Manndi was admitted as attorney in 1995 and started her own firm shortly after, initially focusing on criminal law. Defending white collar crime matters gave her useful insight into how the ‘not-so-ethical’ mind works, which proved helpful in the rest of her career. She continued to do commercial litigation against banks and corporate companies and also gained extensive experience in trust law; particularly the role of trusts in asset protection and estate planning. She brought all this valuable, diverse experience to her family law practice when she started specialising in 2006. Manndi uses her international coaching training and skills to enhance her interaction with clients and colleagues, and to deepen her understanding of their situations. She is one of only two South African attorneys who trained in the US to practise the Collaborative Law model. She also initiated the first collaborative divorce case in South Africa in 2013. Subsequently, an increasing number of cases have evolved into collaborative divorces, including cases that began with litigation. Thanks to Manndi’s expertise, in recent years, 66% of the law firm’s cases have been settled and completed in under six months. The settled matters include highly technical, complicated issues involving family trusts and marriages in terms of international law, governed by international treaties; change of primary care; vesting of parental rights for fathers of children born out of wedlock; and the return of abducted children. Every client receives Manndi’s individual attention and no work leaves the office without prior discussion. Manndi’s policy is to be transparent and honest and she is committed to being completely truthful with clients. Whether she has to deliver good news or bad, she is aware of their needs and handles each case with integrity and sensitivity.
