Dickinson & Theunissen INC

The firm was first established in the middle seventies when (the late) Peter Dickinson and Graham Theunissen began practicing in partnership. Subsequently Mario Baldocchi and Mike Clift joined the firm. In 1992 Peter Dickinson retired and Frans Van Oers was appointed as a partner. Clinton Smith joined the firm as an articled clerk in 1999 and was admitted as an attorney in 2000. He was appointed as director in 2007. Rene Pringle who joined us to head up our Conveyancing Department became a director on 1 June 2017.

For approximately 20 years the firm conducted business in the centre of Pinetown from the Permanent Building in Crompton Street. In 1995 we purchased our new premises in Sunnyside Lane, where we are still based today.

We have a staff compliment of 23 which apart from the 4 directors, includes a candidate attorney, Elaine Moodley. We further employ seven secretarial assistants, 5 conveyancing para-legals and a client liaison officer.

We are especially proud of our:

• Responsive management team

• Close co-operation and liaison with our clients

• Close liaison with financial institutions

• Experienced and well trained staff

• Commitment to the ethical standards of our profession

• Knowledge of the latest developments in South African law

Having serviced the upper Highway area for approximately forty years we have a long and sustained relationship with its communities including Hillcrest, Kloof, Westville, Escombe, Queensburgh and Malvern.

Dickinson & Theunissen Inc. has a level to BEE status.

We offer inter alia the following services to our clients.

We believe we have by far the largest and most professional conveyancing practice in Pinetown and we have acted on behalf of Standard Bank, ABSA Bank, First National Bank and Nedbank.

On behalf of:

• National financial institutions

• National and local estate agencies

• Individual and corporate clients

We have over the past 40 years, been entrusted with:

• the transfer of properties and

• the registration of mortgage, surety and notarial bonds with a combined value in excess of a billion Rand

Other property related services include:

• Sectional title developments

• Registration of private townships

• Share block developments and conversions to sectional title

• Low cost housing development schemes

• Sale Agreements (Residential and commercial)

• Deeds Office searches

• Lease Agreements

• Drafting Wills

• Winding up and administration of deceased estates

• Creating family and business Trusts

• Estate planning and structuring

• Executorships

• Deceased estate property transfers

• Independent trusteeships

• Divorce

• Mediation

• Custody and access agreements

• Maintenance

• Neighbourhood disputes

• Antenuptial contracts

• Post Nuptial contracts

• Parenting Plans

• Protection and Harassment Applications

• Settling of disputes

• Formation of Family Trusts, Business Trusts, Employee Trusts

• General commercial and business advice

• Preparing contracts for the sale of businesses or shares in companies

• Credit Agreements

• Agreements to cover retirement or death of partners or directors

• Shareholders Agreements

• Confidentiality and license agreements to protect intellectual property rights

• Corporate due diligence

• Expropriation disputes

• Insolvency

• Leases: preparing and advising thereof

• Landlord and tenant affairs

• Company registration

• Trade and liquor licensing

• Franchises

• Agency agreements

• Partnership Agreements

• BEE Compliance

Our directors have many years experience in the High Court, the Regional Court and the Magistrate’s Court including:-

• Bail applications

• Legal representation

• Appeals and reviews

• Labour Court representation

• Employment Law

• Representation and advice at the CCMA and / or bargaining councils

• Advice to employers relating to labour matters including retrenchments and restraints of trade

• Conducting disciplinary hearings at your workplace

• Advice and assistance with retrenchment

• Wage negotiations

• Conducting ill health and incapacity enquiries at the workplace

Although the firm tries to use cost effective alternative dispute resolution measures such as arbitration and mediation, its general litigation services include:-

• Litigation in all courts

• Representation before judicial or quasi judicial boards, eg. Licensing, Road Transportation etc.

• Insurance claims

• Motor collision and third part injury claims

• Civil compensation claims eg. defamation, assault, dog bite and personal injury claims

• Settlement negotiations

• Insolvency and rehabilitation applications

• Urgent applications

• Property litigation

• Banking and finance litigation

Collecting outstanding business debts and advising of risk strategies to reduce debt.