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 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 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 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 is a Director at SWVG Inc., with a particular focus on family law, commercial law and general litigation.

Gabriella has developed a strong family law practice, representing clients in a wide range of matrimonial and family related disputes. She regularly advises and represents clients in divorce proceedings, disputes concerning the care and contact of children, maintenance matters, Rule 43 applications and other complex or highly contested family law proceedings.

Recognising that family law matters are often deeply personal and emotionally charged, Gabriella combines a sensitive and pragmatic approach with decisive and strategic legal representation. She works closely with her clients to navigate difficult circumstances, always with a focus on protecting their interests.

Gabriella joined SWVG Inc. as a candidate attorney in 2018 after graduating cum laude with an LLB from the University of the Witwatersrand. She was admitted as an Attorney in 2020 and appointed as a Director of the firm in 2023.