Our team
Our success-oriented teams comprise dynamic individuals whose diverse abilities enhance and broaden the firm’s service offerings.
At Vilikazi Smith Incorportated we have diverse and dedicated team of legal professionals that brings together a wealth of experience and expertise across various practice areas, ensuring comprehensive and effective legal solutions for our clients. Our team is committed to providing top-tier legal services tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. With a deep understanding of South African law and a passion for delivering exceptional results, we strive to exceed expectations and build lasting relationships based on trust, integrity, and excellence. Whether you require assistance with litigation, commercial law, family law, or any other legal matter, you can rely on our dynamic team to guide you through every step of the legal process with skill and dedication.
Meet the team
Pieter Smith | Director
BA (Law) (UNW (previously known as PU for CHE)), BPROC (UP)
Pieter is one of the founding members of the firm.
He was admitted as an attorney in 2012 after spending 16 years in the corporate environment where he held various positions at major financial institutions operating in the long-term insurance and banking industries.
Pieter also practiced as an insolvency practitioner and is a past member of both SARIPA (South African Restructuring and Insolvency Practitioners Association NPC) and INSOL (International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Professionals).
He has considerable experience in the long-term insurance industry where he eventually served as the national head of litigation of a major life insurer before heading to the banking industry.
Pieter spent approximately 9 years in the banking industry where he dealt with high value litigation matters related to general lending in the commercial and individual client space, as well as private equity structured lending, foreclosures, restructuring, liquidations, and sequestrations.
It was in this space where he honed his skills and adopted an approach which became his personal philosophy: being a “businessman with a legal background”. This philosophy enabled Pieter to negotiate the successful retention of various clients through focused risk management and commercial solutions, including restructuring of debt where necessary and only opting for the litigation route as a last resort and thereby protecting the bank’s bottom line.
Pieter practices as a general litigant in both the Magistrate and High Courts. He also focusses on property related matters, insolvencies, sequestrations and business rescue, administration of deceased estates, drafting and vetting of numerous commercial agreements. His personal philosophy continues to reap rewards for clients in matters where commercial realities dictate alternative solutions to protracted and expensive litigation. Pieter actively strives to instil his personal philosophy in the Firm.
Menzi Vilakazi | Director
LLB (UP), Diploma in Advanced Labour Law (UP)
Menzi is a director of the firm and has extensive knowledge and advises clients on all areas of employment law.
To date and from at least 2011, Menzi has appeared in at least 800 internal disciplinary inquiries in various capacities, which include being a chairperson, an initiator, an employee representative, an investigator in investigations & Section 188A processes, since 2011 to date.
Menzi was appointed on the national panel of chairpersons in 2019, where he chaired various employment related inquiries for one of the largest Banks in South Africa, a position he still holds currently.
Menzi is a skilled trainer in the areas of employment law and related legislation and has travelled extensively across South Africa to conduct such training. Menzi holds leadership roles outside of practice and serves as an Employee Relations Advisor on a sub – committee at a Public Benefit Education known as the Equal Education (an NPO).
Menzi’s understanding of and passion for employment law has been displayed in matters heard in, amongst others, the Labour Court, where he personally argued matters and successfully obtained reportable judgements.
Pieter Vermaak | Senior Associate
LLB (UP), Diploma in Advanced Labour Law (UP)
Pieter Vermaak obtained his LLB degree from the University of Pretoria in 2019 and during his candidacy grew a keen interest in Labour Law. Pieter is a dedicated and compassionate admitted attorney with a strong commitment to assisting clients in navigating legal challenges efficiently and cost-effectively whilst being fully cognitive of the emotional effect legal process has on his clients.
Although specializing in Labour Law, his services and expertise is not confined to Labour Law as he is well versed in various legal domains, including family law, commercial law, criminal law and business rescue proceedings.
With a client-centered approach, Pieter immerses himself fully in understanding his clients’ disputes, placing himself in their shoes to advocate for their rights with unwavering passion and purpose.
He prioritizes finding swift and practical resolutions to his clients’ issues, ensuring their interests are safeguarded every step of the way. Pieter takes his oath as attorney very seriously and I committed to serving his clients, with their best interest as only priority.
Dina Boshoff | Consultant Conveyancer and notary
BIuris (UP), LLB (Unisa)
Dina is an admitted attorney, conveyancer, and notary.
Dina started her career at the Deeds Office, spent some time in the corporate environment working for one of the major banks, whereafter she was admitted as an attorney and conveyancer in 2002 and as notary in 2003.
Dina gained experience as a conveyancer at Tim du Toit Attorneys, whereafter she went into private practice. She specialises in the complex field of property transactions and believes in personal interaction with her clients by adding her personal touch and being honest. She consistently strives to finalise matters timeously whilst maintaining a high professional standard throughout.
