Firm Profile

  

Cullinan & Associates Inc ("C&A") is a specialist law firm that advises on all aspects of environmental and sustainable development law. The firm was founded in 1997 and is based in Cape Town, South Africa with a branch office in Durban.

 

"A reputation for integrity,
problem solving and personal
service attuned to the needs
of our clients"

People

The Directors of C&A are Cormac Cullinan, Gregory Daniels and Sarah Kvalsvig. They are assisted by Glendyr Nel and Megan Adderley. All of the firm's core attorneys have Masters Degrees in Environmental Law. Currently one of the firm's attorneys qualifies for HDI status. The firm is committed to expanding its numbers to include more HDI attorneys.

Barry Adams, a senior commercial lawyer with more than 20 years' experience, is a consultant to the firm and adds his expertise to that of the firm's core lawyers to provide cutting edge legal services to green businesses and entrepreneurs.

In addition to their substantial expertise in environmental law, all of the firm's attorneys have expertise in other areas of law relevant to environmental issues including administrative law, constitutional law, and maritime law. The firm's sustained involvement in environmental law matters for public and private sector clients makes it ideally placed to provide a comprehensive service in this rapidly-developing field

Approach

The firm prides itself on high quality work that combines rigorous intellectual analysis and practical experience with a commitment to excellence. Quality begins by fully understanding the needs of the client and the firm places considerable importance on full and open discussion to ensure that its work continues to meet client needs and expectations. Quality also depends on using well-qualified staff with appropriate expertise; all of the firm's attorneys have excellent academic qualifications backed up by practical experience, together with a personal commitment to excellence. Each attorney's work undergoes internal review by colleagues in order to make the best use of the firm's combined expertise.

Clients

The firm has undertaken work for a range of clients throughout the country, including those drawn from the energy, petro-chemicals, mining (terrestrial and marine), manufacturing, leisure, development, housing, waste management, forestry and pulp and paper industries. The firm's lawyers have done work for national, provincial and local governments in South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland, for whom they have drafted an array of legislation and regulations as well as providing specialist advice on environmental law matters. C&A also acts for other public sector clients, non-governmental organisations and private sector clients, both individual and corporate, some of whom they have represented in High Court litigation. The firm often assists other law firms that do not have environmental law expertise. As part of its commitment to social justice, C&A does work at reduced rates and, in appropriate cases, on a pro bono basis for public interest organisations.

EnAct International

C&A works closely with EnAct International, a specialist environmental law and policy consultancy, which is staffed by the core C&A lawyers. EnAct has worked widely in the South African Development Community (SADC) region and has been awarded a Mail & Guardian "Greening the Future" award for innovative practices that improve business performance (www.enact-international.com).