What We Do
Planning and Environmental Law
This department is headed up by Ivan Pauw.
Ivan was admitted as an attorney in 1989. He specialises in development planning law, environmental law and commercial property law.
A core component of the services rendered is the offering of strategic advice to land developers and other role players in the land development industry relevant to the procurement of development rights, environmental authorization and all other legal requirements incidental to property development and change of land use procedures and processes, such as Prospecting and Mining Rights, Water Use Licenses and the like.
Ivan acts as consultant to numerous National, Provincial and Local Government Departments, Non-Governmental Organizations and other groupings who have an interest in Land Development and Environmental Law and has in the aforesaid capacity presented numerous workshops, training courses and information sessions.
Ivan is also the co-author of the first version of the National Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act and the Gauteng and Free State Planning Acts. Ivan was furthermore the co–author of the Regulations, Rules and Code of Conduct for the Planning Profession Act. Ivan is also involved in the drafting of Planning By-laws for numerous municipalities all over the country.
Ivan also attend to the drafting of Court Documents and the provision of strategic advice to the litigation department in litigation matters relating to the above mentioned disciplines if and when a matter proceeds to High Court Litigation.
Contact person: Nadia Marais
Planning, Environmental and Commercial Litigation
This department is headed up by Pierre Kruger.
Pierre was admitted as an attorney in July 1998 and represents high profile clients such as Investec Specialist Bank, SASFIN Bank, Resilient Properties, The Valuation Appeal Board of the City of Johannesburg and various others. Pierre concentrates on High Court Litigation, Magistrate’s Court Litigation, Banking Law, Insolvency work, Advice on the National Credit Act, drafting of commercial contracts and all related commercial work such as the drafting of commercial contracts of sale, shareholding agreements, lease agreements and general commercial contracts.
Pierre has for the past six years assisted the Legal Education and Development department of the Law Society of South Africa as drafter of the Commercial Litigation Manual that is used as training material by the training departments of the Law Society of South Africa countrywide. Pierre is also the co-author of the Regulations, Rules and Code of Conduct for the Planning Profession Act.
Pierre acts as attorney of record in all litigation matters that follow from the Planning and Environmental law department such as High Court review applications by land developers relating to the procurement of developmental rights and environmental authorisation. Pierre acts as attorney of record in disputes relating to property rates and taxes in terms of the provisions of the Municipal Property Rates Act.
Contact person: Paula van den Heever
Government Work
This firm has represented Local, Provincial and National Government and have rendered services to many Government Institutions. To name but a few, the following:
- Acting as legal representatives for a number of Municipalities in land development and environmental law matters throughout the country.
- Representing and acting as consultants to the Gauteng Provincial Government on land use planning matters, drafting of legislation and compilation of policy documents.
- Training of Government and Quasi-Government Tribunals and committees that hear and consider land development applications.
- Preparing review documents, policies, practice manuals and commenting and advising on land development laws and processes for all spheres of Government.
- Preparing and advising Local Municipalities on land use management schemes, town planning schemes and zoning schemes.
- Representing the Gauteng Provincial Legislature in the acquisition of property from the CJMM (City Hall and related facilities) to establish the facilities currently occupied by the legislature.
- Drafting of Planning By-Laws for numerous municipalities all over the country.
- Drafting of the Regulations, Rules and Code of Conduct to the Planning Profession Act for the National Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.
- Presenting workshops to local and provincial governments on SPLUMA, the Regulations and the introduction of by-law systems.
- Presenting training and workshops to newly established District and Municipal Planning Tribunals as well as Appeal Tribunals pertaining to the receipt, processing and consideration of SPLUMA applications and appeals.