MEET THE TEAM

FRONT IMAGE OF BEVERLEY CLARK JOHANNESBURG FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

BEVERLEY CLARK

BA (Hons) LLB
Fellow: International Academy of Family Lawyers
Languages: English, Afrikaans, some French

Beverley’s first degree was in Psychology and Drama, wherafter she did her Honours in Criminology at UCT. She did her LLB degree at Wits University. She was very active in anti-apartheid student politics and student welfare organisations, and was a student leader at UCT.

Beverley practised at Bell Dewar and Hall Attorneys (now Fasken Martineau) for 5 years, from 1992 to 1996 (including her articles), concentrating first on Human Rights law and later on High Court litigation. When her daughter was born in 1996, Bev decided to start practising for her own account so as to be more flexible during her children’s early years. Beverley is a Director at the firm. She chose to specialise in family law due to its dynamic and ever-changing nature, her passion for this field of law, and the high degree of personal interaction involved in family law.

Beverley is a qualified and experienced divorce mediator and has mediated many intensely difficult and acrimonious divorces and separations. She is also trained in collaborative law, a new field in South Africa which may well be the way of the future for divorcing couples. She has been a guest on many radio and television programmes, and has presented papers at several conferences.

Beverley frequently deals with family law matters with an international angle, such as international child abductions by a parent (often regulated by the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction), international relocations (where both parents have to consent to a child leaving SA, or where the consent of the High Court is sought), divorces between residents of SA and other countries, foreign divorces of ex- South Africans, and international maintenance cases (often regulated by the Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders Act). Her expertise in international family law matters led to her being awarded Fellowship of the prestigious International Academy of Family Lawyers in 2007.

Beverley was the Chairperson of the Gauteng Family Law Forum (GFLF) from 2015 until 2020, a voluntary association of lawyers in Gauteng. The GFLF’s mission and vision is inter alia to identify, discuss and provide practical solutions to the problems practitioners face in practice in order to initiate and promote reforms and improvements in the branch of family law, the administration of justice, the practice of family law and in draft family law legislation.

Beverley is a tough and strategic litigator, but also brings a particular warmth and empathy into every attorney-client relationship. She cares deeply about her clients, and understands that they are, in most cases, experiencing one of the most painful events of their lives. She sees divorce, however, as a normal human transition, which should be managed as such, so that it leads to the creation of a functional restructured family, rather than a shattered one. This is the goal and mission of Clarks Attorneys.


FRONT IMAGE OF ELMARIE ERASMUS JOHANNESBURG FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

ELMARIE ERASMUS

BComm LLB

Languages: English, Afrikaans

Elmarie Erasmus joined Clarks Attorneys in May 2017, and continues to practise as a Director at Clarks Attorneys. Elmarie was admitted as an attorney in May 2016 and previously practised at Malcolm Lyons & Brivik Inc. in Cape Town, where she specialised in personal injury litigation and labour law. She holds a BComm (Law) and LLB from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. During the second half of 2014, she attended the Law Society’s School for Legal Practice in Cape Town, where she received a certificate of excellence for her modules.

Elmarie is passionate about the law and helping others. In Cape Town, she was part of the SASLAW (South African Society for Labour Law) Pro bono project, where she rendered legal assistance to indigent litigants of the Labour Court. In her free time, Elmarie enjoys reading and travelling.


FRONT IMAGE OF JANA VAN BREDA JOHANNESBURG FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

JANA VAN BREDA

BA LLB

Languages: English, Afrikaans

Jana holds a BA in Law and Politics, and an LLB from the University of the Witwatersrand. Jana joined Clarks Attorneys in 2012 and was admitted as an attorney in March 2014. Jana was appointed as a Senior Associate in November 2015, and continues to practice as a Director at Clarks Attorneys.

Jana completed her training as a mediator in June 2015 and has been mediating family law disputes since then.

Jana brings a particular warmth and caring into the attorney-client relationship, and is known to be an excellent listener, showing deep empathy for her clients. Outside of work, Jana plays in an indoor netball team and enjoys reading and running.


FRONT IMAGE OF JESSICA CLARK JOHANNESBURG FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

JESSICA CLARK

LLB

Languages: English

Jessica Clark joined Clarks Attorneys in January 2018 as a candidate attorney. Jessica was admitted as an attorney on 6 August 2020, and continues to practice as an associate at Clarks Attorneys. She holds an LLB from the University of Johannesburg. During 2017 Jessica spent the year working as an intern in the human rights sector, first for the Human Rights Commission, and then for Lawyers for Human Rights. She was fortunate to be involved in large scale matters which impacted communities a whole, as well as in strategic litigation and gender equality matters. She found the experience to be invaluable.

