Nicci Arnott – DALY MORRIS FULLER

CLIENT LIAISON

DMF Client Liaison, Tonya Keppel-Smith, has a wealth of experience in sales including nine years in the real estate industry, making her a valuable resource to our clients, especially our conveyancing clients.

Tonya began her sales career at the tender age of 19 in the car rental sector, then the courier business, where she rose to the position of sales manager, before joining Primedia to lead the Cape Town sales team serving the company’s four radio stations.

Her passion for real estate began when she was young, purchasing and selling her own houses and apartments. Tonya’s personal experience encouraged her to become a real estate agent for Remaxliving.

Tonya is an excellent networker who is known for building strong, meaningful relationships and prides herself on matching customers’ wants to available services to satisfy clients and grow a successful business.

ADMIN MANAGER

Pauline, our able-bodied Admin Manager, pitches in wherever and whenever help is needed with commitment and energy. Pauline admits that she takes after her ship’s captain dad, who knew exactly how to steer the ship and later, was first to the rescue when ships were in trouble.

She joined the Collections Department team back in 2003, when our offices were in Kings Road, Pinetown.

Pauline’s organisational skills and dedication to the team make her a sought-after resource. She helps us go the extra mile for both our staff and our clients, taking care of our day-to-day needs, as well marketing and events to keep the DMF flag flying and our spirits up!

RECEPTIONIST

Maudrey has had a longer association with the firm than most of us. Her career at DMF started as a temporary assignment helping as a cleaner in 1994 when her mom who worked for us took ill. Recognised for her abilities, Maudrey was then trained and promoted to filing clerk before being appointed to manage the front desk.

Maudrey, who enjoys interacting with people of different cultures, takes pride in her role and believes in making a positive first impression. “I am the first person our clients see when they arrive at the office and the last person they see when they leave.I speak to all our clients on the phone when they call and have got to know most of them,” she says.

PARALEGAL

Ronel, who heads up our Collections Department, lightens up the office with her quirky sense of humour.

She began her career as a legal secretary straight after matric, working for a number of small practices, before joining DMF in August 2008.

Ronel values the culture of teamwork and the unstinting support provided by long serving highly experienced members of the DMF staff.

“When you join DMF, you are not joining a law firm, you are joining a family who specialise in law. You will face challenges, but you will be picked up and supported through it all by each family member to the very best of their ability,“ she says.

ATTORNEY/ ASSOCIATE

Kimera Govender, who heads up DMF’s Estates Department, was awarded her Bachelor of Law degree in 2015 before completing a course at the Professional Legal Training School with the Law Society of South Africa.

She served her articles with R Ramasar & Jooste Attorneys as a Candidate Attorney in 2016 and, after being admitted as an Attorney in December 2017, joined Singh and Gharbaharan Attorneys where she spent six years administering their Estates Department, before joining DMF in 2023.

Kimera’s knowledge and experience of all aspects of Estate law, from drafting wills to winding up estates including related conveyancing requirements, is complemented by her excellent interpersonal and communication skills and strong work ethic.

PARALEGAL

Arlene Wiseman, Secretary to Director Thuli Ngcobo, is DMF’s Legal Serve agent. Legal Serve is the electronic court e-filing platform used to transmit legal documents to and from the courts.

Arlene, who grew up in Wentworth and matriculated from Fairvale Secondary School, always wanted to do law, but her family wanted her to be a doctor. After completing a year at medical school and hating it, Arlene responded to an ad for a temporary post at Strauss Daly. When her three-month contract was up, she was asked to stay giving her the opportunity to establish herself in her chosen field.

Arlene, who joined DMF in June 2023 as a Legal Secretary, has since been entrusted with the Legal Serve role and is enjoying the growth that comes with this additional responsibility. The area of the law she is most passionate about is Litigation.

A committed and dedicated hard worker, who is inspired by successful single women of colour, Arlene is determined to make a success of her legal career.

HR DIRECTOR

Thuli’s career path began in the Security industry where she worked for seven years before she was able to follow her dream of studying law.

She worked her way through law school to becoming one of the first Black female directors at DMF, paving the way for a more inclusive law practice to meet the needs of the South African public.

After graduating in 2009, Thuli worked as a Candidate Attorney, attending to CCMA, Road Accident Fund and other matters. In 2015 she joined what was to become Daly Morris Fuller as a Professional Assistant and was later promoted to Director, where she attends to similar matters, as well as handling tender submissions taking great pride in her efforts to win this additional business for the practice.

Thuli is also DMF’s champion handling pro bono matters – a role that is close to her heart, as she has always been passionate about helping the poor. Thuli considers receiving an award for ‘Most Helpful Attorney at the Labour Help Desk’ in 2019 to be the highlight of her career.

A people person, Thuli is involved with the vital recruitment process, looking to select talent that will ensure DMF continues to grow and prosper.

A devout Christian and mother of two daughters, Thuli loves to sing.

PARALEGAL – TRANSFERS

Wendy, who joined the firm in 1999, has a trademark laugh that launches from the pit of her belly and bounces off the walls.

