As one of the few specialist property law firms in Johannesburg, Tonkin Clacey Inc. has earned a formidable reputation for integrity, professionalism and skill in our niche areas of expertise.

Notwithstanding our history of almost 30 years in the property sector and a solid network of relationships forged over many years, our ability to respond with creativity and adaptability to a challenging and ever-changing environment is a keystone of our success.

Grounded in established values, always responsive to our changing environment and with a modern vision for our future, our team is a uniquely diverse but complementary resource of experience, knowledge and skill, able to provide the highest level of service to our clients.

Our firm was established as a partnership in July 1988. The firm commenced practice as an incorporated company in 2014. Michael Clacey, one of our founding partners, retired at the end of February 2018 after 39 years of practice.

After many years as a partner, Anton Theron took over the firm’s Pretoria office, Tonkin Clacey Pretoria, in 2013, where he still practises for his own account and acts as a consultant to the firm. Furthermore, Jaco Lötter was appointed as partner in 2000 and Caroline Leppan in 2003. In 2007, Michael Pinnock, a former president of the Law Society of the Northern Provinces, and Samantha Farren, joined the firm from Webber Wentzel Bowens. Mike recently retired from practice after 53 years.

Reneilwe Mokone and Lucian Companie were appointed as directors in 2015, and later that year Dave Pennington joined us from Hogan Lovells.  Our team was further strengthened by the highly experienced Johan Jacobs who joined us in 2017. Our newest director, Wilco Hefer, has been with us for most of his professional career.

As an associate firm of the Phatshoane Henney Group, South Africa’s largest association of independent law firms, Tonkin Clacey Inc. subscribes to the group philosophy of “Setting the Standard”. In doing so, we distinguish our firm’s character with specific focus on our firm, our clients and our staff:

Our Firm:
We believe in a client-driven approach, offering specialised legal services, transformation and an ethical and innovative approach to doing business.

Our Clients:
We believe in offering custom legal solutions effectively and at an affordable price, along with high levels of service that ensure a value-adding experience.

Our Staff:
We believe in recognising our staff and utilising each individual through the creation of an optimal work environment where we engage our staff through structured evaluation and feedback in order to strengthen career and personal development.

Tonkin Clacey Inc., as a socially responsible firm, is committed to improving the lives of South African citizens by making positive contributions to organisations in need.

Therefore, we are involved with the following organisations:

1. My Career Corner
2. Sunlight Safe House

For more information on our firm’s socio-economic development activities, please visit our Facebook page.

We are a proud member of the Phatshoane Henney Group of Associated Law Firms.

The Phatshoane Henney Group is the largest legal network in South Africa. Currently comprising of nearly 50 law firms with more than 60 offices in 9 provinces and over 500 professionals, the Group continues to grow year-on-year and expand its presence to major centres across South Africa.

The Group was founded in 2006 by Bloemfontein firm Phatshoane Henney Attorneys in response to an identified need of law firms to strategically position themselves for the future and access the economies of scale of a large group with national visibility and brand awareness. Membership provides firms with a range of benefits including vital support services, marketing infrastructure and strategic partnerships that create value, cost savings and business opportunities for firms.

Member firms are dynamic and prominent law firms in their respective regions and subscribe to the Group values of caring, innovation, expertise, standards and transformation – values which make each firm stand out as a New Breed of Law Firm. The Group brand has grown strongly since its establishment and has obtained recognition as a leading brand in the legal profession. The brand is complimentary to individual firm brands which it supports and strengthens by adding visibility and differentiation.

Members pool their resources and expertise to foster a national service directory and network of firms and professionals that are able to assist clients across South Africa. Group quality standards and best practices also provide clients with the comfort of working with experts who provide consistent value-adding legal services to their clients.

With a strong transformation imperative, the Group supports firms to transform and address vital aspects of BEE, employment equity, skills development and diversity; contribute to their communities;  develop their professionals;  and position firms as employers of choice with their staff.

The scale and purchasing power of the Group enables cost reductions, strategic partnership opportunities and negotiating power which benefit member firms and ultimately each firm’s clientele.

For more information on the Phatshoane Henney Group, its values, members and national service directory please visit www.phfirms.co.za.

The PH Group was established in 2006 by founding member firm PH Attorneys and has since evolved to become the Largest Legal Network in South Africa and the only network of its kind that caters exclusively to the needs of South African law firms.

The PH Group was established in response to an identified need of small and medium-sized law firms to form part of a larger network and so gain access to shared resources, expertise and economies of scale.

To ensure member firms aspire to the Group Standards and Values, PH Attorneys undertakes a member firm certification process every two years to review the adherence of member firms to the Group Standards. The certification process follows a comprehensive evidence-based review of each member firms’ adherence to the Group Standards.

Following such review, member firms that have excelled are recognised through the Group’s New Breed Law Firm Awards that provides recognition to top-performing member firms and acknowledges their progress to becoming New Breed Law Firms™. The awards are allocated after the completion of the bi-annual certification process and allows member firms to showcase their performance to their clients and staff. Each award is valid for two years from date of award.

We are proud to announce that our firm has in 2023 been awarded Platinum Achiever status by the PH Group for achieving more than 90% compliance with the Group Standards. This achievement confirms that we are truly a New Breed of Law Firm™ and provides comfort to you, our client, that you are working with a leading, well-managed and compliant law firm that cares about you and your business. We have gone to great lengths to do so, and believe this Award confirms our commitment to you.

For more information on the PH Group and the Group Achiever Awards, please visit www.phfirms.co.za.

Jaco Lötter, head of our Mossel Bay office, has more than 25 years’ experience in property law with a strong focus on the establishment of new property developments, commercial agreements, conveyancing and notarial services.

Jaco is highly experienced in the constitution and management of residents’ associations, having advised, served on, and chaired several associations. He has also advised and represented residents’ associations in disputes before the Community Schemes Ombud Service. Jaco is a Fellow of the Association of Arbitrators and a trained mediator from the Society of Mediators, London, through the Association of Arbitrators.  

Jaco is passionate about leadership and personal development. His hobbies include mountain biking, adventure motorcycling, fly-fishing, travel, and nature photography.