Jessica is passionate about helping others and hopes to use the law as a tool to do so. She has a particular interest in family, child and gender equality law, and also in human rights. Jessica enjoys the diversity of matters in family law, and she approaches each client with warmth and empathy, and the respect that they as unique individuals deserve. Jessica appreciates that the outcomes in family law matters have a very real impact on individuals and she hopes to assist these individuals by easing their anxiety during some of the most trying times in their lives.

Jessica is an accomplished horse rider, but these days her free time is spent volunteering at non-profit animal rescue organisations, and being outdoors with her dogs. She also enjoys staying active by boxing and playing in an indoor netball team.


FRONT IMAGE OF LAUREN CHRISTIE JOHANNESBURG FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

LAUREN CHRISTIE

BSc (Med Sci) BComm (Law) LLB

Languages: English, Afrikaans

Lauren commenced her articles at Clarks Attorneys in January 2018. Lauren was admitted as an attorney on 6 August 2020, and continues to practice as an associate at Clarks Attorneys.

Lauren holds a BSc in Medical Science, BComm in Law, Financial Management and Financial Accounting, as well as an LLB from the University of Pretoria. In addition to her love of studying, she enjoys being outdoors and traveling.

Lauren is passionate about the law, particularly the unique and dynamic challenges that family and personal law present. She is a caring individual who is mindful of the direct and personal impact this area of law has on the lives of the families we work with.

The combination of Lauren’s interests in both law and people ensures she will do her utmost to represent the best interests of her clients.


FRONT IMAGE OF LERATO SEROKE JOHANNESBURG FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

LERATO SEROKE

LLB

Languages: isiZulu, English

Lerato Seroke graduated from the University of Johannesburg with a Bachelor of Laws in 2019 and joined Clarks Attorneys as a candidate attorney in 2020. She is currently completing her articles at the firm.

While studying, in addition to tutoring and providing academic advice to residents, she served as an introduction to legal studies and moot court tutor at the University of Johannesburg. She was an active member of the Black Lawyers Association Student Chapter (BLASC-UJ), a student organisation with the mandate of empowering legal practitioners.

 Lerato was a mentee of the South African Chapter of International Association of Women Judges (SAC-IAWJ) Mentorship Programme between 2017 and 2019.

Lerato is passionate about community service which led her to become a member of LAWSAC the Law Students Assisting Communities (LAWSAC), a community-based group.

Spending time with her family, enjoying the arts, exploring new restaurants and places of entertainment, and traveling are some of her other interests outside of work.

 Lerato has a keen interest in family and personal law, she chose her pursue a career within this specialty as it allows her to provide value and make a difference in others’ lives. To her, it is a fulfilling experience to be trusted by a family to provide them with guidance and support during times of difficulty.


FRONT IMAGE OF STEVE BEERE JOHANNESBURG FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

STEVE BEERE

BA LLB

Languages: English

Steven Beere holds a BA in law and a LLB from the University of Pretoria where he held various leadership positions throughout his studies. Steven has a deep sense of community, and as such volunteered for various initiatives throughout his University career.

Steven joined Clarks Attorneys as a candidate attorney in July 2021. He is currently completing his articles at the firm.

He is a determined individual who desires to make a positive impact on South African society and people’s lives, and his passion for personal law and family law emanates from this desire.

Outside of work, Steven is passionate about fitness likes to maintain an active lifestyle. He is an avid sports fan and thoroughly enjoys his rugby, football and golf. His other interests include cooking, hiking and reading.


FRONT IMAGE OF ELLA PARKIN JOHANNESBURG FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

ELLA PARKIN

BA LLB

Languages: English

Ella Parkin holds a BA Law and LLB from the University of the Witwatersrand, where she graduated with distinction and was nominated to the Dean’s List. 

Ella joined Clarks Attorneys as a candidate attorney in 2022. She is currently completing her articles at the firm.

Ella is passionate about personal law, writing and language, which lead her to tutor personal law and legal writing during her studies. 

She is a compassionate person and is committed to building solid client relationships and helping clients through the often stressful transitions that come with family and personal law.

Outside of work she enjoys art and design and has worked on various illustration projects.