BDP ATTORNEYS - Key Persons
Andrea specialises in corporate and commercial matters. She has extensive experience in local and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, due diligence investigations and commercial property transactions.
Given Andrea's banking and finance experience at both Cape of Good Hope Bank and Nedbank, she has particular expertise in property and development finance, acquisition finance and project finance.
During the RSA government renewable energy programme, she developed a substantial practice in the renewable energy field acting for developers locally and across Africa. Andrea acts for major property developers, corporates and private equity funds.
Andy holds an LLB from the University of the Western Cape. He is currently completing his articles of clerkship at BDP Attorneys under John Smit and Rosshin Rossouw.
Anton has practised as an attorney both in South Africa and the UK. In SA, he initially specialised in employment law but has more recently focused on commercial and corporate matters, covering both transactional work and corporate/contractual litigation. Anton has extensive experience in dealing with mergers and acquisitions in South Africa, advising on corporate governance requirements and dealing with company law-related disputes. In the UK, he primarily dealt with major multi-jurisdictional mergers and acquisitions. Whilst taking a sabbatical from the law on his return to South Africa, he was appointed to lead the motor vehicle transport division of Grindrod Logistics operating more than 200 specialised car transporters and conducting business throughout South Africa.
In November 2021 Anton has been included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in South Africa™ list. Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in South Africa list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.
Caleb has practised as an attorney in both South Africa and the United Kingdom. Whilst practising in South Africa from 2017 to 2019, Caleb specialised in general corporate and commercial matters, advising corporate clients on local and cross-border mergers and acquisition, corporate restructurings, corporate governance requirements and matters relating to the Companies Act, 2008. From 2020 to 2023, Caleb has practised in London, focusing on UK and international private equity transactions, as well as mergers and acquisitions. He regularly advised institutional investors, portfolio companies and management teams across a wide variety of corporate matters including mergers and acquisitions, investments, restructuring, joint ventures, and corporate governance.
Caleb was admitted to the High Court of South Africa in 2018.
On his return to South Africa, Caleb was appointed as Director at BDP Attorneys and joined the firm in May 2023. He is based at the office in Rondebosch and his practice focuses on general corporate and commercial matters, including advising clients on local and cross-border mergers and acquisition, corporate restructurings, corporate governance requirements and matters relating to the Companies Act.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of Our Conveyancing Department
- Director of Our Litigation Department
- Manager of the Conveyancing Department
Placing great emphasis on maintaining an impeccable reputation through honesty, diligence and hard work, Chris is a director in the Litigation Department of BDP Attorneys.
He is passionate about the law in general and has studied at Stellenbosch University and the University of South Africa. Chris obtained his LL.B degree in 2006, and worked at the University of London before commencing his articles in 2007, and was admitted as an attorney in 2009.
Chris has extensive experience in litigation and has represented clients in various courts throughout South Africa, and has been involved in high profile matters. He also has extensive experience in commercial matters and has assisted various high profile clients with their commercial legal needs. Chris understands that his primary function in dealing with clients' matters is to add value through the service that he renders.
Chris is the manager of the Conveyancing Department and have experience in residential and commercial property developments, transfers, bond registrations and cancellations, amongst others.
Chris has a passion for sport and is an active participant in the Western Province Squash League. Chris is further an avid hunter and sport shooter and is an active member of South African Defensive Pistol Association, the International Defensive Pistol Association and SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association.
Christo is a director in the Insurance and Liability Law Department and specialises in insurance law and the law of delict.
Christo has litigated in cases dealing with, inter alia, motor vehicle accidents, personal injuries, medical negligence, veld fires, structural fires, contamination of wine, engineering matters, damages caused by animals, and other forms of legal liability. He obtained the degrees B.Iuris and LL.B in 1983 and 1985 respectively and has 35 years' experience in litigation.
Together with Judge Johann Daffue and Advocate Peter Corbett, he is the author of "The Quantum of Damages in Bodily and Fatal Injury Cases", Corbett and Honey, Volumes V, VI, VII and VIII . The authors of the first three volumes were the late Chief Justice MM Corbett and Advocate JL Buchanan. This publication has, since publication of the first volume in 1960, been a valuable and authoritative handbook used by judges and legal practitioners dealing with personal injury matters. He is the sole author of "The Quantum of Damages in Bodily and Fatal Injury Cases: Quick Guide: Quantum Conversion Tables and Medical Diagrams", published annually by Juta & Co. since 2011. He has also penned articles for various publications on a variety of topics.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of Our Litigation Department
Fred was appointed as an attorney and notary in January 1999. He started his career with BOE as a credit control manager of large accounts and, thereafter, moved to FNB where he was head of corporate recoveries for the Western-, Eastern- and Northern Cape regions, as well as the Gauteng region. He was later appointed as national head of recoveries for FNB commercial.
He joined BDP Attorneys in 2012, with 18 years' experience in the commercial, credit, and litigation fields of law. Fred has litigated in High Courts and Magistrates' Courts throughout South Africa and received wide exposure to arbitrations and mediation as well as to all spheres of civil litigation. Fred's approach to the law is based on finding the best solution that fits the needs of his clients.
