The Team

Esri Marais

Founder

Esri is an admitted attorney and conveyancer of the High Court of South Africa. She boasts a specialisation in private law spanning some 15 years, and now focuses in aspects of Property Law, Family Law and Labour Law.

Esri’s previous work with a Labour Broker with over 1500 employees has allowed her to extend into related labor brokering services such as disciplinary and CCMA hearings. 

Esri remains keenly involved in property developments, specifically in collaboration with town planners, developers, surveyors and bringing a development dream to fruition. She also attends to general property transfers and conveyancing related matters.

Esri has established the independent trustee services department at the firm assisting both family and commercial trusts for estate planning purposes and with the need for an appointment of an independent trustee.

Personal client service relationships are at the heart of Esri’s primary philosophy while discharging her mandate and responsibilities.

esri@mpattorneys.co.za

Gabriella Pacitti

Founder

Gabriella is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa and an accredited commercial mediator. She obtained her LLB degree from the University of Stellenbosch in 2013 followed by which she worked for a labour and human resources consulting company before commencing with her articles of clerkship.

In 2017 Gabriella was appointed a director at a boutique law firm in Cape Town, where she headed up the litigation, family law and employment department, acting for both employers and employees.

This extended to being responsible for the mentorship programme for the firm’s candidate attorneys. She gained valuable experience in commercial and company law, including drafting complex commercial agreements and commercial litigation, as well as trust administration, wills and estates.

Gabriella is a skilled family law attorney, with experience in matrimonial disputes, maintenance and children’s matters. She takes a pragmatic and empathetic approach to family law disputes with a specific focus on early settlement to limit disruption to the family unit.

Gabriella received her accreditation as a commercial mediator from Conflict Dynamics and the London based Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution in 2015, and has successfully resolved disputes through mediation, in a number of family, labour law and commercial matters and has a philosophy of alternative dispute resolution, negotiation skills and training.

Gabriella takes an outcomes based approach to the resolution of disputes, placing emphasis on understanding the specific needs and challenges of each particular client. She is passionate about business development and focuses her legal advice on the larger commercial interests and strategy of her clients.

gabriella@mpattorneys.co.za

Michelle Clift

Michelle was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa in May 2019 and joined Marais Pacitti Attorneys as an associate in 2020. She also holds a postgraduate qualification in Compliance Management from the University of Cape Town with a focus on Corporate Governance within companies, compliance risk management and data governance. 

Michelle’s experience lies in commercial and family litigation as well as reviewing and drafting of contracts and agreements. She has also been involved in Tax Court litigation matters and has assisted clients with registrations of trusts and companies, amendments to shareholder’s agreements, memorandums of incorporation and trust deeds. 

Michelle also has an interest in company secretarial and notarial work and is in the process of obtaining her qualifications therein. Michelle has a hands on approach treating every matter with diligence and sensibility.  

michelle@mpattorneys.co.za

Anya George

Anya is an admitted attorney and conveyancer of the High Court of South Africa. She studied at Stellenbosch University where she obtained her BA degree in Law and Philosophy in 2013 and her LLB degree in 2016.

Anya’s primary focus is on conveyancing and Property Law related matters. She also has an interest in consumer law, specifically the National Credit Act, the Consumer Protection Act. 

Anya enjoys guiding clients through legal processes by breaking it down into everyday language and equipping clients with knowledge of their legal rights and options. She prides herself on her attention to detail, creative problem-solving skills and timeous implementation of client instructions and strategies.

anya@mpattorneys.co.za