Chaney Van Zyl

Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa with more than a decade of experience across estate administration, regulatory investigation, corporate legal advisory and member-facing legal counsel. Proven across the public and private sectors – from the Office of the Public Protector to Rhodes Food Group, LegalWise and Capital Legacy. Currently completing an LLM in Constitutional Law at the University of the Western Cape, with a sharp focus on constitutional rights, children's rights and the rule of the law.

Assistant Estate Practitioner (Fiduciary & Legal Specialist) at Capital Legacy (2023-10 – Present)

• Act as Fiduciary and Legal Compliance Specialist managing end-to-end estate administration.
• Act as a key legal liaison for high-value stakeholders, financial institutions, and creditors to resolve intricate estate matters.
• Ensure effective and compliant administration of deceased estates
• Draft, review, and finalize high-level legal documentation, specialized correspondence, and formal estate records to the Master of the High Court.
• Conduct critical legal research to resolve complex estate disputes and advise internal business units on compliance risks.
• Analyze operational bottlenecks to contribute to ongoing process improvement initiatives within the fiduciary division.
• Ensuring compliance with legal requirements
• Contributing to process improvement
• Conducting research
• Responding to queries from internal and external parties regarding the estate administration process

Legal Consultant / LLM Candidate at Independent Legal Consulting & Postgraduate Study (2020-09 – 2023-09)

Legal Counsellor at LegalWise (2019-06 – 2020-08)

• Rendering general legal advice
• Administering miscellaneous files (providing legal advice and resolution)
• Consulting with Members and providing telephonic advice
• General administration duties e.g. diarizing of files, drafting correspondence, perusing incoming correspondence and data capturing
• General Branch duties as requested
• Providing regular feedback to Members, Branch Managers, Senior Legal Counsellors and Head Office
• Good people skills and able to liaise professionally and effectively on all levels
• Empathy and patience in dealing with Members and good consultation skills
• Problem solving abilities and negotiation skills and time management
• Good communication skills, following up and providing feedback
• Building customer loyalty and customer focus

Legal Officer at Rhodes Food Group (PTY) LTD (2018-09 – 2019-02)

Fixed period contract

• Legal Advisor to the RFG Company
• Oversee every aspect of the business's legal affairs
• Making legal decisions and setting policy, subject to the Board
• Advise the Executives and employees on changes to the laws affecting the Company.
• Advise on civil matters that should be directed to external Counsel.
• Liaise with and assist external Counsel in the discharge of their obligation.
• Advise on statutory compliances.
• Research and prepare legal opinions on various civil matters including claims for compensation against the Company.
• Draft and/ or review legal letters, contracts and agreements and monitor legal obligations under agreements to ensure compliance, as requested.
• Compile and submit quarterly work reports (board packs) to Management and the Board of Directors.
• Cause to be maintained, a database of the status of all court matters involving the Company.
• Duty to call out illegal or non-compliant actions
• Manage multiple demands and multiple information streams.
• Ensure the Company fills out and submits all its legal paperwork.

Investigator (Permanent) at Public Protector South Africa (Western Cape Provincial Office) (2012-10 – 2016-08)

• Conduct compliance audits and investigation into misuse of funds, pension fund irregularities, fraud and corruption.
• Investigating maladministration, improper conduct, abuse of power, fraud, corruption and abuse of power and state resources by organs of state or state officials
• Investigate Members of the Executive for any breach and/or violation of the Members' code of ethics in terms of the Members Executive Ethics Act
• Legal Research
• Assessing and analysing complaints.
• Draft legal opinions and findings in respect of the investigation.
• All outcomes are reported on and the appropriate remedial action and/or recommendations are provided.
• Monitoring and ensuring that recommendations are implemented by Government.
• Facilitate ADR and draft settlement agreements.
• Interviewing and Report Writing.
• Conduct consultations with clients; complainants and various officials of various Government Departments.
• Drafting Memos and Briefs for Senior Personnel.
• Related Administrative Duties.

Candidate Attorney at Legal Aid South Africa: Stellenbosch Justice Centre (2011-01 – 2012-03)

• Duties included managing and preparing for court.
• Defending accused persons in the district courts in various matters including maintenance, theft, assault, fraud and all other matters heard in the district courts.
• Legal Research.
• Drafting Court documents.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Implementing the Child Justice Act and representing children in need of care.
• Preliminary Inquiries for all Juvenile Court Matters.
• Drafted pleadings in civil matters and drafting merit reports
• Operate and populate on in-house Case Management System: Ad Infinitum(AI).
• Training new candidate attorneys.

LLM (Constitutional Litigation) in Constitutional Law – University of the Western Cape (2020-09)

Practical Legal Training in Legal Practice – School for Legal Practice, University of Cape Town (2010-06 – 2010-12)

LLB (Bachelor of Laws) in Laws – University of the Western Cape

National Senior Certificate – Matric with endorsement and merit – Pinelands High School (2005)