We are

• a leading South African law firm.
• the largest law firm in central South Africa and founding member of the PH Group, South Africa’s Largest Legal Network.
• personal advisors to our clients.
• diverse and a leader in transformation.
• ethical, but not conventional.
• passionate, yet calculating.
• not everyone’s law firm, but if we are your firm, you have our undivided attention.
• a new breed of law firm.
• your new breed law firm!

We have offices in Bloemfontein, Sandton and Cape Town and serve our clients nationally and internationally.

We have multiple specialised divisions and departments.

We aspire to always set the standard.

Our value system is simple and underpins everything we do:

We care about our clients, our staff and our community.

We are innovative and never satisfied with the status quo.

We set high standards for ourself and make sure we live up to those standards.

We value expertise and nurture and develop it.

We are diverse and proudly South African.

PH Attorneys was established in 2002 by founding partners, Violet Phatshoane (an Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal) and Douglas Henney (current Chair of the PH Group), with the vision of establishing a transformed law firm capable of providing legal services at the highest levels.

From this definitive moment, the firm grew exponentially, developing a strong commercial, labour, property and litigation practice. Underpinned by a commitment to excellence, innovation and diversity the firm soon became the pre-eminent law firm in the Free State receiving the PMR Diamond Arrow Award in 2012 and 2013 for the Best Free State Law Firm.

Along the way, and at the behest of other law firms who required assistance to reposition their practices and harness the economies of scale that a large group could offer, the firm in 2006, made history when it founded the PH Group - today the largest legal network of its kind in South Africa.
In 2012, with a history of close association with Naudes inc., the directors of Phatshoane Henney inc. (as it then was) and Naudes inc. took the strategic decision to merge these two leading firms with the merged law firm continuing to operate as PH Attorneys. With the finalisation of the merger in 2013, PH Attorneys was established as the largest law firm in central South Africa.

Naudes inc. was founded in 1902 by Charles Gustav Fichardt and Johan Christiaan Daniels, who initially opened the doors of the law firm Fichardt and Daniels in Bloemfontein on 13 October 1902. After several name changes since its inception the firm in 1977 became Naude & Naude Attorneys from whence the firm progressed to the name of Naudes inc. Naudes inc. as it was before the merger, was one of the oldest law firms in the central South African region and was recognised as leading firm in its region and worthy of the respect of its peers.

With the bringing together of these two firms in 2012, it can rightly be said that 110 years of experience was merged with the enthusiasm and innovation of youth and vision, to establish the leading and dynamic law firm, that is PH Attorneys today.

Our firm is managed by a Board of Directors with day-to-day management in the hands of the Executive Committee supported by our Support Services managers.

The firm is organised into three main Practice Groups lead by Practice Group Heads, as well as a Support Service division and Knowledge Centre.

At the centre of it all is the PH Brand, our parent brand.

Under the main brand we have a number of entities providing external client services and strategic internal support services, with entities aligned according to expertise and specific needs and allowing us to offer unique and innovative solutions to our clients. However, irrespective of which PH entity you work with, you have our guarantee of a seamless service experience. 

Diversity is a core value or ours and lies at the heart of what makes us a truly South African firm and able to serve and relate to our diverse client base.

We have achieved what others aspire to and have established diversity across all aspects of age, race and gender.

We are a proudly Level 1 Contributor to BEE and have been so for a number of years.

We are nearly 65% Black owned and more than 50% of our professionals and managers are female.

As a firm we have taken leadership and set the tone for transformation in the legal profession, and implementing, already in 2015, transformative BEE Standards for member firms of the PH Group. View the latest PH Group Transformation Report 2020/21.

The PH Group, established in 2006, is the largest association of independent law firms in South Africa. With nearly 52 law firms and more than 60 offices in 9 provinces and over 500 professionals, the group continues to grow year-on-year and expand its presence to major centres across South Africa, cementing it as the largest legal network in South Africa.

The Group was founded by PH Attorneys in response to an identified need of small and medium-sized law firms to form part of a larger organism and so access and benefit from economies of scale and shared resources and capabilities. The result was the creation of the PH Group - a legal network specifically created for firms operating in a South African environment.

The Group addresses the strategic need of firms to transform, increase their firm visibility and differentiation in their regions, access quality support services, enhance their negotiating power, leverage cost reductions and position themselves strategically for growth.

Member firms are carefully selected and are dynamic and prominent law firms in their respective territories with members subscribing to group values, standards and best practices. As a member, firms can access a range of benefits, vital support services, business advisory and development support, and strategic partnerships that create value, cost savings and business opportunities for member firms. The group brand supports individual firm brands and through annual standard certification by the Group as well as Group campaigns, differentiates member firms.

Member firms have access to the national service directory and broad range of experts in the Group which, together with the geographical footprint of member offices, enable firms to effectively serve clients and provide opportunities for legal graduates and professionals.

For more information on the PH Group, its values, membership structure, partnerships and more, please visit the group website at www.phfirms.co.za.