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PRACTICE AREAS

RANSLEY-MELVIN ATTORNEYS

BUSINESS LAW

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) are complex transactions that can shape the future of a business. Whether merging with another company or acquiring a competitor, these processes require careful planning, due diligence, and legal expertise.


Our team guides businesses through each step, from initial negotiations and valuation to drafting agreements and securing regulatory approvals, ensuring that the transaction is seamless and aligns with your strategic goals.

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General Business Law
Our comprehensive business law services cover a wide range of issues affecting companies of all sizes, including:

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  • Corporate Law: Formation, governance, and compliance with local and international corporate regulations.

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  • Intellectual Property (IP): Protection of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.

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  • Employment Law: Managing employee relations, contracts, workplace safety, and legal obligations.

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  • Commercial Law: Handling business transactions, including the sale of goods and services, commercial contracts, and dispute resolution.

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  • Taxation Law: Ensuring compliance with tax regulations, optimizing tax strategies, and addressing any tax-related issues.

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  • Competition & Antitrust Law: Navigating regulations designed to promote fair competition and prevent anti-competitive practices.

 

Our expert legal team is dedicated to helping businesses minimize risks, comply with the law, and achieve long-term success in an ever-evolving marketplace.

CIVIL & COMMERCIAL

Our team specialises in Civil and Commercial Law, providing comprehensive legal services to individuals and businesses across a wide range of sectors.

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Whether you're dealing with a personal legal dispute or managing complex commercial transactions, we offer practical and effective legal strategies tailored to your needs.

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Civil Law
Civil law covers a broad spectrum of legal matters, including contract disputes, property issues, debt collection, and family law.

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We offer skilled representation in cases involving:

  • Contract breaches and enforcement

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  • Property disputes, including residential and commercial property issues

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  • Debt collection and enforcement

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  • Personal injury claims and other civil litigation

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Our goal is to resolve disputes efficiently, safeguarding your rights and interests while seeking amicable solutions whenever possible.

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Commercial Law
In the commercial sphere, businesses face unique challenges that require strategic legal guidance.

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We provide legal services for:

  • Business formation, structuring, and governance

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  • Commercial contracts, negotiations, and enforcement

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  • Corporate disputes and shareholder conflicts

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  • Mergers, acquisitions, and business transactions

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  • Intellectual property protection and licensing

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We work closely with our clients to protect their commercial interests, ensure compliance with regulations, and mitigate risks in day-to-day operations.

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Tailored Solutions for Every Client
With years of experience in both civil and commercial law, our team is committed to delivering high-quality legal counsel with a focus on your specific objectives.

 

Whether you're an individual seeking to resolve a personal dispute or a corporation looking for ongoing legal support, we are here to help you navigate the complexities of the legal landscape.

FAMILY LAW

We understand that family matters are deeply personal and often complex. Our Family Law services are designed to help individuals and families navigate the legal aspects of marriage and civil unions with clarity, compassion, and expertise.

 

Marriage & Civil Unions
We provide comprehensive legal advice and services related to marriage and civil unions, ensuring that your rights are protected from the moment of union through to any future changes in circumstances.

Our services include:

  • Pre-marital agreements: Drafting prenuptial or postnuptial agreements to define financial and property arrangements.

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  • Legal advice on rights and obligations: Understanding the legal implications of marriage and civil unions, including property rights, inheritance, and spousal support.

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  • Divorce & Separation: Guidance through the divorce process, including asset division, spousal maintenance, child maintenance and contact and access arrangements.

 

Compassionate and Experienced Legal Support
We pride ourselves on delivering compassionate, personalised legal services to individuals and families during significant life events.

 

Whether you are entering into a union, navigating a dispute, or seeking guidance on your legal rights within a partnership, we are here to offer support and expert legal advice every step of the way.

TRUST & WILLS

Comprehensive Estate Planning for Peace of Mind

 

We specialise in Trusts & Wills to help you plan for the future, protect your assets, and ensure that your wishes are honoured. Our experienced team offers tailored legal solutions that provide clarity and security, whether you're creating a will, establishing a trust, or navigating complex estate planning needs.

