David Swartz
David joined Phillip Silver Swartz Incorporated in 2008, and by 2011 was managing the firm in South Africa.
David is the chairman of SWVG Inc. Having represented South Africa as a chess player for a number of years, David has grown a reputation of being a keen legal strategist able to solve the most complex legal problems, and always being one step ahead of his opposition.
David practices law in all fields, with a keen interest in commercial and litigious disputes and family law related matters. David often appears in the media as a legal expert in relation to high-profile matters, including having secured the highest damages awarded in a defamation matter in South African jurisprudence.
David also serves as a board member and director of the Kasparov Chess Foundation.
Joshua Greenberg
Joshua holds an LLB from the University of Pretoria and was admitted as an attorney in May 2017. Upon admission, he was appointed as a Director of SWVG Incorporated and was subsequently appointed Managing Director in April 2024. Joshua trained under David Swartz, now Chairman of SWVG Incorporated, and has over a decade of experience spanning corporate, commercial, and civil litigation, with a particular focus on high court motion and trial practice, insolvency, shareholders disputes, employment law, and regulatory matters.
He has been involved in matters in the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Competition Tribunal and has represented international clients in complex cross border commercial disputes. His practice has been involved in multiple reportable decisions.
Joshua leads a team of attorneys and candidate attorneys and is committed to delivering strategic, commercially sound legal advice and representation that achieves meaningful results for his clients.
Rachael Weil
Rachael Weil joined Phillip Silver Swartz Incorporated in 2010, where she managed the practice together with David Swartz and was critical in the building the practice and the client base.
Rachael practises in all areas of law, including complex commercial transactions, insolvency and business rescue, shareholders disputes, medical negligence and commercial and corporate litigation.
Rachael’s drive for success has earned her a remarkable name, always ready for a fight and willing to do whatever is necessary for the win.
Etienne van der Merwe
Etienne Van Der Merwe joined Phillip Silver Swartz in 2012 and was shortly thereafter made a director, and continues in the role of director of SWVG Inc.
Etienne focuses on all areas of the law with a specific and keen interest in criminal law, where he has a 100% success record for his clients against the state. Etienne epitomises the SWVG mentality of not being an armchair lawyer, and is willing to travel far and wide for his clients.
Gabriella Hodes
Gabriella Hodes joined SWVG Inc. as a candidate attorney in January 2018, after having completed her law degree cum laude from Wits. Gabriella has a keen interest in commercial and family law.
Gabriella was admitted in May 2020 as an Attorney and was recently promoted to becoming a director of the firm in August 2023.
Caitlin Tangey
Caitlin obtained her LLB at the University of Pretoria and was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 2017. Caitlin has experience in civil litigation, family law, commercial litigation and drafting
Jordan Dias
Jordan obtained her LLB degree from the University of the Witwatersrand and was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 2020. She has experience in civil litigation, commercial litigation and drafting, dispute resolution, contractual disputes and drafting, divorce law and family law.
Sizwe Nkosi
Sizwe Nkosi is currently undergoing his articles at SWVG Inc. Having joined the team in January 2024, Sizwe has come to truly appreciate the value of never taking ‘No’ for an answer and is not afraid to roll up his sleeves. Under the mentorship of Gabriella Hodes and with the guidance and support of SWVG’s leadership, Sizwe has begun to sharpen his instincts through his involvement across a wide range of matters including family law, labour law and commercial litigation.
Luke Chilvers
Luke obtained his legal qualifications from the University of Pretoria and began his articles at the firm in 2024. He has a keen interest in and passion for Employment Law and assists clients with civil litigation, commercial and criminal related matters.
Nicholas Johnson
Currently in his second year of articles, Nicholas Johnson is a dedicated and driven candidate attorney with a strong interest in commercial law. He brings a thoughtful and analytical approach to legal challenges, with a particular passion for helping clients navigate complex commercial matters.
Working under the guidance of SWVG Inc, Nicholas Johnson thrives in a collaborative environment, using the insight and support of his peers to deliver excellent legal service.
Timothy Ohannessian
Timothy was admitted as an attorney in April 2025. He holds a BA and a LLB (Cum Laude) from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). He is currently pursuing a Master of Laws specialising in Commercial and Business Law.
Timothy is a dedicated attorney with strong interest in Company and Administrative Law. He provides practical legal advice and effective representation to his clients by way of meticulous and insightful analysis. He is further committed to delivering high-quality legal services founded on professionalism, integrity and attention to detail.
Ryan Van Rosenveldt
Ryan holds an LLB from the University of the Free State and is currently completing his articles of clerkship at SWVG Incorporated under the supervision of Director Gabriella Hodes. Prior to commencing his legal training, Ryan gained experience in the property and commercial sectors, developing a practical understanding of property transactions, client relationships, and commercial negotiations.
His areas of focus include commercial litigation, property law, and family law.
Ryan is committed to delivering efficient, well-considered legal services and to building lasting relationships with clients across SWVG’s practice areas.