Executive Committee
The Pretoria Attorneys Association (PAA) represents the interests of Attorneys practising in the Pretoria area. The executive committee headed by Bhavna Singh (Chairperson) and Carlo Swarts (Vice-Chairperson) consists of 14 members and meets on a monthly basis.
The Association is organised in various subcommittees to best represent members’ interests. Two fully functional offices are located at the Pretoria High Court and Magistrate’s Court to assist Attorneys and members of the public.
Bhavna is a Director at VZLR Inc. She completed her LLB degree at the University of Pretoria during January 2010 and completed her LLM degree in Commercial Law at the University of South Africa in 2017. She joined VZLR as a candidate attorney during January 2011 and was admitted as an attorney in March 2013 and became a director in March 2018.
Bhavna’s experience and practice is dedicated to Labour Law and General Litigation with a focus on Administrative Law.
Email: bhavna@vzlr.co.za Tel.: 012 435 9303
Ndangi Thovhakale is the Founder and Director of NN Thovhakale Incorporated, trading as NNT Incorporated, a boutique law firm which specialises in corporate and commercial law, as well as High Court and Magistrate’s Court litigation. He holds an LLB from the University of South Africa (obtained in 2016). Admitted as an attorney in 2019, he was granted the right of appearance in the High Court in 2021 and completed the Practice Management Course that same year. He is also a Conflict Dynamics-accredited mediator. He also serves on the PAA executive committee as head of the Student Chapter and Transformation.
Email: ndangi@nntinc.co.za Tel.: 012 433 6482
With a B.Proc from the University of South Africa, Millie was admitted as an Attorney in 1999, and specialises in all areas of Company Law and in particular with the registration of all types of Companies, special resolutions, prospectuses and rights offers, as well as all work related to the Companies Act 71 of 2008, as amended and the Close Corporations Act of 1984, as amended. She was also admitted as a Notary Public in 2000.
She became a partner of Friedland Hart Solomon and Nicolson Attorneys in 2001 and heads the Companies’ department of the Firm.
Millie completed a course in Advanced Company Law at the University of Witwatersrand and is currently the Treasurer of the Pretoria Attorneys Association.
Millie served as Vice Chairperson of the Pretoria Attorneys Association since 2016 and has served as a member of its Executive Committee since 2010. Millie is currently the Treasurer of the Pretoria Attorneys Association and the Treasurer of the Gauteng Attorneys Association (GAA) and was appointed as one of the GAA’s EXCO members in 2010. Millie also serves on the Specialist Company Law Committee of the Law Society of South Africa. She is also appointed as an examiner of the Legal Practice Council for the Notarial Practice exams and serves as a member of the Investigating and Disciplinary Committee of the Legal Practice Council.
Members of the Association are invited to address any CIPC concerns or refer any CIPC related problems to her and she will attempt to resolve same.
Email: millie@fhsn.co.za Tel.: 012 424 0200
Mark Christodoulou is an Associate Director in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution division at VDT Attorneys Inc. He specialises in commercial litigation and dispute resolution. He obtained his BCom Law and LLB degrees from the University of Pretoria in 2014 and 2016 respectively was admitted as an Attorney in September 2018. He has also completed courses in Compliance Management, Data Protection and Insolvency Law.
Conrad obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree at the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 2012 and was admitted as an Attorney to the High Court of South Africa in 2014.
He was also admitted as a Lawyer to the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia in 2019.
Tertiary Education:
Post Graduate Certificate in Medical Malpractice Litigation, Legal Education and Development (LEAD) (2015)
Post Graduate Certificate in Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity, University of Cape Town (2017)
International Professional Development, University of Southern Queensland (2019)
– Practical Legal Training (College of Law 2019)
– Equity Law, Property and Trust A and B, Constitutional Law.
Various GDPR (EU) certification courses.
Conrad is a partner at Van Niekerk Attorneys Incorporated since 2015.
Conrad was elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the Pretoria Attorneys Association in 2021 and heads the Road Accident Fund subcommittee.
Email: conrad@vnattorneys.net Tel.: 012 819 1285
Sarah Suleman is an admitted attorney specialising in trade mark prosecution and litigation. She completed her LLB degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2021 and was admitted as an attorney in 2024. Sarah began her legal career as a Candidate Attorney at Adams & Adams and joined KISCH IP as an Associate in 2024, where she advises clients on both contentious and non-contentious intellectual property matters. She has been involved in and has assisted with brand protection matters for both international multi-corporations and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including litigation matters spanning from the High Court to the Supreme Court of Appeal.
Sarah approaches each matter with creativity and strategic insight, ensuring a consistently high standard of work and tailored solutions for clients.
Email: sarahs@kisch-ip.com
Courtney is an Associate at RW Attorneys specialising in Dispute Resolution and Litigation. She obtained her BCom Law and LLB degrees from the University of Pretoria in 2020 and 2021 respectively and was admitted as an Attorney in 2023.
Courtney manages the Candidate Legal Practitioners and New Membership portfolio encouraging those interested in joining the association to reach out and connect with her.
Email: courtneys@rwattorneys.co.za Tel.: 012 452 4000
Shikara completed her LLB degree (cum laude) at the University of Pretoria. She is an Associate at Velile Tinto Attorneys. She also has her Right of Appearance in the High Court. She specialises in High Court and Magistrate’s Court civil Litigation.
She served as a member of the PAA Subcommittee since 2022 and has been appointed to the PAA Exco since 2024.