 

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A well-drafted will ensures that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, minimising potential disputes among family members and avoiding the complexities of intestate succession.

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Our services include:

  • Will drafting: Creating a clear, legally binding will to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes.

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  • Will updates: Periodically reviewing and updating your will to reflect changes in your life, such as marriage, children, or the acquisition of new assets.

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  • Executor appointments: Advising on selecting an executor to carry out your wishes and settle your estate.

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Establishing a trust is an effective way to manage and protect your assets during your lifetime and after your passing. Trusts can also provide benefits such as minimizing estate taxes, avoiding probate, and protecting assets from creditors.

 

We offer services including:

  • Creation of trusts: Setting up revocable and irrevocable trusts to safeguard your assets and provide for loved ones.

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  • Trust administration: Assisting trustees in managing and administering trusts in accordance with your instructions.

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  • Estate tax planning: Helping to structure your estate in a tax-efficient manner to reduce liabilities for your beneficiaries.

INDIVIDUAL 
EMPLOYMENT LAW

We provide comprehensive legal services for both corporates and individuals on a wide range of individual employment law issues. Whether you're a business looking to manage your workforce or an employee seeking legal advice, we offer practical and strategic solutions for all aspects of employment law.

 

Our services include:

  • Employment Contracts: Drafting and negotiating tailored contracts for executives, managers, permanent employees, fixed-term workers, independent contractors, and cross-border secondments.

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  • Disciplinary Proceedings: Providing guidance on handling disciplinary actions, from investigations to hearings, ensuring compliance with employment laws and fair processes.

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  • Redundancies & Restructuring: Offering advice on legal aspects of redundancies, restructuring, and the protection of employee rights during business transformations.

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  • Unfair Dismissals & Labour Practices: Providing expert counsel on unfair dismissals, unfair labour practices, and ensuring compliance with South Africa’s labour law.

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  • Discrimination & Sexual Harassment: Offering advice and representation on matters of workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, and resolving disputes effectively.

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  • Restraints of Trade: Drafting, negotiating, and enforcing restraints of trade agreements to protect your business interests while ensuring compliance with legal standards.

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With in-depth expertise and a focus on both employer and employee rights, we help you navigate the complexities of employment law to achieve fair and legally sound outcomes.

INSOLVENCY AND SEQUESTRATION

We assist clients with a wide range of insolvency-related matters, providing tailored advice and legal solutions for businesses and individuals facing financial distress.

Whether you're seeking to navigate liquidation, restructuring, or insolvency proceedings, our experienced team is here to guide you every step of the way.

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Our services include:

  • Liquidation & Insolvency Proceedings: Advising on the commencement of liquidation or other insolvency proceedings, ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

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  • Insolvency Litigation: Assisting with insolvency-related litigation and applications to court, from creditor claims to disputes over asset distribution.

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  • Employment-Related Insolvency Issues: Providing advice on the employment aspects of insolvency, including employee rights, severance packages, and retrenchments.

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  • Impact on Contracts: Evaluating how insolvency affects existing contracts, guiding you through termination, renegotiation, or enforcement.

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  • Minimising Insolvency Risks: Structuring transactions and business operations to reduce exposure to insolvency risks and protect assets.

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  • Reckless Trading & Director’s Liability: Advising on reckless trading, director’s duties, and personal liability in the context of corporate insolvency.

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Our goal is to provide clear, actionable advice that helps mitigate risks and protect your interests during financially challenging times.

PROPERTY
LAW DISPUTES

We provide expert legal services for a wide range of property-related matters. Whether you're dealing with disputes over property ownership, unlawful dispossession, or eviction issues, our experienced team is here to guide you through the legal process.

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Our services include:

  • Rei Vindicatio Applications: Assisting in property recovery actions, where rightful owners seek to reclaim possession of their property from unlawful possessors.

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  • Spoliation Applications: Representing clients in cases where property has been unlawfully taken or interfered with, ensuring the restoration of possession.

