Vacancy – Executive Attorney – Divorce & Family Law

Job description

Job Title: Executive Attorney – High-Conflict Divorce & Family Law
Location: Sandton, Gauteng
Firm: Martin Vermaak Attorneys Inc.
Salary: Highly competitive, linked to performance

About the Role

Do you thrive on complex, high-stakes litigation?

Do you want to lead serious family law matters instead of being micromanaged?

Are you excited by a fast-growing, specialist firm with national reach?

If yes, keep reading. If not, this role won’t be the right fit.

Martin Vermaak Attorneys is a specialist South African divorce and family law firm with offices in Sandton, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban. We act in high-conflict, high-net-worth matters and are investing heavily in growth, systems and technology.

We are recruiting an Executive Attorney for our Sandton Head Office who can own and drive a litigation portfolio, lead client strategy, and help develop our next generation of attorneys.

Role Requirements and Expectations

Minumum Requirements

LLB and admission as an attorney of the High Court
8+ years’ post-admission litigation experience, predominantly in divorce and family law
Proven track record running complex matters, including:
- Rule 43 applications
- Forfeiture claims and accrual disputes
- Contact, care and relocation disputes
- Domestic violence matters
- High Court and Regional Court divorce litigation
- Maintenance Court and Children’s Court matters
Strong drafting, advocacy and client communication skills
Demonstrated ability to manage a busy, contested litigation caseload independently
Working knowledge of billing, file profitability and WIP control

Key Expectations

Independently manage a full caseload of divorce, care and contact, domestic violence and maintenance matters
Conduct client consultations and provide strategic legal advice aligned with firm strategy
Draft and settle pleadings, motions, affidavits and heads of argument with minimal oversight
Appear in the High Court, Regional Divorce Court and lower courts as required
Supervise and mentor candidate attorneys and junior staff within the Sandton team
Uphold and contribute to firmwide quality, compliance and client-service standards

You will be measured primarily on:

Fees billed and collected from your portfolio
Matter outcomes and client satisfaction
Consistency and quality of drafting and advocacy
Development of junior team members

Who You Are

You are a confident, battle-tested litigator who:

Stays calm and strategic in high-conflict situations
Balances assertive representation with emotional intelligence and client care
Is commercially aware and understands that profitability and client experience matter
Enjoys mentoring CAs and junior legal staff and raising the standard of work around you
Wants to plug into a growth firm where performance is recognised and rewarded

What We Offer

Strong marketing and intake support – a consistent flow of quality family law matters so you can focus on lawyering, not chasing work
A high-performing operations, finance and admin team behind you
Competitive, performance-linked remuneration
Opportunity to play a key role in a growing national firm, with real scope for internal leadership
Ongoing professional development, feedback and support from senior leadership
Modern systems and processes, with a focus on technology and efficiency

To Apply

Please email the following to: pgodwin@martinvermaak.co.za and
candidateattorney3@martinvermaak.co.za

Subject Line:  Executive Attorney – Sandton / [Your Name]

What needs to be Included in application:

1) CV
2) Short motivation letter (max one page) explaining your most complex family law matter to date and your role in the outcome
3) Contactable references

Closing Date: 28 December 2025

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

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