Caitlin Sasman

Working on matters independently and with Directors under the firm specializing in:

1. Litigation

Family Law:

• Instituting and defending divorce and maintenance matters to completion.
• Drafting summons and particulars of claim, parenting plans, settlement agreements, pleas and counterclaims, chamber book applications, variation agreements, curatorship applications and domestic partnership agreements.
• Convening roundtable negotiations and successfully mediating disputes, inclusive of those involving the best interest of the minor child.
• Liaison with opposing attorneys, briefing counsel in High Court matters and close liaison with the Family Advocate.
• Rendering legal advice in matters under the Children’s Act such as adoption processes.
• Court appearances in Regional Court and Maintenance Court, obtaining final orders of divorce and maintenance orders.

Municipal / administrative law:

• Representing municipalities by rendering advice regarding High Court review applications, applications for self-review, disputes in respect of applications of by-laws and appeal processes.

Civil

• Drafting summons, particulars of claim and default judgment applications for matters arising out of breach of contract and claims sounding in money.
• Drafting various warrants of execution and attending execution stage processes.

2. Contracts and commercial transactions:

• Drafting loan agreements and acknowledgment of debts.

3. Wills, trusts, estate planning and estates administration:

• Drafting various last wills and testaments
• Attending to all matters within the winding-up of estates process, inclusive of drafting Final Liquidation and Distribution Accounts.
• Drafting various antenuptial contracts with and without accrual.

Provided support to practitioners within the firm in various matters in the litigation and estates department with specific focus in:

1. Property law and evictions:

• Attending consultations in respect of landlord and tenants disputes.
• Drafting and institution of eviction applications – s 4(1) and 4(2) of PIE, drafting settlement proposals and heads of arguments.
• Attending hearings and obtaining court orders.

2. Family Law:

• Instituting and defending divorce and maintenance matters.
• Drafting summons and particulars of claim, parenting plans, settlement agreements, pleas and counterclaims, chamber book applications and variation agreements.
• Attending to mediation of matters inclusive of those involving the best interest of the minor child.
• Liaison with opposing attorneys, counsel and the Family Advocate
• Court appearances in Regional Court and Maintenance Court, obtaining final orders of divorce.

3. Contracts and commercial transactions:

• Drafting loan agreements and acknowledgment of debts
• Registration of trademarks

4. Municipal / administrative law:

• Interpretation of municipal by-laws.
• Drafting legal opinions, affidavits and heads of argument.
• Liaison with counsel
• Rendering assistance in High Court review applications and applications to set aside decisions.

5. Labour Law

• Attending conciliation hearing at the CCMA and various bargaining councils.
• Facilitating consultations with clients regarding lodgment of labour disputes, dismissals and the merits thereof.
• Drafting applications for legal representation and preparing arbitration bundles and various court bundles in the Labour Court.
• 6. Criminal law, domestic violence and harassment:
• Institution of applications and defending matters in Domestic Violence and Harassment Court.
• Drafting founding and answering affidavits.

7. Civil

• Assisting in institution and defence of various civil matters arising out of breach of contract, damages claims, credit agreements and CPA disputes.

8. Wills, trust and estates administration:

• Assistance in drafting trust deeds and last will and testaments.
• Attending to all matters within the winding-up of estates process, inclusive of drafting Final Liquidation and Distribution Accounts.

8. Notarial practice:

• Drafting various antenuptial contracts with and without accrual.