Gaenor holds a BA, a BA Hons (cum laude), an LLB and an MA (cum laude) from the University of Stellenbosch. Her MA thesis focussed on wrongful life delictual actions and the ethical desirability thereof. She is currently completing her articles of clerkship at BDP Attorneys under Christo Potgieter and John Smit. Gaenor is also a registered PhD student at Stellenbosch University, working towards a PhD in the field of Bioethics.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of Our Litigation Department
- Directors of Our Litigation Department
- Family Law Expert
Job Titles:
- Director
- Directors of Our Insurance
Obtaining his B.Proc degree from the University of the Free State in 1993, John started his career as an article clerk with Honey Attorneys (which would later become BDP Attorneys), Bloemfontein, in the same year. He obtained his LL.B degree in 1995 and was then admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa on 13 April 1995, as a conveyancer of the High Court of South Africa on 9 November 1995, and as notary of the High Court of South Africa on 31 July 1997. Following his admission as an attorney, he was appointed as a professional assistant.
In 1998, John resigned to join Mutual & Federal Insurance Company as a senior legal advisor. He obtained his MBA degree in 2002. During 2009, he successfully completed his Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test and was admitted as a solicitor in the Senior Courts of England and Whales on 1 December 2009. After 18 years, he resigned from the service of Mutual & Federal Insurance Company, returning to BDP Attorneys in 2016.
John has more than 20 years' extensive experience in insurance and insurance litigation.
John-Daniel (JD) Bornman is an Associate in the firm's Litigation Department.
JD attended the University of the Western Cape and obtained his LL.B degree in 2018. He joined BDP Attorneys during 2019 and completed his Practical Vocational Training under Mr. Chris Nel in the Litigation Department. He assisted Mr. Nel in various Magistrate and High Court matters with a focus on General Litigation and Commercial Law.
Job Titles:
- Admin ), John - Daniël Bornman ( Candidate
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate
Nadine van Eeden is an associate in the firm's Insurance and Legal Liability Department.
Nadine attended Stellenbosch University and obtained her LL.B degree in 2013. She joined BDP Inc. during March 2014, and completed her articles under Mr De Beer in the Litigation Department. She assisted Mr De Beer in various matters with a focus on general litigation, family law, corporate law and insolvency law. Nadine was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa during June 2016.
During June 2018 Nadine transferred to the Insurance and Legal Liability Department and has assisted John Smit and Christo Potgieter in litigating cases dealing with, inter alia, personal injuries, motor vehicle accidents, veld fires, structural fires, engineering matters, slip and falls, damages caused by animals and other forms of legal liability.
Nadine is an avid student and embraces any opportunity to increase her knowledge and understanding of the law. She has attended various courses with a focus on consumer legislation including the Consumer Protection Act, the National Credit Act and the Protection of Personal Information Act and obtained her LL.M at Stellenbosch University in April 2019.
Rika Odendal is an Associate in the firm's Family Law / Litigation Department.
She joined the predecessor of BDP Inc. during 2004 as an Assistant where she was actively involved in the Corporate and Commercial Department until 2010. During 2010, she joined George de Beer in his Family Law Practice as his Senior Assistant where her passion for family related matters originated.
Rika commenced her studies at the University of South Africa during 2017 and registered her Practical Vocational Training Contract during 2018 to complete her LLB Degree and Clerkship simultaneously. In November 2021 she obtained her LLB degree at the University of South Africa.
She was admitted as a Legal Practitioner and enrolled as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa during September 2022.
Her passion for Family Law, with special focus on upholding children's rights and parents' rights has gained her expertise knowledge in these areas. Over the course of the last decade, and working under the leadership of George de Beer, she has gained experience in family-related issues and domestic relations, insolvency law, general litigation, and drafting and negotiating various contracts and other legal documents.
Practice Areas
Family Law
Robyn Lategan practices as an Associate in the firm's Litigation Department as well as a Conveyancer in the firm's Conveyancing Department.
Robyn attended Stellenbosch University and obtained her BA degree majoring in English Literature and Political Science in 2015 and her LL.B degree in 2017. She joined BDP Inc. during January 2018, and completed her Practical Vocational Training (previously know as Articles of Clerkship) under Mr. Chris Nel in the Litigation Department. She assisted Mr. Nel in various Magistrate and High Court matters with a focus on General Litigation, Commercial Law and Corporate Law.
Robyn was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa during February 2020 and as a Conveyancer during September 2022.
Robyn's long-term goal is to develop into a well-rounded and successful attorney who has the knowledge and ability to deal effectively with any legal matter that she encounters while providing comprehensive and accurate legal advice combined with outstanding service to her current and future clients. She is driven, motivated and passionate about a variety of legal fields and believe in an inflexible standard of professionalism and quality.
Salomé is an Associate in the firm's corporate, commercial and litigation departments. She attended the North-West University where she obtained her LLB degree in 2020. Thereafter she enrolled in the School for Legal Practice - Cape Town for the full-time course which she completed in 2021. Salome completed her Practical Vocation Training contract and was admitted as an attorney of the High Court in 2023
In January 2024 she joined BDP Attorneys Rondebosch, where she has since assisted Anton Schelhase, Andrea Keller and Caleb Jones with inter alia commercial litigation, commercial contracting, commercial property transactions, evictions, and labour law litigation.