Nosipho Buthelezi | Consultant Attorney
BIuris (UP), LLB (Unisa)
Nosipho acts as a consultant attorney to the firm and has extensive knowledge in both individual and collective Labour Law across the private and public sectors. She has acted as a chairperson in more than 500 disciplinary enquiries, including incapacity enquiries and also advised and facilitated clients and employees during large scale retrenchment processes.
Nosipho represents clients at the CCMA, various Bargaining Councils, and assisted fellow attorneys and counsel in Labour Court proceedings.
BA (Law) (UNW (previously known as PU for CHE)), BPROC (UP)
Pieter is one of the founding members of the firm.
He was admitted as an attorney in 2012 after spending 16 years in the corporate environment where he held various positions at major financial institutions operating in the long-term insurance and banking industries.
Pieter also practiced as an insolvency practitioner and is a past member of both SARIPA (South African Restructuring and Insolvency Practitioners Association NPC) and INSOL (International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Professionals).
He has considerable experience in the long-term insurance industry where he eventually served as the national head of litigation of a major life insurer before heading to the banking industry.
Pieter spent approximately 9 years in the banking industry where he dealt with high value litigation matters related to general lending in the commercial and individual client space, as well as private equity structured lending, foreclosures, restructuring, liquidations, and sequestrations.
It was in this space where he honed his skills and adopted an approach which became his personal philosophy: being a “businessman with a legal background”. This philosophy enabled Pieter to negotiate the successful retention of various clients through focused risk management and commercial solutions, including restructuring of debt where necessary and only opting for the litigation route as a last resort and thereby protecting the bank’s bottom line.
Pieter practices as a general litigant in both the Magistrate and High Courts. He also focusses on property related matters, insolvencies, sequestrations and business rescue, administration of deceased estates, drafting and vetting of numerous commercial agreements. His personal philosophy continues to reap rewards for clients in matters where commercial realities dictate alternative solutions to protracted and expensive litigation. Pieter actively strives to instil his personal philosophy in the Firm.
LLB (UP), Diploma in Advanced Labour Law (UP)
Menzi is a director of the firm and has extensive knowledge and advises clients on all areas of employment law.
To date and from at least 2011, Menzi has appeared in at least 800 internal disciplinary inquiries in various capacities, which include being a chairperson, an initiator, an employee representative, an investigator in investigations & Section 188A processes, since 2011 to date.
Menzi was appointed on the national panel of chairpersons in 2019, where he chaired various employment related inquiries for one of the largest Banks in South Africa, a position he still holds currently.
Menzi is a skilled trainer in the areas of employment law and related legislation and has travelled extensively across South Africa to conduct such training. Menzi holds leadership roles outside of practice and serves as an Employee Relations Advisor on a sub – committee at a Public Benefit Education known as the Equal Education (an NPO).
Menzi’s understanding of and passion for employment law has been displayed in matters heard in, amongst others, the Labour Court, where he personally argued matters and successfully obtained reportable judgements.
LLB (UP), Diploma in Advanced Labour Law (UP)
Pieter Vermaak obtained his LLB degree from the University of Pretoria in 2019 and during his candidacy grew a keen interest in Labour Law. Pieter is a dedicated and compassionate admitted attorney with a strong commitment to assisting clients in navigating legal challenges efficiently and cost-effectively whilst being fully cognitive of the emotional effect legal process has on his clients.
Although specializing in Labour Law, his services and expertise is not confined to Labour Law as he is well versed in various legal domains, including family law, commercial law, criminal law and business rescue proceedings.
With a client-centered approach, Pieter immerses himself fully in understanding his clients’ disputes, placing himself in their shoes to advocate for their rights with unwavering passion and purpose.
He prioritizes finding swift and practical resolutions to his clients’ issues, ensuring their interests are safeguarded every step of the way. Pieter takes his oath as attorney very seriously and I committed to serving his clients, with their best interest as only priority.
BIuris (UP), LLB (Unisa)
Dina is an admitted attorney, conveyancer, and notary.
Dina started her career at the Deeds Office, spent some time in the corporate environment working for one of the major banks, whereafter she was admitted as an attorney and conveyancer in 2002 and as notary in 2003.
Dina gained experience as a conveyancer at Tim du Toit Attorneys, whereafter she went into private practice. She specialises in the complex field of property transactions and believes in personal interaction with her clients by adding her personal touch and being honest. She consistently strives to finalise matters timeously whilst maintaining a high professional standard throughout.
Nosipho acts as a consultant attorney to the firm and has extensive knowledge in both individual and collective Labour Law across the private and public sectors. She has acted as a chairperson in more than 500 disciplinary enquiries, including incapacity enquiries and also advised and facilitated clients and employees during large scale retrenchment processes.
Nosipho represents clients at the CCMA, various Bargaining Councils, and assisted fellow attorneys and counsel in Labour Court proceedings.