Her conveyancing career began when her folks were buying a property and her dad asked the attorneys attending to the transfer if they had a vacancy for his daughter. She finished Tech on the Friday, was interviewed on the Saturday and began work as the firm’s receptionist on the Monday. Shortly afterwards she was thrown in the deep end to work with cancellations, bonds and transfers.

Wendy’s greatest joy is the journey she gets to walk with our clients – hearing sellers recall their fondest memories and seeing purchasers turning their houses into homes.

PARALEGAL – TRANSFERS

Taryn is one of DMF’s longest serving staff members having joined our Conveyancing Department in 1988.

She has been around during the good times and the toughest times when rising interest rates and economic downturns have tested the firm’s resilience.

Through all the changes, Taryn has remained steady as a rock providing clients with service excellence and supporting the team that she regards as her second family with her knowledge and experience.

PARALEGAL – TRANSFERS

Sharene Kelsey, born and bred in Durban, began her working life at the tender age of 17 in the South African Police Force, where she spent 11 years making friends and memories, before taking up a secretarial position in a law firm.

She first joined DMF in 2002 where she worked in the conveyancing department for two years before leaving to explore working in different areas of the law. In 2014 a position became available in DMF’s conveyancing department and Sharene was welcomed me back as though she had never left.

She recognises that buying and selling property can be really stressful for our clients and loves guiding sellers and purchasers calmly through the transfer process to registration.

PARALEGAL – BONDS

Roxanne van As joined DMF in 2002 starting with collections, bookkeeping and transfers, before specialising in mortgage bonds.

Over the past two decades she has witnessed the evolution of the practice and is grateful for the opportunities it has provided for personal growth.

Roxanne loves the job satisfaction that comes from being part of a united team that is committed to client service.

PARALEGAL – BONDS

Elaine, who grew up in Phoenix studied Business Management for a year before joining a legal firm as a receptionist. Her interest in conveyancing began when the bookkeeper encouraged her to learn simple processes, such as applying for a rates certificate and calculating transfer duty.

In 2002 Elaine joined DMF’s Conveyancing Department and has seen it grow from strength to strength. She is ideally suited to her job as she has the persistence, passion and personality to drive the bond application process, helping our clients to realise their property ownership dreams.

CONSULTANT ATTORNEY – SECTIONAL TITLE

Born to Italian parents as the last of seven children (six girls and a boy), Daniela, who grew up in Nelspruit, studied for her LLB part-time while working as a DTP operator for a printing company.

After graduating in 2009, Daniela served her articles with Biccari Bollo Mariano Inc, became an Associate in 2012 and was promoted to Senior Associate in 2015.

In 2016 Daniela left to start her own firm where she honed her skills in the specialist area of Sectional Title law.

She joined DMF in 2023 as our Consultant Attorney.

DIRECTOR, CONVEYANCER AND NOTARY PUBLIC

Samantha, who heads up DMF’s busy conveyancing department, began her legal career in the UK, after her partner won tickets to Portugal in an M-Net competition, which saw the couple head off to Portugal then on to London where she lived for 15 years. By the time she returned to South Africa, she had completed her first legal degree, practical legal training and a year and a half of articles.

As her degree was not recognised, Sam completed her South African LLB through UNISA part-time, while working first as office administrator and subsequently as a Candidate Attorney for Biccaro Bollo Mariano Inc, where she ran the arrear levy collection and conveyancing departments. She later joined Goodrickes to head up their Conveyancing Department.

Samantha graduated on 23 May 2013 and was admitted as an Attorney the following day.

In 2015 Samantha joined what was to become Daly Morris Fuller to head up and grow the Conveyancing Department and was appointed a Director in 2018.

A wife, mum, gran, animal lover, avid reader and fearless adventurer, Samantha has a son of 27 teaching English in Thailand and looks after her grandson Tommy, as well as four dogs and a cats.

MANAGING DIRECTOR HEAD OF LITIGATION

Chantelé did her undergrad at the University of Natal, then travelled and worked overseas for three years before returning to South Africa, where she worked for a year before resuming her studies.

In 2002, Chantelé completed her LLB for which she received the Deans Commendation, Insurance & Agency Certificate, Contract Certificate of Merit and the Shepstone and Wylie Maritime Law Award. She also won first place in the Ellie Newman Moot Court Final in Durban and went on to win 6th place in the All-African Human Rights Moot Court Final in Egypt. That year she was also elected to participate in the Unilever Interactive Business Management Course.

A force to be reckoned with, Chantelé joined Goodrickes as a Candidate Attorney in 2003 and in 2005 was promoted to Professional Assistant doing court work, collections and insurance litigation. From 2009 to 2015 she was the Partner responsible for the management and administration of the firm, and worked on foreclosures and recoveries, insurance litigation, collections management and VAF.

In August 2015 Chantelé joined what was to become Daly Morris Fuller as a Director to head up the Litigation Department and manage the firm and since 2018 has headed up Finance.

Chantelé serves on two boards. She was elected chairperson of Umduduzi (NPO) in 2013, and since 2017, has been a member of Council for the Durban Chamber of Commerce.

Passion, enthusiasm and commitment rule this achiever who loves to win whether it be in the courtroom or on the sports field. After hours, you are likely to find this mother of two achievers in the making in the kitchen, directing moves on the dance floor, behind the mic, or on the grandstand watching cricket.