Having completed the BPROC and LLB degrees at the old UPE in Port Elizabeth in 1999, Melanie ventured abroad and worked at a law firm, OM Mark & Associates in Mayfair London. After returning to South Africa and qualifying as an Attorney, Notary and Conveyancer all in one year, Melanie decided to spread her wings and moved to Cape Town to work at one of the largest conveyancing law firms in South A
frica – first at the Hout Bay office, then in the Cape Town office and finally in the Table View office as the manager. A breast cancer diagnosis in 2018 changed the direction of the ship on which Melanie sails and the destination of her anchors! She has said farewell to corporate and braved the start of her LEGAL AND COMPLIANCE business in October 2020. Melanie has always been a passionate conveyancing attorney and has always incorporated training as part of her marketing from very early on. Melanie’s training ability stems from being an avid public speaker at school and always having held leadership positions throughout her life. From a practice perspective, Legal Compliance has always interested Melanie and as a result, she was instrumental in launching her previous firm’s F**AA Risk Based documentation to the satisfaction of FIC and people from all different levels within the firm would refer enquiries to Melanie for determination. In the Covid 19 era, Melanie was appointed as the firm’s Covid Compliance Officer, drafted and implemented the Covid Policy documents and procedures within such a large organisation with good success and generally implemented the rules applicable to the various offices within the firm. Melanie has also assisted many estate agencies and other businesses with their internal F**AA Manuals as well as Covid Protocols. With so many changes to the laws and rules applicable to the property industry, Melanie has been training agents in respect of the Protection of Personal Information Act (“POPIA”) as well as the Promotion of Access to Information Act (“PAIA”) as well as the European Privacy GDPR Regulations. In addition, Melanie is a specialist in the myriad of rules which apply when foreigners invest funds into property here in South Africa and has worked for years with the Reserve Bank’s exchange control department as well as with the Receiver of Revenue and the banks in respect of these clients and she is often told by clients how valuable it is for foreign investors, especially those who reside in South Africa temporarily to be able to turn to someone able to advise on all aspects related. This has often avoided dire consequences which may have arisen in the future. Melanie joined Bax Kaplan Russell Atorneys as Consultant in April 2021 and operates from their Colloseum, Century City offices in Cape Town where she attends to the registration of property transfers with the support of the other atrorneys and paralegals there. Melanie’s passion for conveyancing, training, compliance, consultation, drafting and foreign investors shines brightly through her interactions and she is excited to be able to focus on these areas in particular.
