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Petronette Lombard joined VDH in 2025, bringing with her a strong work ethic, a careful approach to legal practice and a willingness to embrace new challenges. Her move from Bloemfontein to Cape Town marked both a professional and personal new chapter, and she has quickly become part of VDH’s specialist debt review team.

Biography

A proud Free Stater at heart, Petronette Lombard spent most of her life in Bloemfontein before trading the familiar surroundings of the Free State for the mountains and coastline of Cape Town in 2025, when she joined VDH Attorneys Inc.


Petronette holds an LLB degree from the University of the Free State and was admitted as an attorney in 2019. Before joining VDH, she gained experience in debt review, debt collection, family law and civil litigation, developing a well-rounded foundation in legal practice. She is fluent in both Afrikaans and English.


At VDH, Petronette focuses on debt review litigation, overseeing matters across 86 courts throughout South Africa. Her responsibilities include managing and coordinating correspondent attorneys, attending to opposed and unopposed applications, court appearances and legal drafting, as well as resolving complex legal and procedural issues arising during court proceedings. She is committed to finding practical solutions to challenges arising under the National Credit Act.


Petronette enjoys the variety and challenges that come with legal practice and takes pride in finding practical solutions to difficult matters. She approaches her work with diligence, attention to detail and a strong sense of responsibility, believing that every matter deserves careful consideration and an honest assessment. She values integrity, professionalism and the relationships she builds with those she works alongside.


For Petronette, relocating to Cape Town represented more than just a change of scenery. It became an opportunity for personal growth, professional development and the chance to contribute to a firm with an established history in the debt review industry.


Outside the office, Petronette enjoys gardening, hiking in nature and exploring new places in Cape Town and its surrounds, particularly the region's beautiful wine farms. Above all, she values spending quality time with family and friends.

Our Attorneys

The People Behind the Process

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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.

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

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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.

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That combination is deliberate.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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We are particularly suited to people who are:

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  • 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.

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

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

Position
Office

Attorney

Petronette Lombard

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