Ladysmith attorney rises in the ranks at long established law firm

Ladysmith Gazette Article

Maree & Pace, Mpulo is pleased to announce that Mr Justin Herbert Pitout has recently joined the firm as head of the Civil and Criminal Litigation Department.

Justin will be appointed as a Director of the firm from April 1, 2017.

Justin is an admitted Attorney and Conveyancer of the High Court of South Africa and has practiced as such for some years now.

He is a well-known and respected legal practitioner in Ladysmith and surrounding areas.

Justin was born and raised in Ladysmith, a previous pupil at Egerton Primary School and Ladysmith High School, where he received his Senior Certificate in 2004 with distinction.

Justin furthered his tertiary education at the University of the Free State and University of KwaZulu-Natal (Howard College) respectively. In 2009, Justin was awarded his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree and in 2010, the Master of Laws (LLM) Degree. While completing his studies, Justin received Golden Key Honour Society Membership for academic excellence and was placed among the top 15% of students at the university.

In 2011, Justin was appointed as a Candidate Attorney and served his two years of articles.

In March 2013, he was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court.

In May 2015, Justin wrote the conveyancing examination and was one of only four candidates in KwaZulu-Natal (out of 87) to pass the six-hour written examination, with Justin obtaining the second highest mark in the province.

Justin has also been approached by Rhodes University (Grahamstown) to be appointed as an external examiner to monitor and assess the academic quality of research papers.

Justin has dedicated the last 13 years of his life to the field of law, and is very humbled and honoured to be a part of the firm Maree & Pace, Mpulo and to be given the opportunity to fulfil the role of the late Mr Louw, who was a very reputable attorney during his tenure at the firm.

A few words by the current Directors, Danie du Preez and Gail Green:

Justin has steadily gained a reputation in Ladysmith for being passionate about the law, tenacious, hardworking and dedicated to his clients.

In the light thereof, we are extremely happy that Mr Pitout has decided to join us and add valuable skills to the firm.

Maree and Pace, Mpulo is, to our mind, a firm that evolves with the times and remains at the forefront of the practice of law.

With the appointment of Justin, it is a declaration to our clients that we care for the continuity of our firm that was established by Mr JW Maree in 1966, who was later joined by Mr Robert Pace in 1969.

Our vision is that Maree & Pace, Mpulo must not only continue to provide the current Ladysmith community with sound legal advice, but also to provide legal services to future Ladysmith generations to come in our fields of practice, namely criminal and civil litigation (divorces, maintenance, debt collection, property transfers and bond registrations as we are on the panel of the four major banks), administration of deceased estates, wills, estate planning and commercial law such as drafting of contracts and contractual disputes.

We congratulate Justin for his achievements and warmly welcome him to Maree & Pace, Mpulo.

Gail Lesley Green

Grew up in Ladysmith where she attended Egerton and matriculated from Ladysmith High School in 1981. She attended the University of Cape Town and the University of 
Natal, Pietermaritzburg,obtaining a BA LLB degree. 

Gail was admitted as an Attorney in 1992 and as a Conveyancer in 2005. 
Gail is married to a local farmer, Malcolm Green, with their home farm being situated 33 kms from Ladysmith on the Bergville road. They have 3 children and their oldest son Ryan is also farming. Jessica is married and is an animal nutritionist in Gauteng.
Their youngest, Kelvin, is studying Architecture at Pretoria University. 

Gail has obtained 10 Comrades Marathon finishes and,having obtained her green number, now participates in mountain biking. She has a number of stage race finishes to her name, most notably the Joberg 2C and the Transcape. Cycling is a passion enjoyed by the whole family and they often travel together participating in stage races.
Danie Jan du Preez

Completed primary school in Weenen and High School in Ladysmith.
After completing a B Proc degree at the University of the Free State, he commenced articles with Maree & Pace and was admitted as an Attorney in 1993 and as a Conveyancer in 1995. He subsequently completed a LLM degree at the University of Kwazulu-Natal as well as a Certificate in Business Rescue (UNISA) 

Danie is married and has two adult sons. He enjoys running, cycling, camping, history and travelling in general. He is a member of the Ladysmith Athletic Club, Ladysmith Historical Society, Institute of Estate Agents and South African Restructuring and Insolvency Practitioners Association. 

Danie specialises in Conveyancing (property transfers, bonds, subdivisions, consolidations) and Commercial and Corporate Work (contracts) as well as Estate Planning (Wills and Trusts).

He is also a co-author of the column 
"Talking Law" in the Ladysmith Gazette. 
Mathew Nkosinathi Gule

Grew up in Ladysmith, KZN and matriculated from Emhlwaneni High School in 1989.

Thereafter he joined the South African Policing Service and served as a police officers for 25 years. He steadily rose in ranks from a constable to a captain and served as a Detective Court Case Officer (DCCO) at the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court.

He achieved the following tertiary qualifications:-

1.    National Diploma in Policing at Unisa
2.    Bachelor of Technology – Policing at Unisa
3.    LLB Degree ( Bachelor of Laws) at Unisa

He has finished his term of articles of clerkship and is in the process of applying to be admitted as an attorney of the High Court KZN. He is fully aware of the structure, culture and procedures of the legal profession. Experienced in and having a good understanding of how to build relationships with clients and to provide appropriate and effective legal advice and services to them. Easy going by nature and able to liaise with professional’s, in regards to on-going legal matters. His educational background, has given him an analytical approach to problem solving, as well as the ability to think out of the box when faced with challenges. He would describe himself as ambitious, enquiring, and professional. 

He is highly motivated, has a keen interest in the business process and he is passionate about what he wishes to accomplish in life. He is dynamic and maintains a high level of professional skeptism with a critical mindset.

Mathew currently practises and is well versed in the following areas of law:-

1.    Criminal and Civil Litigation
2.    Divorces
3.    Debt Recoveries
4.    Child and Family Law
5.    Agent / Attorney Correspondent Services
6.    Employment and Labour Law


JUSTIN HERBERT PITOUT

Qualified Attorney and Conveyancer of the High Court of South Africa. 
Justin furthered his tertiary education at the University of the Free State and University of KwaZulu-Natal (Howard College) respectively.

In 2009 Justin was admitted to the Degree of Bachelor of Laws and the Degree of Master of Laws (Business Law) in 2010.  Justin is the Head of the Civil and Criminal Litigation Department at the firm.  Justin currently practises and is well versed in the following areas of law:-

1.    Criminal and Civil Litigation;
2.    Divorces;
3.    Debt Recoveries;
4.    Child and Family Law;
5.    Corporate and Commercial Law;
6.    Contract Law;
7.    Agent/Attorney Correspondent Services
8.    Employment and Labour Law; and
9.    Property Law.