Thinus Laas

Highly accomplished Senior Legal Counsel and Managing Director with 25 years of comprehensive experience in practise in corporate law, large scale conveyancing operations, high stake commercial and civil litigation and insolvency law. Proven track record spearheading corporate mergers, structuring of major entities. Executing cross border commodity transactions and managing regional branches for leading legal firms.

Expert in mitigating legal risk, streamlining debt recovery, and maximizing legal operations for multi-national, corporate and private banking clients.

Managing Director - MJ Laas Incorporated - South Africa

(2020-03)

• Accomplished a 15% expansion in practise revenue as measured by increased portfolio of major property development, high tier commercial properties, by doing strategic corporate structuring and supervising the Conveyancing and Commercial Transactions Departments
• Accomplished seamless execution of international trading deals valued at million in ZAR as measured by a high percentage of success rate, by doing meticulous risk analysis, drafting and vetting
• Concluding complex cross border commodity agreements for precious metals, diamonds, coal, chrome and petroleum
• Accomplished a 20% reduction in corporate legal client exposure as measured by minimized contract disputes and regulatory fines, by doing proactive legal consulting, comprehensive Merger and Acquisition advisory, and sophisticated corporate financial structuring
• Optimised recovery rates for premium corporate and private accounts as measured by a 25% in successfully settled portfolios for clients like King Price Insurance, by doing targeted debt collection operations by handling 3rd party insured and uninsured claims, levy collections and corporate and professional debts

Director - Boshoff Inc. Johannesburg – Sandton - Johannesburg, South Africa

(2018-09 - 2020-03)

• Accomplished high efficiency branch / practise oversight and a 20% boost in operational workflow as measured by faster matter-finalization, lifecycles, by doing active leadership of the Sandton Branch legal teams across Commercial Law, Conveyancing and Litigation Departments
• Accomplishing high percentage of litigation related losses for high profile clients as measured by an 85% favourable trail and settlement rate, by doing advance case formulation and direct management of complex High & Magistrate Court litigation matters
• Expanded market share in the luxury real estate sector as measured by 15% increase in registered properties, township and sectional title schemes by doing end to end conveyancing management, corporate property acquisition advising

Senior Associate - Manong Badenhorst Inc. - South Africa

(2015-02 - 2018-08)

• Accomplished a 30% reduction in property registration turnaround times as measured by deeds registry processing metrics, by doing comprehensive departmental management of Conveyancing portfolio, supervising individual, commercial and bank bond registrations
• Accomplished a 90% dispute resolution rate prior to formal trail adjudication as measured by reduced litigation expenditure for corporate clients, by doing aggressive representation in labor disputes, CCMA attendances, and by managing internal corporate disciplinary hearings
• Accomplished total asset maximization for distressed estates as measured by 15% recovery improvement above projected insolvency baselines, by doing specialized administration of trusts, wills, insolvencies and conducting comprehensive insolvency inquiries

Managing Director - Bruwer Incorporated - South Africa

(2009-06 - 2015-01)

• Accomplished preferred legal partner status with premier retail and retail banking institutions as measured by 40% increase in monthly referred debt portfolios, by managing systemized debt recovery initiatives for Capitec Bank, Finbond Bank, Edcon, Foschini, Home choice, JD Group and other high-end retailers
• Accomplished successful closing of mid-market corporate transactions as measured by clean due diligence audits and seamless compliance reports, advising on IT law, corporate mergers and acquisitions together with property asset integration

Senior Associate - De Wet Du Plessis Inc. / Roux Inc / Wessels van Zyl Inc & MJ Laas Inc - South Africa

(2002-05 - 2009-07)

• Accomplished scalable client retention and multimillion ZAR bond processing volumes as measured by long term panel retention with major banking institutions, by doing expert execution of township registers, sectional title schemes and complex commercial property transfers

Article Clerk - Weavind & Weavind Attorneys - Brooklyn, Pretoria, South Africa

(1998-10 - 2003-04)

• Accomplished 100% compliance in practical training benchmarks as measured by succeful admission to the High Court of South Africa
• By doing foundational rotations in High Court litigation, Deeds Office Transfers, commercial contracts and estate administration

Bachelor of Law - Bacalareus Procurationis (BProc) - University of Pretoria (2000)

Admission Certificate - Attorney - Law Society of South Africa (2000)

Diploma Higher Education - Insolvency Law (AIPSA) - University of Pretoria (2001)

Bachelor of Law - Bacalareus Legum (LLB) - University of Pretoria (2004)

Admission Certificate - Conveyancer - Law Society of South Africa (2005)