Attorney Kaamilah Paulse of Herold Gie Attorneys is facing growing scrutiny after the Legal Practice Council in the Western Cape referred several complaints against her to a Disciplinary Committee following allegations of professional misconduct.
Background of the Complaints
The referral follows an investigation conducted by the LPC’s Investigating Committee, which met on 30 January 2026 to review multiple complaints linked to Paulse’s handling of family law matters. The committee concluded that some of the allegations warranted further disciplinary review.
One of the most serious complaints relates to claims that Paulse failed to properly serve court documents on a complainant. According to the LPC, the alleged failure forced the complainant to apply for rescission of a judgment, resulting in additional legal costs and delays. The Council indicated that Paulse had acted on instructions that were inconsistent with a magistrate’s order. It further noted that her response during the investigation did not demonstrate that valid service of documents had taken place.
Allegations of Misconduct
Based on these findings, the committee concluded that there was a prima facie case suggesting that she may have breached professional and ethical obligations under the legal code of conduct. The matter has now been formally referred to a disciplinary committee for adjudication.
Another complaint relates to a domestic violence application heard virtually in Randburg in October 2025. The LPC found that instructions provided by Paulse to an advocate in the matter were allegedly misleading. According to the Council, this resulted in unnecessary postponements and wasted time for the court and other parties involved. This complaint has also been referred for disciplinary review.
The allegations come against the backdrop of a long-running and highly contentious custody and access dispute involving Johannesburg father Asif Casoojee. His legal battle to gain greater access to his two children has drawn public attention over the past several years. For more information on the South African justice system and how it handles family law matters,
Casoojee has been fighting for more contact with his children for more than four years. He has described the process as emotionally exhausting and damaging. In several widely reported incidents, he claimed that he was excluded from Father’s Day activities and denied access to his children’s school, despite continuing to contribute financially to their education.
In December 2025, Casoojee attempted to arrange a religious trip to Mecca with his children, which he said was spiritually significant and aligned with their Muslim upbringing. However, the request was declined because the existing court order regulating parental contact did not allow for extended holiday access or international travel without a formal amendment.
Casoojee said he was disappointed when a response from Paulse’s legal team arrived only on the day he had planned to travel, effectively preventing the trip. He has since spoken publicly about the personal impact of the dispute and has raised concerns about the handling of his case.
The following are some key points about the allegations against Paulse:
- Failure to properly serve court documents on a complainant
- Acting on instructions inconsistent with a magistrate’s order
- Providing allegedly misleading instructions to an advocate in a domestic violence case
The disciplinary committee will review the allegations and determine whether Paulse has breached professional and ethical obligations. If found guilty, she may face disciplinary action, including suspension or removal from the roll of attorneys.
