MEET THE TEAM
PJ Veldhuizen
Owner | Managing Director
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PJ Veldhuizen
B Proc (Unisa) Cert. Tax (Unisa) LLM (UCT) MBA (Unisa) F. Inst. D OELP (Oxford)
PJ’s experience and solution driven mind set, with a dash of playfulness thrown in for good measure, is the formula for his success over a career that span’s some 20 +years. PJ graduated with a BProc from UNISA in 1997 and went on to achieve an LLM and MBA while building the practice, which he started in 1999 with Joan Gillan. He is a specialist in commercial dispute resolution and corporate law advisory.
PJ has accepted several ministerial appointments including being appointed to the Directorate of Market Abuse being a division of the erstwhile Financial Services Board, Chairperson of the Tax Board, Member of the Companies Tribunal, Member of the Financial Services Tribunal, Member of the FICA Appeal Board and a Member of the BBBEE Commission.
He is the firm’s Managing Director and an accredited commercial arbitrator and mediator:
- Certification in commercial mediation from Conflict Dynamics in South Africa and CEDR in the UK.
- Certification in advanced mediation of complex disputes from Harvard Law School.
- Certification in commercial mediation from PABASA.
- Commercial Arbitration and Mediation Panel – AFSA & Conflict Dynamics (South Africa) and Abu Dhabi Global Markets Arbitration Centre (UAE).
PJ also holds several non-executive directorships (“NED”):
- Chair of the Cape Town Stadium SOC.
- Vice Chair of the Western Cape Blood Service NPC, Chair of Social & Ethics Committee, Chair of Risk & Governance Committee.
- NED of SAIT, Chair of Audit & Risk Committee.
“Work hard. Play hard.”
Joan Gillan
Owner | Director: Conveyancing
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Joan Gillan
BA LLB
Joan graduated with a BA LLB in 1989. Joan is a registered conveyancer and has been practicing since 1992. She is a founding director of Gillan and Veldhuizen Inc when she started the firm with PJ Veldhuizen in 1999. Since inception she has been the firm’s Director of Conveyancing and heads up the Cape Town office.
Stacey Bartlett
Non-Executive Director
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Stacey Bartlett
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Stacey Bartlett is a Director in the Property Practice Group at Phatshoane Henney Attorneys and brings over a decade of hands-on legal experience to her role as Non-Executive Director at Gillan & Veldhuizen Inc.
Stacey earned her LL.B from the University of the Free State in 2009, graduating with accolades including a Golden Key Award and the Tjare Mare floating trophy for academic excellence. She has since been admitted as both a Conveyancer and Notary Public of the High Court of South Africa.
Stacey began her legal career at Naudes Attorneys before joining Phatshoane Henney, where she now plays a key role in navigating complex property transactions. Her expertise spans the full spectrum of property law – from property transfers, subdivisions and consolidations to township registrations and the drafting of notarial deeds.
Gerda Henn
Financial Manager
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Gerda Henn
BCOM (Financial Management)
Gerda hails from Cape Town and achieved her BCom in Financial Management at Stellenbosch University. Despite her first job being serving frozen yoghurt she has worked in various industries including logistics, publishing and engineering but giving up accounting to try her hand as a travel agent reaffirmed her passion for numbers. She brings integrity and
dedication to her work and calls herself the “unlikely accountant” which makes
her a perfect fit for the G&V Inc’s way of life. Gerda runs the Gillan & Veldhuizen accounting and financial departments.
“Life is about the journey, not the destination.”
Micarle Van Heerden
Senior Associate & Practice Manager
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Micarle Van Heerden
BA LLB
Micarle’s efficient and fast-paced business mind stems from her being born in Johannesburg however she was schooled in Cape Town and completed her studies at Stellenbosch University. After graduating in 2009 Micarle joined Gillan and Veldhuizen as a Candidate Attorney, where she was involved in her first Supreme Court of Appeals matter. She was admitted as an attorney of the Western Cape High Court in 2012 and engrained her position at the firm as a Senior Associate in the Commercial and Litigation Department. After completing an advanced short course in business rescue practice in 2016 Micarle found her fire in litigation, specialising in Insolvency, Business Rescue and High Court Litigation with an added interest in utilising technology to assist in traditional legal practice.
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” ~ Dalai Lama
Kayley Leverton
Senior Associate: Conveyancing and Commercial Law and Litigation
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Kayley Leverton
LLB
An integral part of the GV Inc team, born and bred Capetonian, Kayley Leverton obtained her Bachelor of Law Degree from UNISA in 2009. Proving her assiduous nature, she also completed the full-time practical legal training (LEAD) course at the University of Cape Town in the same year, with distinction. Kayley was admitted in August 2011 as an attorney of the Western Cape High Court and in March 2014 she was admitted as a Conveyancer. She currently works in the Commercial, Litigation and Conveyancing Departments as a Senior Associate, where she not only brings a calm head and thorough thought process coupled with a sense of wit but also throws in something good to eat now and then.
“No matter how hard you try – some things are out of your control.”
Katherine Timoney
Senior Associate: Commercial Law and Litigation
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Katherine Timoney
BA LLB LLM
Katherine graduated from UCT with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in History and Law in 2012 and thereafter completed her Bachelor of Laws in 2014. She then carried on with her studies towards a LLM degree in Commercial Law while also working as a teaching and research assistance in the Commercial Law Department at UCT – where she gained experience in commercial subjects and effective communication. Her penchant for research and problem-solving, an interest in current affairs, a desire to learn and a good sense of humour, brings an energetic and refreshing approach to her work. Katherine joined the firm in January 2017 as a Candidate Attorney and is currently employed as a Senior Associate, Commercial Law, Litigation and Mediation.
“Never leave things to the last minute – you never know when the unexpected might happen!”
Zandile Vava
Candidate Attorney
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Zandile Vava
LLB (UWC)
Zandile hails from the Eastern Cape and matriculated at Sinikiwe High School, after which she obtained her LLB degree from UWC, and began her professional journey as an assistant at MHAGUGA ATTORNEYS followed by a Junior Debt Counsellor position at DEBTWYZE.
Resilient, dedicated and hardworking, Zandile is inspired by making a positive impact. thriving on opportunities to learn and help others. Her work ethic is driven by a belief that failure is merely a stepping stone, and she finds fulfilment in contributing to meaningful legal solutions.
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” ~ Albert Einstein
CONSULTANTS
Abigail Reynolds
Corporate and Commercial Drafting
DISTILLING COMPLEXITY™