Founder and managing partner, Jose obtained his BA LLB degree from the University of Cape Town. After doing his articles he was admitted as an Attorney in 1991.

Speciality: Litigation and Corporate Law

Jacques joined De Abreu & Cohen in 2003, he became a director during 2004. Mr van der Merwe completed his BProc degree at the University of Free State and was admitted as an Attorney and Conveyancer in 1997. He was admitted as a Notary in 1998 and is specializing in the conveyancing field.

Speciality: Conveyancing

Estelle obtained her LLB degree from the University of Stellenbosch in 2013.  After completing her articles she was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 2015 and admitted as a Conveyancer in 2017 and became a Notary in 2020.  Estelle joined De Abreu & Cohen Inc in 2019.

Speciality: Conveyancing and Estate Administration

Paulo grew up in Cape Town and matriculated from Parklands College in 2015. With a deep passion for law, he commenced his articles in the Cape Town office immediately, completing them alongside his tertiary studies.  In 2020, having graduated with an LLB from the University of South Africa, he was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court. He now practices in the Table View office and specializes in litigation. Paulo has a particularly keen interest in public law, contract law and property law.

Speciality: Litigation

Carla obtained her BCom (Law) and LLB degrees from North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus) where she was selected as a Golden Key member. She is an admitted Attorney, Notary, and Conveyancer of the High Court of South Africa.

Carla is a versatile legal professional with interests in commercial law, as well as wills and estates. She joined our Conveyancing Department, as this is where her true passion lies.

Phumzile is an admitted Attorney, Conveyancer and Notary Public. She holds an LLB degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and completed her Professional Legal Training through the School for Legal Practice in Durban. After her admission as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa, she gained experience in Compliance Administration before deciding to follow her passion for Conveyancing. She was admitted as a Conveyancer in 2022 and as a Notary Public in September 2024. Phumzile joined De Abreu & Cohen in July 2025.

Zarah Rae De Freitas is an admitted Attorney and Conveyancer who combines technical expertise with a deeply people-centred approach to law. She obtained her LLB from the University of the Western Cape and completed her articles at a boutique firm, where she developed a strong foundation in property law and client service. Known for her vibrant energy, strong work ethic, and people-first approach, Zarah is equally recognised for her passion for networking and relationship building. She is driven by a genuine love for people and is committed to making the legal process feel accessible, seamless, and human. We were pleased to welcome her to the De Abreu & Cohen team in February 2026.