VDMALaw

13/08/2026

09/08/2026

Honouring the Women Who Shape VDMA and South Africa

This National Women's Day, we pause to honour the women whose strength, insight, and determination continue to shape South Africa — in law, in business, and in every community they lead.

At VDMA Law, we're proud to work alongside women who bring sharp thinking; quiet resilience, and unwavering integrity to everything they do. Their leadership doesn't just move our firm forward — it moves our profession forward.

Today is a reminder that equality isn't a milestone we reach once, it's a commitment we renew every day: in the opportunities we create, the voices we amplify, and the spaces we make room for.

To the women of VDMA, and to women everywhere driving change — thank you. Your impact is felt far beyond today.

05/08/2026

Limited Liability, Unlimited Exposure: Personal Risk Under the Close Corporations Act

Close corporations have largely given way to the (Pty) Ltd, but plenty are still trading, and the entity form's decline doesn't mean the risk has. Members of a CC can still find themselves personally liable for the corporation's debts, even though a CC is meant to offer the same limited liability protection as a company.

The Close Corporations Act pierces that protection in specific circumstances: where members fail to maintain the statutory solvency and liquidity requirements before making payments to themselves, where a member's contribution obligations go unmet, or where a corporation is run recklessly or with intent to defraud. For members who assume a CC works exactly like a private company, that exposure often comes as an unwelcome surprise.

If your business, or a client's, still operates through a close corporation, it's worth revisiting governance practices, distributions, and members' contribution records to understand where personal exposure may exist.

31/07/2026

VDMA recently secured a favourable settlement for the co-founder of a well-known multinational IT company in a sensitive dispute arising from an exit from the business.

Our client had relinquished his shareholding and remained connected to the company solely through a consultancy arrangement to finalise ongoing projects. What began as a difference in views between the two founders and senior management developed into a contested claim over off-shore funds our client had pledged as security for his consultancy obligations.

Acting with discretion and commercial acumen, VDMA negotiated a settlement on highly favourable terms, without the need to continue with urgent court proceedings overseas. The purported pledge agreement was held to be void, our client obtained the source code he had helped create, and he received a fair payout in full resolution of the matter.

The matter was led by Pieter van der Merwe (Managing Partner), with support from Marcell Fourie (Associate).

Founder disputes demand the right strategy, executed with precision. VDMA brings both. Visit our bio to learn more about how we protect founders when it matters most.

29/07/2026

VDMA is proud to announce its firmwide deployment of , the world’s leading specialist AI platform built for law firms, as we continue to invest in tools that help our lawyers deliver faster, sharper, and more efficient service to our clients.

We are proud to be one of the first commercial law firms on the African continent to adopt this technology, implementing it to deliver better outcomes for our clients.

This collaboration brings advanced AI-powered legal technology into our practice, strengthening our ability to navigate complex commercial matters with precision and speed while keeping our specialist lawyers at the centre of every decision.

Harvey AI positions VDMA at the forefront of legal innovation on the African continent.

Learn more about Harvey at harvey.ai.

24/07/2026

DIRECTORS OFTEN JUMP SHIP, BUT WHAT DO THEY LEAVE BEHIND?

Don't miss this must-read feature: Click on the link below for the full article:
https://vdmalaw.com/2026/07/24/directors-often-jump-ship-but-what-do-they-leave-behind/

24/07/2026

Weathering Complexity. Delivering Certainty.

Every business faces its storms: market shifts, regulatory change, and high-stakes negotiations.

At VDMA, we bring calm, disciplined counsel when conditions get tough, turning pressure into progress and complexity into confident decisions.

Visit our bio to learn more about VDMA.

18/07/2026

Celebrating Nelson Mandela Day!

Mandela devoted 67 years of his life to the service of humanity, as a lawyer, an activist, and a president. His legacy is a reminder that the law, at its best, is a tool for justice and fairness.

This Mandela Day, we are taking time to reflect on how we can use our skills, not just our time, in service of the communities in which we work.

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.” — Nelson Mandela

We encourage everyone to give their 67 minutes today.

14/07/2026

FEATURE ARTICLE: A QUICK GUIDE TO MAJOR B-BBEE TRANSACTIONS

Don't miss this must-read feature: Click on the link below for the full article: https://vdmalaw.com/2026/07/09/a-quick-guide-to-major-b-bbee-transactions/

10/07/2026