Emily West

Emily West

Senior Associate

Emily West is a Senior Associate in our Trusts & Estates practice. At a high level, Emily specializes in cross-border estate planning and administration, including related tax consequences both locally and abroad. She has experience drafting wills for various jurisdictions, as well as local trust deeds. As a Notary Public, Emily is able to execute antenuptial contracts and legally authenticate documents for use locally and abroad. She is also able to attend to administrator or curator applications in respect of individuals who are unable to manage their affairs.  

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Career

Emily joined Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr as a Candidate Attorney in January 2015 and has gained experience in the following practice areas – Dispute Resolution; Trusts & Estates; Real Estate and Corporate & Commercial. She was appointed as an Associate in 2017 and was promoted to Senior Associate in 2020.

Emily specialises in the following areas: 

  • worldwide personal estate/succession planning, including related tax considerations
  • administration of South African and foreign deceased estates
  • registration of deceased estates for income tax purposes, filing relevant pre- and post-death income tax returns
    • drafting/reviewing of local and offshore wills
    • administrator applications to the Master of the High Court and curator applications
    • drafting and registration of antenuptial contracts
  • legal authentication of documents for use locally or abroad
  • drafting/reviewing and registration/termination of family and PBO/NPO trusts
  • institution of claims against deceased estates and the filing of objections against liquidation and distribution accounts and
  • general advice on the above areas.

Education

  • LLB, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal
  • Year of Admission as Attorney and Notary Public: 2017
  • Enrolled with the Legal Practice Council
  • Registered as a tax practitioner: 2021