"The Nicci Ferguson approach"
It is impossible to convey all that we are about in a few short paragraphs and frankly the only real way you can decide whether we are a fit for your business is to work with us. However, since this is our website and we also have egos, here are a few of the things we do different:
Business as well as legal focus
Working in an entrepreneurial environment means that we need to think the way you think. Creatively. Lawyers usually offer a limited perspective in solving problems and while they may offer a good legal solution, they often miss the business realities. We spend a lot of time upfront finding out what your real objectives are and what you define as being a successful outcome to every engagement.
Alternative pricing
We are not slaves to the billable hour. We charge for value and results, not time and effort. We can offer you fixed prices, contingency fee agreements (no-success, no-fee) or retainer agreements. Whatever your choice may be, all work is priced upfront and we don't start working until you are comfortable with how much it is going to cost you.
Joined at the hip
Too often we are asked to perform emergency room lawyering which is expensive, painful and usually limited to damage control. If we had been around initially, we could have helped you avoid the problem in the first place. Because we don't charge by the hour, the clock isn't ticking so our clients feel free to phone us with a query or we sit in on their management meetings (quietly we promise). We get more insight into your business which helps us deliver better solutions. You get brains-for-hire who can offer you and your team a different, objective level of thinking.
Knowledge sharing ... all the time
We want you educated and engaged. We know from experience that if you have a good understanding already of the law and the issues, we will get to a better solution faster. You may also limit the input you need from us in the first place or learn to avoid the same problem coming up again in the future.
Plain English please
Lawyers are traditionally the world champions of gobbeldy gook. While some elaborate vocab and grammar is sometimes useful, most people want to understand the document or contract they are paying for. It also leads to less costly disputes and interpretations by other lawyers later down the line. We believe it takes as much if not more talent to create a legal document in plain and simple language. No more wherefore's, herefore's and therefores.
Unlimited service guarantee
We are so confident that you will have a memorable experience working with us, that if you don't, we will reduce our price accordingly. All we ask is that you explain how and where we could have done better.
Our People
Nicci Du Plessis • B Proc (2000, UNISA) | Certificate Labour law (2005, UCT) | LLM Advanced Company law (current, UCT)
Core competencies: Entrepreneur law; labour law
Partner and victim of aggravated perfectionism
Nicci is also an entrepreneur and attorney who combines her legal knowledge with her real-life experience in starting and running businesses of her own. She has assisted a number of clients set up legal vehicles for their business; draft business agreements with partners, suppliers and customers and get to grips with the many duties and responsibilities that come with being an employer and business owner.
Nicci is a typical Capricorn, i.e. the goat always climbing to the top of the mountain. Nicci's superior powers of organisation and execution are loved by clients but often make the mere mortals of the firm want to lock her in a tightly-padlocked closet and throw away the key.
Steven Ferguson • BA LLB (1996, UCT - Dean's Merit List) | Postgraduate Diploma in ICT law (2003, UCT — cum laude)
Core competencies: Entrepreneur law, Intellectual Property, Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Law
Partner and token male
Steve is an entrepreneur, attorney and teacher. He is passionate about helping new and growing entrepreneurs make their mark in creative and new economy industries. Steve combines a litigation and business law background with specialist knowledge in Intellectual Property and ICT law.
Steve is a strong advocate for making quality legal service more accessible and user-friendly to entrepreneurs. He often appears in the media and speaks widely on a range of legal issues affecting start-ups and high-growth SME's. He also lectures ICT law to LLM students at UCT and serves as an independent adjudicator for the Internet Service Providers Association and Wireless Internet Service Providers Association.
Each day, Steve awakes to the arduous task of working with 4 gorgeous women at NicciFerguson. It's not easy but someone has to do it. If anyone with increased levels of testosterone has some time to kill, please feel free to call him so he can talk about boy's stuff.
Ashley Curran • BA LLB (2008, UCT)
Candidate attorney and resident boeremeisie/leprechaun
Ashley started her articles at NicciFerguson in January 2009 and her sharp mind and fresh eyes are a welcome addition to the team. Her interests lie in intellectual property law. Spawned from a lethal combination of Irish and Afrikaans parents, we have stocked the fridge with copious amounts of Guinness and biltong in the hope that some of that luck will rub off. On being asked to comment on her outside interests, she claimed her right to remain silent in case anything she said would be used against her.
Olivia Manuel
Paralegal and environmental "dye" hard
Olivia started the firm with Steve and Nicci and is one of the special ingredients in our secret sauce. Olivia offers invaluable assistance and support to clients involved in litigation and debt recovery. When not saving the lawyers from themselves, Olivia is quietly saving the environment or thinking of new funky colours to dye her hair (tastefully!).
Shehaam Shabodien
Client liaison and professional shopper
Shehaam is on a mission to make sure that our clients are well taken care of. She has boundless amounts of energy and an uncanny ability to say a dozen things at the same time. Moonlighting as our concierge, Shehaam can find pretty much anything you need. If you think a visit to us is right up there with a visit to your dentist/proctologist/bank manager — think again.