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  • Interdicts: Securing urgent court orders to prevent or stop unlawful actions affecting your property, such as trespassing or construction disruptions.

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  • Eviction Applications: Providing guidance and legal representation in eviction proceedings, ensuring compliance with the law while protecting your rights as a landlord or tenant.

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With a strong focus on property rights, we offer practical, results-driven solutions to help resolve your property disputes efficiently and effectively.

SECTIONAL TITLES AND HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS

We specialise in providing expert legal services that foster collaboration between owners, trustees, and managing agents in Sectional Title and Home Owners Association (HOA) matters. Our approach emphasises mediation and dispute resolution, helping stakeholders resolve conflicts related to ownership, distribution, and governance in a peaceful and constructive manner.

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We provide high-quality legal advice to:

  • Owners of units in Sectional Title complexes

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  • Trustees of Body Corporates

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  • Managing Agents

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  • Home Owners Associations, including drafting Memorandums of Incorporation for HOAs

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  • Directors and owners seeking advice on the New Companies Act

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Our comprehensive legal services cover the following key areas:

  • The Sectional Titles Act and associated rules and regulations

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  • The Sectional Titles Management Act and its implications

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  • The Companies Act and its related regulations

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We also offer guidance in specific legal matters, including:

  • Purchase and Sale Advice/Sale Disputes: Purchasing property can be complex, especially for first-time buyers. We help clients navigate the offer to purchase, ensuring all terms are clear and protecting their interests in case of disputes or breaches.

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  • Levy Disputes: We offer mediation, arbitration, or assistance in approaching the Ombudsman or Court to resolve any levy payment disputes within Sectional Title or HOA communities.

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Our experienced team is committed to ensuring that all parties involved in Sectional Title and Home Owners Association matters receive fair, practical, and legally sound advice, helping prevent disputes and creating a harmonious living environment.

CRIMINAL LAW

Experienced Legal Representation in Criminal Matters

 

We provide expert legal representation in criminal law, defending individuals who are facing criminal charges. With a commitment to protecting your rights and providing strategic defence, we handle a wide range of criminal cases, from minor offenses to serious criminal matters.

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Our criminal law services include:

  • Defending Criminal Charges: Representing clients in all stages of the criminal justice process, from investigation and arrest to trial and sentencing.

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  • Bail Applications: Assisting clients with urgent bail applications and working to secure favourable bail conditions.

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  • Criminal Trials: Providing skilled defence in court, advocating for clients facing charges such as theft, assault, fraud, drug offenses, and more.

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  • Appeals: Offering expert advice and representation in the appeal process, challenging convictions and sentences when appropriate.

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  • Alternative Sentencing: Exploring options like diversion programs, probation, and community service to reduce or avoid custodial sentences.

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  • Expungement: Advising on the possibility of removing certain criminal records from public databases, allowing for a clean slate.

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We understand the significant impact a criminal charge can have on your life, and we are dedicated to offering compassionate, knowledgeable, and aggressive legal representation aimed at achieving the best possible outcome.

Construction Law

We offer specialised legal services in construction law, helping contractors, developers, property owners, and other stakeholders navigate the unique challenges of the construction industry. Whether you're involved in contract disputes, project delays, or regulatory compliance issues, our team provides practical and effective solutions to protect your interests.

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Our services include:

  • Contract Drafting and Negotiation: Assisting with the creation and negotiation of contracts for construction projects, ensuring clear terms on timelines, scope, payments, and responsibilities.

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  • Construction Disputes: Representing clients in disputes related to breach of contract, delays, defective work, payment issues, and more.

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  • Construction Claims: Providing legal assistance with filing and resolving construction claims, including those for non-payment, performance issues, and cost overruns.

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  • Project Delays & Extensions of Time: Advising on matters related to delays in construction projects, and securing time extensions or defending claims related to delay penalties.

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  • Construction Liens: Guiding clients through the process of filing and defending construction liens to secure payment for completed work.

 

Our team combines in-depth knowledge of the construction industry with expert legal skills to offer reliable advice and representation that supports the successful completion of your projects, minimizes risks, and resolves disputes efficiently.

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