Email: balkishuns@gmail.com
Mar-Doreth Grobler is an admitted attorney with Right of Appearance in the High Court of South Africa since 2017. She specialises in High Court litigation, third-party claims against the Road Accident Fund (RAF), and medical negligence matters, providing clients with strategic, detail-driven, and results-focused representation.
Driven by a strong work ethic and a commitment to excellence, Mar-Doreth approaches every matter with precision, diligence, and professionalism. She delivers high-quality work and remains steadfast in the face of complex challenges. Her interpersonal skills allow her to engage effectively with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders, whether collaborating in a team environment or working independently. Integrity, open communication, and meticulous attention to detail form the foundation of her professional conduct.
During her previous tenure in private practice, Mar-Doreth was recognised as the Top Fee Earner for three consecutive years and received the Best Fee Improvement Award for the 2023 financial year, reflecting her dedication to performance excellence and client-centred service.
In January 2024, she founded M Grobler Attorneys Incorporated, a dynamic and steadily expanding legal practice. While leading and growing her firm, Mar-Doreth remains committed to ongoing professional development and welcomes opportunities to make further meaningful contributions to the legal profession.
Email: mardoreth@mgalaw.co.za
Andries Kgatlampi Nkome is a managing director of Nkome Incorporated Attorneys which he established in the year 2007 after being admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 2005.
He obtained an MBL in 2024, a B Proc in 2004 (Unisa), Certificate in Mining Laws in 2006 (Wits), Certificate Competition Laws in 2005 (University of Pretoria) and other certificates in Commercial Law.
He was a director of Tshwane Economic Development Agency (TEDA) from 2018 to 2020.
He was the first attorney to arrive at Marikana in 2012 after the massacre and represented the mine workers in the Farlam Commission of Enquiry, Classen Commission of Enquiry, civil litigation including in the Constitutional Court and criminal litigation in Regional and High Court.
He represented 53 Military Veterans and charges of allegedly holding the minister of defence hostage successfully and represents some of the Jagersfontein families after the 2022 mine dam walls collapse disaster as well as the R555 Trust of more than 20 mining communities.
Tel.: (012) 342 6009 Email: andries@nkomeinc.co.za.
Cynthia obtained a BLC degree in 1992, an LLB degree in 1994, an LLM (Laws of Contract) in 2010, Advanced Certificate in Insolvency Litigation and Administration Practice (with distinction) in 2011 at the University of Pretoria. During her studies she was invited to become a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society for her academic achievement in 2010. She successfully completed her practical training at the Law School in Pretoria in 1994 and commenced her professional career as a candidate attorney in 1995.
She was admitted as attorney and conveyancer in 1996 and as a notary public in the High Court of South Africa in 2003 after successfully completing all three admission examinations.
Cynthia manages the property law portfolio at the PAA.
Kazumi Sebonka is a duly admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa, having been formally admitted on 23 April 2024. She is currently practising as an attorney in the Third-Party Litigation Department, where she focusses predominantly on matters involving personal injury, Road Accident Fund Claims , and related third-party disputes at VZLR Incorporated. Her current position marks her return to her foundational area of legal training, having previously served her articles at VZLR Incorporated. Shortly after completing her articles at VZLR Incorporated, Kazumi commenced her legal career at MacRobert Attorneys in August 2023, where she was appointed in the Tax Department. There she gained valuable experience on high value tax related inquiries and tax disputes where she assisted seasoned tax practitioners in representing prominent clients including SARS.
She was subsequently appointed as an Associate in the Financial Recoveries Department, where she represented major banking institutions such as ABSA Bank and BMW Financial Services SA (Pty) Ltd. Her practice in this department entailed high-level action and application proceedings in both the High Courts as well as lower courts, particularly focusing on the recovery of both movable and immovable assets, including applications for attachment and sale in executions. Her corporate client portfolio further included Life Healthcare, Eduvos (Pty) Ltd, The Club Advocate Chambers, Santam Ltd and The Pretoria Society of Advocates. She also gained experience in defended litigation matters, debt review proceedings, and complex settlement negotiations. Kazumi concluded her tenure at MacRobert Attorneys in July 2025.
Kazumi recently obtained her right of appearance in the High Court of South Africa which authorises her to appear, represent clients, and present argument in the High Courts across South Africa, the Supreme Court of Appeal, and the Constitutional Court.
She currently serves as a proud member of the Pretoria Attorneys Association where she heads the Marketing, Events and Sponsorship portfolio for the 2025 – 2026 term.
Email: kazumi@vzlr.co.za Tel: (012) 435 9444
Carla obtained her LLB (Bachelor of Laws) degree from the University of Pretoria in 2020. She commenced her articles in 2021, gaining practical experience across both the Conveyancing and Litigation Departments. Carla was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa in January 2023, whereafter she practised in the Litigation Department, broadening her fields of expertise across various legal fields, whilst growing her passion for Family Law disputes.
In June 2024, she joined VZLR Inc as a Consultant Attorney in the Family Law Department, where she focuses on delivering practical, client-centred legal solutions. Carla is committed to continuous learning and strives to grow both professionally and personally within the legal field.
She attends to a wide range of family law matters, including divorces, maintenance disputes, care and contact matters, domestic violence proceedings, and related family law issues.
Email: carla@vzlr.co.za
Tel: 012 435 9361
PAA Executive Committee 2025-2026
