Barnard Incorporated Attorneys, arguably one of Gauteng’s fastest-growing corporate and commercial law firms, have been invited to join the International Commercial Law Alliance (ICLA) as its exclusive South African representative, the second Africa-based law firm to join the network of law firms.

ICLA is a strategic group of law firms from around the world – all leaders in their field. Each ICLA member firm provides clients with superior legal and business advice in the jurisdiction where that law firm is located.

“This Alliance will give our southern African clients great access to experts in many other jurisdictions where they can be confident that their matters will be handled with the same care and commitment to excellence that is provided by Barnard Inc,” said Douw Breed, Managing Director at Barnard Inc. “No matter where in the world their business might take them, clients can rest assured that an ICLA member law firm will be there to provide them with the highest level of service.”

In welcoming Barnard Inc to the Alliance, ICLA Chairperson and Partner with the Netherlands-based DVAN Advocaten, Risto Larsson said, “‘I am very excited about Barnard Inc joining the ICLA global family of midsize law firms. This does not only mark the beginning of our alliance’s presence on the African continent, but it also offers our mutual clients the benefits of retaining legal assistance from a local firm that shares the same values, service commitment and culture.”

This latest development coincides with Barnard Incorporated’s new journey to grow the teams and capabilities of the firm with the aim of competing on equal footing with the larger commercial law firms in South Africa and expand its footprint worldwide.

Barnard Inc. Attorneys is a full-service law firm providing a wide range of legal services, including corporate and commercial law, infrastructure law, property law, commercial litigation, insurance law and family law. Since establishment in 1998, Barnard Inc. has grown to become one of the largest independent Centurion-based law firms. Barnard Inc. attorneys advise listed and private companies, individuals, and local and foreign organisations across South Africa and internationally.

On 22 June 2017, commercial and corporate law firm Gillan & Veldhuizen (G&V Inc.) announced their affiliation with IR Global, an international professional service network.  This partnership makes G&V Inc. an exclusive IR Global member In South Africa, supplying commercial litigation services to all other members and outside users.  

CEO PJ Veldhuizen says that this is a great achievement and acknowledgement of their good reputation and service offering.  “It also gives us the opportunity to assist our existing clients with quality representation in many more jurisdictions, and improve our service by giving them access to additional advisory services outside our own immediate offering.”    

IR Global is a service firm network that provides legal, accounting and financial advice to companies and individuals across 155 jurisdictions.  Clients are able to build and grow their businesses through the many benefits IR Global affords its members and affiliates, with international exposure of their brand, access to niche skills across many practice areas and sectors, excellent service and support, and ongoing collaboration. 

Gillan & Veldhuizen underwent a vigorous vetting process which included analysis of the firm’s reputation and rankings, and measuring feedback from local IR members and connections to their jurisdictions.  The final step was a one-on-one meeting to discuss the protocols, ethos and expectations required.  

Veldhuizen remarks that he sees the value in being part of a network of like-minded individuals and businesses that together are all powerful, supporting and complementing each other’s expertise through collaboration, co-operation and sharing of skills. “Here’s to going global!”