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MEET THE TEAM
EXPERIENCED AND STRATEGIC
 Zelmari Kern - DirectorThe firm was founded by Zelmari Kern in 2014. Zelmari is an admitted attorney from Johannesburg and holds a Bcom Law Degree and honours LLB degree. She has extensive experience in labour law, commercial law, corporate governance, insurance law and has also completed an advanced course in labour law at the University of Pretoria and UCT and further completed an advanced course in the Companies Act at the University of Johannesburg. |  Gregory Armstrong - DirectorGregory Armstrong (LLB) is an admitted attorney, with High Court appearance, and has a general legal practice with extensive experience in High Court and Magistrates Court litigation; he practiced as a partner at a medium sized firm in Melrose Estate before joining Kern, Armstrong & Du Plessis Inc. late in 2016; he heads up the general litigation, family law and criminal law department at Kern, Armstrong & Associates |  Mark Eccles - Senior AttorneyMark Eccles was admitted as an attorney in 2001.  He obtained his BCom and LLB from the University of Witwatersrand, LLM from University of South Africa and his Higher Diploma in Tax Law from University of Johannesburg. Mark has worked in the corporate world, private practice and in entrepreneurial ventures. From 1993 to 1998 he was a legal advisor at Gold Fields of South Africa, rising to group legal officer. |
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 Mariaan Hoffmann - Senior AttorneyMariaan completed her B.Comm (Law) degree whilst employed with an Accounting Firm in Randburg. Upon completion and with an ever-growing interest and enthusiasm in the legal field, she completed her LL.B degree. After her admission in 2011 and being employed by a firm with an almost exclusive Corporate client base, she excelled in exploring and expanding her passion firmly entrenched in commercial and corporate law. |  Celeste Aitken – Senior AttorneyCeleste Aitken has been admitted attorney since 2009 and holds her LLB Law Degree and Cyber Law Diploma. Celeste has specialised in insurance and cyber law and also has experience in general litigation. She has work experience in larger corporate companies such as Stalker Hutchison and Admiral, Chubb Insurance Company, Norton Rose Fulbright as well as smaller boutique firms such as Ulrich Roux and Associates. Celeste’s role is to assist our client’s unique business and legal needs. |  Oliver Marshall – Associate Designate and Business Development ManagerOliver Marshall studied towards a BA (Law), LLB and LLM (Corporate & Commercial) at the University of the Witwatersrand. While pursuing a master’s, Oliver worked at Kern, Armstrong & Associates in the Johannesburg Office and thereafter lectured commercial and contract law at Wits University. He forms part of the litigation and corporate team at our Cape Town Office where he will also manage business development. |
 Masindi Mathavha - Junior AssociateMasindi Mathavha is an admitted attorney. She obtained both her BA Law degree (with a triple major in law, organisational psychology and philosophy) and LLB degree from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is currently pursuing an LLM in International Economic Law at WITS. Masindi has experience dealing with dispute resolution and ligation matters that affect State Owned Entities, Mining Companies, Banks and corporations. |  Rohula Bilankulu - AttorneyRohula Bilankulu is an attorney with a passion for litigation. As a Candidate Attorney she specialised in insurance litigation, with a specific focus in public liability and medical negligence. Post admission as an attorney, Rohula was an associate in a general litigation practice. In this role she oversaw the success of many litigations matters both before the High Court and various Magistrates Courts. Currently, she holds the position of attorney and deals with all types of litigation matters. |  Charl Du Plessis - Senior ConsultantCharl is an attorney, notary and conveyancer and holds the degrees BA (Law and Economics) & LLB from UCT (1990). He obtained a Certificate in Tax Practice from RAU (2002), a Diploma in Advanced Company Law I & II from Wits (2011), a Certificate in Business Rescue Practice from UNISA and the South African Law Society (2016) and attended the SAPOA’S Property Development Management Programme at the UCT Graduate School of Business in 1997. |
 Adriaan du Plessis - ConsultantAdriaan is a consultant of Kern Armstrong and Associates and is practicing as attorney, conveyancer and notary. He furthermore completed Masters degrees in Labour Law (LLM) and Business Administration (MBA) in 2013 and 2014 respectively, both cum laude. He firmly believes in customising legal solutions to suit every individual and corporate entity’s needs, finding cost effective solutions that benefit his clients. |  Louise Verbeek - ConsultantLouise is a consultant of Kern Armstrong and Associates. Her area of speciality is Property Law and Conveyancing,. She especially enjoys attending to property transfers and various technical land registration processes. She believes that extensive legal research, discipline and hard work combined with well-needed logic is key to being a successful Attorney and Conveyancer. She has excellent people and mediation skills. |  Tarin - Attorney ConsultantTarin joined Kern, Armstrong & Associates as an Associate Attorney in 2022. Tarin holds an LLB as well as an LLM in International Law from the University of the Witwatersrand. Tarin has experience in various areas of law including High Court and Magistrate Court litigation, family law, children’s law, education law and commercial law. She forms part of the Litigation, Corporate and Commercial department. |
 Michelle Toxopeüs - Candidate AttorneyMichelle Toxopeüs is currently serving her articles at Kern, Armstrong & Associates Before joining the firm, she was a legal researcher at the Constitutional Court of South Africa and worked at the Helen Suzman Foundation, also as a legal researcher. She holds a master's degree in environmental law and governance from the North West University. |  Luxolo NtuliLuxolo Ntuli is currently serving her Articles of Clerkship at Kern, Armstrong & Associates. She obtained her LLB Degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, whereby she obtained a Dean’s Commendation in her final year. Luxolo is a young individual who is passionate in providing bespoke legal solutions to clients. |  Eva Cunningham - Candidate AttorneyEva Cunningham completed her LLB at the University of Cape town. As a candidate attorney at the firm, she provides support and assistance to attorneys in our commercial and litigation department. |
 Charlene Lau – ParalegalCharlene Lau is currently studying and completing her LLB degree at UNISA, she also has a higher diploma in journalism and assists the firm and its attorneys with legal matters and administrative tasks. |  Nicole van Niekerk - AdministrationNicole van Niekerk studied at the University of Johannesburg and completed her BA degree in Marketing and Communications. Nicole has over 10 years experience in administration and client relations. Nicole’s role is to assist the Kern, Armstrong & Associates will all admin related tasks, together with maintaining healthy client relations. |  Stephen Tshabalala - Legal Administrative ClerkStephen Tshabalala is currently employed by Kern Armstrong & Associates as a Legal Administrative Clerk. He holds his LLB Degree which he obtained at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Stephen has completed his articles and soon to be admitted once he finishes off his boards exams. |
 Natalie Gengan - FinancialNatalie Gengan studied Credit Management at University of Kwa-Zulu Natal and has spent 15 years in the collections arena. She is a multiskilled individual with strengths in technical analysis, risk and compliance and information business processes. She has sound knowledge of the Financial services industry including debt collection. |  Reshka Naidoo - Accounts and CollectionsReshka joined Kern, Armstrong & associates in 2024 .She has 13 year’s experience in the financial and administration sectors and has extensive knowledge in the debtors and creditors functions and in maintaining financial files and records in an organized manner and provide administrative support to the finance department as needed. |  Thapelo MatsebulaThapelo has joined our team to help ensure that all correspondence is safely transported. |
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