learn about our history

About Us

Benita Ardenbaum Founder

NO ORDINARY FAMILY LAWYER

Benita is a senior attorney with over 27 years of experience in Family LawDivorce Law, and Personal Law. She is a member of the Legal Practice Council and is admitted to appear in the High Court of South Africa. Benita has presented many workshops on family law and regularly attends International Family Law conferences around the world. Benita started her career as a prosecutor for the Department of Justice in Kwa-Zulu Natal where she gained extensive and valuable experience as a strategic litigator. Benita left the Department of Justice and started her own family law firm as she saw an opportunity to improve the way family law firms work with clients by providing an integrative and client-centered approach as opposed to a one-dimensional approach to family law.

In addition to her extensive experience in litigation Benita is also well known for her negotiation and mediation skills and has successfully resolved many acrimonious divorces and family law matters. Benita has an intricate understanding of human behaviour and is committed to assisting her clients to take charge of their lives  and to empower them through an often traumatic process. Benita has a special interest in children and is a strong advocate for children’s rights. Benita has a large international practice and specialises in international divorce law, cross border child abduction, child relocation to other countries and reciprocal enforcement of maintenance for children and spouses, domestic violence and other areas of personal law.

"You Are One Decision Away From A Totally Different 
Life Filled With Equality And Victory." 

“Divorce is emotional let us guide you to a rational
settlement without irrational hostility!”

01

Empower

At Benita Ardenbaum Attorneys, our goal is to empower our clients financially, legally, and otherwise through cooperation, support, and the sharing of knowledge.

Empowerment is always on the horizon for those who seek it. Ultimately, participating in meaningful, truthful exchanges and pursuing passions can give you the fuel and community you need to live your fully empowered self.

02

Protect

Our Attorneys show both strength and empathy as we protect the future for our clients and their loved ones. Our priority is to safeguard our client’s interests by protecting what matters most to them.

True emotional freedom requires people to grow and evolve through the pain. Once they do, they can step more confidently into the next chapter of their life.

03

Justice

Coming to terms with divorce isn’t easy. It requires a lot of soul-searching and hard work. 

It means turning inward and doing the tough work of processing your emotions—really feeling it all—the anger, the grief, the hurt, the depression,—and then letting go of those emotions. It means accepting that your marriage ended in whatever manner it did and finding meaning from the experience. 

Who we are

A SPECIALIST FAMILY LAW FIRM

Central to the firm’s values and culture is to understand what is important to you, the client, and to create a tailor-made strategy to help you achieve an outcome that is favourable to you.

We understand that the legal process can often be stressful, daunting, confusing and over-whelming. In order to alleviate the stress of divorce or a family dispute, we work closely with our clients and approach each case with care, discretion, commitment and dedication. The core belief within our firm is that open communication with our clients is paramount and we seek to address each individual’s unique financial, emotional and legal needs by guiding and supporting them throughout the process.

No two clients are the same and there are those who prefer to avoid the stress and expense of litigation in court. We strive to assist our clients to reach favourable outcomes to conflict situations by means of alternative dispute-resolution methods such as mediation, negotiation and principles based on Collaborative Law. Where cases cannot be resolved amicably the firm is equipped to litigate in court to protect a client’s legal rights by means of the adoption of strategic and effective planning, preparation and execution.

communication is key

Client based service

Benita Ardenbaum Attorney are passionate about meeting their client’s needs and nurturing a genuine and transparent relationship with their client’s. Personal care of each and every one of our client’s is of paramount importance to us. The building
and nurturing of our client relationships is long lasting, even after the client’s mandate has ended. 

Our team understands that our client’s want honest, sound and practical legal advice, based on our extensive knowledge of family law. We strive to ensure that we deliver an exceptional experience which will not only attract new clients, but whenever necessary, assist previous loyal client’s. In delivering professional services to our client’s they are entrusting us with their future which is the foundation of our success.

Client satisfaction
98%
Success Rate
99%
Execution
100%

get to know each other

Benita Ardenbaum Attorneys prides itself on the specialist team of family law attorneys who are there to help families and individuals through hard times. With Benita Ardenbaum at the helm of the firm, she has a wealth of experience in family law both locally and internationally.

Each member of our team is committed to providing our client’s with exceptional advice aimed at achieving successful results. Our team has a combined background of impressive achievements and qualifications as well as a commitment to professional excellence and client services.

understanding your rights

It is important to obtain the correct legal advice when divorcing so that you have a comprehensive understanding of your rights. Understanding your rights is far reaching as a divorce incorporates numerous facets which include the division of assets according to your marriage regime, maintenance for the minor children and the spouse, and the incorporation of a parenting plan. In some cases, where there has been domestic violence or abuse, whether it be by a spouse or third party, we can assist in the process to obtain a protection order.

