Trade and Cross-Border transactions, Aviation and Mining law, Petroleum and Energy law, all aspects of Construction law and practice, Property law, Leases, Security law, Servitudes, Notarial law, Insolvency law, Business Rescue, Intellectual Property, Trusts and Wills. Commercial and Corporate Law 7
Conveyancing With our in-house Conveyancing specialists, we operate with highly qualified staff and partner firms in Pietermaritzburg and Pretoria to facilitate sales, administrations, management and developments of all types of property transactions throughout the country. Our experience spans residential, commercial and agricultural transactions, all types of transfers, mortgage bonds and sectional titles schemes and all types of property-related agreements and litigation. We have a reliable team of attorneys and former magistrates that offer professional debtor investigation, collections, litigation and post-judgment recovery services for small and medium-sized companies. We are experienced and sensitive to the modern collection process, using savvy methods that accommodate our clients needs and financial situations while operating within new legislation. We recognise debt collection can be a case of throwing good money after bad, however, our unique offering provides clients with an in-depth investigation and report of the status and standing of the debtor, as well as a cost-benefit analysis of whether to proceed. Through this method, we are able to help our clients make the best possible decisions. Debt Recovery 8
Family Law Our firm has vast experience in all aspects of Family law, which covers the scope of Divorce, Maintenance, Custody, Guardianship, Paternity, Child Protection, Domestic Violence, Elder law, Incapacity, Co-habitation and Family Trusts and the drafting of all relevant agreements. Our approach to Family law is to ensure the best interests of children are served, in such a way that causes the least emotional and financial detriment to the parties involved. We also consult regularly with the Family Advocate s Office, mediators and psychologists to ensure the most amicable and sensible outcome. We have extensive experience in matters relating to insolvency (liquidations and sequestrations), Business Rescue and Informal Workouts and Turnarounds. Our expertise includes Opposed Insolvencies, Schemes of Arrangement, Compromise and Composition, Rehabilitation, Resolution, Requisitions for Appointment for Trustee or Liquidator, Surrenders of Estate and more. We have vast experience in all aspects of Insurance law, third-party recoveries and FSB-related law, including long and short-term insurance, as well as litigation and drafting of agreements, legal advice and opinion on all of the above. We also have sufficient experience in dealing with both the long and short-term Ombudsman, as well as operating both with and against insurance agencies. Insolvency and Business Rescue Insurance Law 9
Litigation Notarial Pather & Pather adopts a comprehensive and holistic approach to Labour law, involving training, counselling and problem-solving. We also advise clients on non-adversarial aspects of the law, including employment terminations, early retirement plans, affirmative action and grievance procedures. We enable our clients to confidently handle disciplinary enquiries, conciliations and arbitrations at the CCMA and litigation at the Labour and Labour Appeal Courts. Our attorneys sit as part-time commissioners in matters for various labour-related councils. 10 Labour Law Pather & Pather s strength in this area of law lies in our preparation, investigation and trial presentation. We have on-call some of the country s leading counsel, trial consultants, forensic experts and physicians in their fields, and we utilise key partner firms to handle out-of-town litigation throughout the country, ensuring the same level of quality throughout. We also specialise in alternative dispute resolution, namely Mediation and Arbitration, having practiced these methods extensively over the years. We are experienced in all aspects of Notarial law and practice, including the drafting of, advice and attendances on and registrations of Ante-nuptial and Post-Nuptial Contracts, Mortgages, Leases, Servitudes, Donations, Protests, Powers Of Attorney and Authentication, Attestation and Certification for foreign and local jurisdictions.
We have extensive experience in matters relating to investigation, negotiation and review of various decisions made by public entities, as well as assistance with compliance with Administrative law and processes. We deal with processes and awarding of Tenders, and matters relating to the Promotion of Access to Information and Promotion of Administrative Justice Acts. We are well versed in matters relating to the winding up of Deceased Estates, drafting of redistribution Agreements, settlement of Disputes, litigation relating to Deceased Estates, Disposal or Transfer of Property and Assets, as well as Estate Planning by way of Trusts. Public Administrative Law Wills, Estates, Trusts and Planning 11
Correspondent Services Our Durban offices are based immediately adjacent to the Durban High Court, and its unique position in this precinct makes us ideally situated to offer correspondent work to attorneys throughout the country. We have set up a dedicated division within the firm to handle all of our correspondent and agency work, ensuring promptness and professionalism in every matter. Offering the full range of correspondent services, we have developed and enjoy a great working relationship with the staff members at the court as well as the local sheriffs. Our service is real-time and we use the necessary services to ensure that documents are received promptly and all applications, serving, filing, sourcing and appearances are done reliably and professionally. Alongside this, we offer our correspondent clients the benefit of the use of our office and all of its facilities when appearing at the Durban High Court, at no extra cost, giving you a base that is both convenient and comfortable. 12
3rd Floor, Lincoln House, 30 Dullah Omar Road (formerly Masonic Grove) Victoria Embankment Durban, South Africa Tel +27 (0) 31 304 4212 Fax +27 (0) 31 304 4208 mail@patherandpather.co.za www.patherandpather.co.za Law Society Registration Number: 1502/05