About the LawyerAbout the LawyerMark Leathers is a Director, Attorney, Conveyancer, and Notary Public at Mc Naught & Company, strategically managing and planning the legal aspects of large commercial and property projects for over 18 years. Born in Benoni in 1984, he has established himself as a dynamic legal professional in South Africa, currently serving as the director of the firm based at the Bluff office in Durban. His career is defined by a blend of traditional legal practice and innovative business development, driving growth strategies that result in increased turnover and profit while implementing organizational change to improve productivity.Based in Durban and serving clients across South Africa, Mark plays a central role in steering Mc Naught & Company’s commercial practice, with particular emphasis on complex business transactions and strategic legal planning. As sole director since 2018, he is fully accountable for the oversight of large-scale commercial mandates from inception through to finalisation, combining deep technical expertise in commercial law with a practical understanding of business operations and risk management. He regularly advises on structuring of transactions, commercial risk allocation, and enforcement strategies, positioning himself as a trusted general counsel to corporate and institutional clients.ExperienceMark Leathers began his legal journey by serving his articles of clerkship at Mc Naught & Co in July 2006. In 2010, he was admitted as an attorney, notary, and conveyancer, becoming a partner at the firm shortly thereafter. He has been a Partner at Mc Naught & Company from 2010 to the present, and assumed the role of Director in 2019. Over his 18-year tenure, he has managed the firm's growth from a small two-roomed office in Durban city centre to a decentralized legal entity with multiple offices.Since joining the firm as a candidate attorney, Mark has progressed through the roles of Attorney, Conveyancer, Notary Public, Partner, and ultimately Director. His responsibilities include strategically managing and planning the legal aspects of large commercial projects, overseeing commercial litigation portfolios, and guiding the firm’s expansion into new markets. He has spearheaded the identification of business growth opportunities and implemented development strategies that yielded substantial year-on-year increases in turnover and profitability. Under his leadership, Mc Naught & Company has expanded from its original Durban city centre office into a network of offices, including the Bluff office in Durban where he is based.Mark’s professional scope extends beyond standard litigation; he assists conveyancing software providers in formulating documents and provides advisory services to local councils on property law matters where these intersect with commercial and credit security considerations. He serves a select number of multinational clients as legal counsel, handling their commercial litigation, corporate structuring, contracts, and credit security requirements. In addition, he has contributed thought leadership to the firm’s publications on the role of attorneys in commercial law, reflecting his practical experience in navigating complex business environments.SpecialtyMark Leathers specializes in Commercial Law and General Counsel, with a deep focus on contract drafting, contract vetting, commercial dispute resolution, mergers and acquisitions, insolvency law, civil litigation management, and the commercial aspects of property and credit security. His work is centered on structuring and documenting business transactions, advising on risk allocation, and managing contentious matters arising from commercial relationships.In the field of commercial law, Mark’s expertise includes:
Across these areas, Mark functions as general counsel to selected corporate and multinational clients, providing ongoing advisory services on transactional strategy, governance, contractual risk, and enforcement of rights in complex commercial settings.EducationMark Leathers holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in Private Law and Credit Security, graduated from the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 2015. He completed his undergraduate Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree at UNISA in 2010, after attending various educational institutions including Nigel Primary School, Drakensberg Boys Choir School, St Alban’s College, and Hoërskool Johan Jurgens. His academic foundation was further supported by his attendance at varsity at the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PUKKE).In addition to his formal degrees, he has completed multiple diploma courses in International Commercial Law, Anti-Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance, International Business, Trade, and Tax Law between 2008 and 2020. This combination of advanced degrees and specialised diplomas underpins his focus on commercial law, credit security, and international business, and informs his work on complex, cross-border commercial structures and transactions.Achievements and Recognition
No individual case details or specific project contributions beyond the above are found in the provided sources. All entries explicitly mention Mark Leathers.
About the LawyerMark Leathers was born in Benoni in 1984. He attended Nigel Primary School and thereafter the Drakensberg Boys Choir, St Alban’s College and Hoërskool Johan Jurgens.He attended varsity at the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PUKKE) and graduated with his undergraduate degree from UNISA in 2009 and his Master’s degree in private law in 2015.Mark served his articles of clerkship at Mc Naught & Co from July 2006. In 2010 he was admitted as an attorney, notary and conveyancer and became a partner at Mc Naught & Co. In 2019, Mark took over as the director of the firm based at our Bluff office.In addition to being an attorney, Mark is an experienced conveyancer and notary public. He assists conveyancing software providers in formulating documents and providing advisory services to various local councils on property law matters.Mark has a number of select multi-national clients that he serves as legal counsel for, handling their commercial litigation, structuring, contracts and credit security requirements.Based in South Africa, Mark has built a practice that is strongly focused on international property law, advising both local and foreign clients on cross-border property transactions and related commercial arrangements. As director of Mc Naught & Co, he plays a central role in overseeing the firm’s property-law services, with a particular emphasis on matters involving international parties, multi-jurisdictional structures and foreign investment into South African real estate.ExperienceMark has been involved in legal practice since 2006, giving him close to two decades of experience in property-related and international matters. During his articles at Mc Naught & Co he gained extensive exposure to residential, commercial and industrial property transactions, laying the foundation for his later focus on cross-border property issues and international clients.Following his admission as an attorney, notary and conveyancer in 2010, Mark became a partner at Mc Naught & Co, where he progressively assumed responsibility for significant property portfolios and complex international projects. His experience includes acting as ongoing legal counsel for select multinational clients, handling their commercial litigation, contractual structuring and credit security requirements in the context of property holdings and investments that span multiple jurisdictions.As director heading the Bluff office since 2019, Mark has been strategically managing and planning the legal aspects of large commercial and property projects, particularly those involving foreign investors and multinational entities. His conveyancing and notarial experience extends to the design and implementation of processes and documents used in high-volume property environments, including work with conveyancing software providers to improve efficiency and legal compliance in international and domestic transactions.Mark’s advisory work with local councils on property law matters further demonstrates his depth of experience in regulatory and governance issues affecting land, development and infrastructure, many of which intersect with international investment and cross-border ownership structures.SpecialtyMark’s primary specialty is international property law, with a strong emphasis on:
Through these activities, Mark has developed a niche practice at the intersection of property law, commercial law and international business, making him a key resource for clients seeking coordinated legal support across multiple countries in relation to their property assets.EducationMark’s academic background supports his specialization in international property law:
His tertiary studies began at the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PUKKE), where he undertook initial law studies before completing his degree through UNISA. The combination of rigorous academic training and practical experience has equipped Mark with the doctrinal and analytical skills necessary to navigate the technical demands of international property law.Achievements and Recognition
(Note: The category “Contributions to award-winning projects” was skipped as no specific project data was found distinct from the firm-level awards already listed.)
posted 1 week ago
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