Understanding your rights does not only include knowing your rights in a divorce action it transcends to unmarried fathers rights and their pursuit of parental rights, laws pertaining to international divorces, and the rights of parents of abduction children.

determining your goals

When we are faced with a difficult and emotional situation, it is easy to get discouraged and lose hope. Hope is needed to find happiness and peace during times that might otherwise lead us to become disheartened.

Our Attorneys are directly invested in determining our client’s goals. By having clear goals, it enables us to know precisely what our client’s want to achieve. Our aim is to then plan for what our client’s ideal outcome would be and to identify the essential elements required to fulfil our client’s desired end result.

"You Are One Decision Away From A Totally Different Life Filled With Equality And Victory."

“Divorce is emotional let us guide you to a rational
settlement without irrational hostility!”

Learn About
Our Attorneys

Benita Ardenbaum

Director and Founder

Benita Ardenbaum

Benita Ardenbaum is the director and founder of Benita Ardenbaum Attorneys. Benita is passionate about family law and has worked in this field for 27 years. Benita provides an integrative and client centered approach to family law. Benita's expertise includes being able to take complex disputes, simplify them and provide a strategy to resolve them. She is a qualified mediator and has extensive experience in litigation.

Benita has an established international practise. Benita is a member of the international Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL). Benita has extensive experience in South African and International Divorces including complex financial divorces and divorces where there are disputes relating to children.

Jessica Gooding

Attorney and Conveyancer

Jessica Gooding

Jessica Gooding graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of KwaZulu – Natal in June 2014, and was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court on 23 September 2016.

Jessica has a passion for family law and deals with all matters pertaining to: divorce, care and contact, parental rights and responsibilities, children’s rights and maintenance enquiries.

She is compassionate, driven and a persistent litigator who is sensitive to her client’s needs while dedicated to fervently advocating for their interests and providing practical legal solutions.

Kate Bailey - hill

Attorney and Solicitor

Kate Bailey - Hill

Kate is an highly professional and experienced Attorney and Solicitor of England and Wales. She is a strong advocate for mediation and is a member of the South African Association of Mediators (SAAM).

Kate’s passion for family and children is a pinnacle strength which drives her to deliver appropriate legal solutions for her client’s. Kate’s expertise ranges from matters of divorce, maintenance, parental rights and responsibilities, domestic violence and care and contact. Having two children of her own, Kate’s caring and compassionate nature ensures that her focus is always on the best interests of the child.

Thandokazi Bangani

Attorney

Thandokazi Bangani

Thandokazi is a driven and dedicated young woman from East London who obtained aBachelor of Law Degree. Having completed her articles at a law firm in Pietermaritzburg, where she was in the general litigation department, she discovered her passion and love for family law and joined our team in 2023 as an Attorney.

Her biggest motivation and source of happiness is knowing that she has an opportunity to assist clients in bettering their lives while being surrounded by a team of ambitious women. Thandokazi prides herself in her ability to rise up to every occasion and task, whilst also looking after the best interest of the client.

Tess Williams

Attorney

Tess williams

Tess is a compassionate, bold and determined young lady who obtained her LLB from the University of the Free State through Varsity College Westville in 2017. She completed her articles at a boutique law firm in Kloof and was admitted as an attorney of the High Court in February 2020.

Tess soon realised after her admission that she had a passion for family and matrimonial law and was eager to specialise in that practice area.

Tess is driven by obtaining desired results for clients, particularly when it pertains to minor children, whilst alleviating their concerns by providing them with clarity and understanding. Tess joined our firm in September 2021 and her area of practice is divorce, maintenance, children’s rights, care and contact disputes and parental responsibilities and rights.

Micayla de Marigny

Candidate Attorney

Micayla de Marigny

Micayla is an enthusiastic graduate who completed her LLB degree in 2022 at The University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Micayla is doing her articles at Benita Ardenbaum Attorneys and will be admitted as an attorney in 2025.

Micayla is passionate about family law and is grateful for the opportunity to be mentored by a team of empowered female attorneys.

Lesley - Anne King

Litigation & Conveyancing Paralegal

Lesley - Anne King

Having 21 years corporate experience, 14 years of which Lesley has worked as a Conveyancing Paralegal, she is one of those people who loves getting to know as much as she can about anything legal. She has now ventured into Litigation as well and this interest combined with her exceptional people skills, ensures that she adds valued support to the firm.

Based on her ethics and views of life, together with her zest and determination, she is always wiling to take on new challenges. In her spare time, Lesley enjoys spending time with her family, reading and binging on her favourite series.

Vishali Mariemuthu

Senior Paralegal

Vishali Mariemuthu

I have been involved in the legal and marketing sectors for over 20 years. During my working tenure, I have evolved both professionally and personally, largely due to the excellent teams and mentors I have been fortunate to have worked with. I began my career working for Senior Counsel which molded my foundation in both the legal and the business platforms.

I believe experience is successfully defined by building lasting relationships in an environment that encourages growth and shared knowledge and I am therefore very excited to be part of the BA team whose ethos in their commitment to delivering professional excellence with a sincere approach resonates well with me.