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Andre van der Kooi brings more than three decades of experience across the judiciary, prosecution service and legal profession. His career includes service as a magistrate, lecturer, attorney and Senior State Advocate, giving him an exceptionally broad perspective on courtroom procedure, legal argument and the administration of justice.

Biography

Andre van der Kooi holds a B-Iuris and LLB from UNISA. Before entering the legal profession, he served for five years as a member of the South African Defence Force, with service in several units including the Infantry School, 4 South African Infantry, Rand Light Infantry and 44 Parachute Brigade.

In 1982, Andre transferred to the Department of Justice, where he initially worked as a public prosecutor and later as a lecturer at Justice College. He was appointed as a magistrate in 1988, first serving in Kempton Park before relocating to Potgietersrus in 1990. He remained on the bench until 2017 and served as head of the Potgietersrus Magistrates’ Court office for approximately 12 years.

After leaving the bench, Andre practised as an attorney from 2017 to 2021 before joining the National Prosecuting Authority as a Senior State Advocate. He remained with the NPA until August 2025 and has since continued in practice as an advocate.

His professional background gives him a rare combination of judicial, prosecutorial and litigation experience. Having worked from several different perspectives within the justice system, Andre brings a practical understanding of how matters are prepared, argued and considered in court.

Outside his professional life, Andre is married and is a father of three.

Our Attorneys

The People Behind the Process

VDH's legal team brings together attorneys with extensive experience in debt review litigation, court appearances, opposed proceedings, legal research, regulatory matters and the practical application of the National Credit Act.

Our attorneys operate across the Western Cape, Gauteng and Limpopo and are supported by specialised litigation, court-management and administrative teams.

Some members of the firm have spent the majority of their legal careers working in debt review. Others bring experience from general litigation, prosecution, the Magistracy, advocacy, regulatory work and other areas of legal practice.

That combination is deliberate.

Debt review litigation does not happen in isolation. It requires an understanding of civil procedure, consumer-credit law, evidence, enforcement, court practice and the practical financial circumstances underlying each application.

Meet the people responsible for the legal work behind VDH.

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Fransie van der Hoven

Managing Partner

Stephan van der Hoven

Managing Partner

Magda Cloete (née Birkholtz)

Managing Partner

Lionel van Huyssteen

Managing Partner

Stefan Snyman

Managing Partner

Andre van der Kooi

Managing Partner

Robyn Berry

Managing Partner

Petronette Lombard

Managing Partner

Christen Martin

Managing Partner

Suné van Wyk

Managing Partner

Dominic Horne

Managing Partner

Herman Mynhardt

Managing Partner

Lauren le Grange

Managing Partner

Tshephisho Somo

Managing Partner

Henri Uys

Managing Partner

Careers

Build a Career in Specialist Litigation

VDH operates at the intersection of law, litigation, technology and legal process design built around a specialist field.

For attorneys, candidate attorneys and legal professionals, that creates an environment very different from a traditional general practice.

Our team works with high volumes of litigation, but the work is not simply administrative. Attorneys are exposed to court appearances, opposed matters, developing questions under the National Credit Act, legal research, drafting, negotiation and the practical challenges that arise when legislation is applied across courts throughout South Africa.

We are particularly suited to people who are:

intellectually curious;
practical problem-solvers;
comfortable taking responsibility;
interested in litigation and legal argument;
willing to question inefficient processes;
able to work accurately at scale; and
committed to maintaining professional standards in a highly specialised practice.

VDH has grown by developing people internally and giving talented individuals the opportunity to take ownership of meaningful work.

If specialist litigation, legal technology and the continuing development of South African debt review law interest you, we would like to hear from you.

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