+27 21 461 6240 - [email protected] - 34 Plein Street, Cape Town

Welcome to Ashersons Attorneys

Our professional team of lawyers are ...

Proud to be part of a 100 year old firm
Ashersons was established in 1920 by Raphael Asherson. Since then, Ashersons has grown into a full service boutique legal practice. All of our professional team commenced articles at the firm. Our faithful receptionist, Fatima, has been at the firm for over 40 years and Golda, our conveyancing specialist who has since retired, worked at the firm for just less than 50 years!
Passionate about the law
In the same way that our bookkeepers are passionate about bookkeeping, our receptionist is passionate about communicating with people, and our tea lady is passionate about tea - all of our staff (professional and our amazing support team) are passionate about the law and about providing the best legal service possible to clients.
More than happy to go the extra mile
Going the extra mile is defined as doing more without being asked. We believe that going the extra mile for clients is important and sets us apart from the average law firm. We understand that people who are happy in their career are not only more productive, but they are more likely to go the extra mile - even when it is not asked or expected of them.
Aware that time is money and people are cost sensitive
According to the old proverb, “time is a valuable resource, therefore it's better to do things as quickly as possible.” We believe that being able to deliver a quality product at a reasonable fee is of utmost importance in ensuring a long-term relationship with clients. Doing something properly the first time saves not only time, but also money and patience.

Recent articles by our team

A R4.25m Warning to Choose Your Conveyancer With Care
A R4.25m Warning to Choose Your Conveyancer With Care
May 27, 2025
“Trust me, I’m a lawyer.” (Popular T-shirt slogan) South African property buyers and sellers will have been cheered by news that we are now officially the most affordable country in the world in which to buy a home. We’re only a nose ahead of the USA and Bahrain in this particular race, but it’s great to be a world leader in something so positive for a change. Have a look at BestBrokers’ ana...
Restraint of Trade: Fatal Vagueness Means no Father Christmas to the Rescue
Restraint of Trade: Fatal Vagueness Means no Father Christmas to the Rescue
May 27, 2025
“The legal principles, as I understand them, do not confer on me the powers of Father Christmas. I cannot rescue the un-rescuable.” (Quoted in the judgment below) We all want loyal, competent staff who remain motivated to stay with us in the long term, but the reality is that a degree of employee churn is always inevitable.  Imagine then this scenario – a key employee (someone senior...
Good News for Grandma: The Law Wants You to Have Access to Your Grandchildren
Good News for Grandma: The Law Wants You to Have Access to Your Grandchildren
May 27, 2025
“Grandparents, like heroes, are as necessary to a child’s growth as vitamins.” (Quoted in the judgment below) One of the greatest tragedies of family fall-outs will always be the effect they have on the children involved. A recent High Court fight over a granny’s attempts to have contact with her two grandchildren in the face of bitter opposition from their father confirms that what really c...
How to Avoid Fighting Over the House – A Guide for Life Partners
How to Avoid Fighting Over the House – A Guide for Life Partners
May 27, 2025
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of bandages and adhesive tape.” (Groucho Marx) It’s a perennial topic of dispute in our courts. A couple lives together, sharing the same roof and everything else in perfect happiness and harmony.  Until it all goes south. Then the gloves come off and, particularly if our erstwhile couple end up dragging each other through the courts, everyone...
When Does a Property Defect Justify Cancellation? A Costly Case of Buyer’s Remorse
When Does a Property Defect Justify Cancellation? A Costly Case of Buyer’s Remorse
April 23, 2025
“Look before you leap.” (Wise old proverb) Imagine sealing the deal on your dream property, only to wake up at 3 a.m. beset by sudden doubts. Thoughts like “Can we really afford it?” or “How on earth could we have fallen in love with that old dump?” haunt you. You may have a strong urge to back out – but tread very carefully here. Trying to cancel the sale without sound legal grounds will be...
BFFs no More: The Verbal Agreement That Cost R1 Million
BFFs no More: The Verbal Agreement That Cost R1 Million
April 23, 2025
“My word is my bond.” (Once the motto of 16th-century merchants, adopted by ’90s hip-hop artists, and now tossed around by duelling politicians) Many people are unaware that there are just a few types of agreement that are valid only if recorded in writing and signed – most notably contracts for the sale, exchange, or donation of land or of any “interest in land”, ante-nuptial contracts (ANC...
Fixed Term Contracts: A Guide for Employers and Employees
Fixed Term Contracts: A Guide for Employers and Employees
April 23, 2025
It’s vital for both employers and employees to understand the practical and legal differences between permanent and fixed term employment arrangements. What is a fixed term contract? A fixed term contract is a temporary employment arrangement with a specified start date and an agreed end date. This could be a fixed end date or a reference to a specified task or project reaching completion, ...
Can a Body Corporate Cut the Power? It’s Complicated
Can a Body Corporate Cut the Power? It’s Complicated
April 23, 2025
“A body corporate’s lot is not an easy one.” (With apologies to Gilbert and Sullivan) One of a body corporate’s core functions is to collect current and outstanding levies. When a section owner becomes uncooperative, recovery can turn into a difficult, costly and lengthy process. Good news for trustees is that it just became a little easier after a recent High Court ruling which authorised a...
Budget 2.0: A Mixed Bag, With Good News for Property
Budget 2.0: A Mixed Bag, With Good News for Property
March 26, 2025
“Good in parts” (Like the curate’s egg) Transfer duty threshold increased by 10% You pay no transfer duty if the property you are buying sells for less than the set threshold. The threshold wasn’t increased last year, so this year’s proposed 10% increase from R1,100,000 to R1,210,000 (from 1 April) is a welcome adjustment for inflation. With all the brackets adjusted upwards by 10% as ...