Garlicke & Bousfield

What Garlicke & Bousfield does

Garlicke & Bousfield Incorporated is a full-service South African law firm founded in 1977 and headquartered in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, with a second office in Kenilworth, Cape Town, established in 2008 as a separate registered entity. The firm operates as an incorporated practice delivering legal services across twelve practice areas: Corporate & Commercial, Litigation, Employment Law, Tax, Estates & Trusts, Conveyancing & Property, Matrimonial & Family Law, Building & Construction, Environment & Planning, Intellectual Property, Mediation, and a Pro Bono Department. It serves two primary client segments — corporate and institutional clients (requiring transactional, tax, competition, and commercial law support) and high-net-worth individuals and families (requiring estate planning, conveyancing, matrimonial, and family law services). The firm is registered with the relevant South African legal regulatory bodies, holds statutory titles including attorneys, notaries, and conveyancers, and maintains B-BBEE certification valid through 2025.

The firm generates revenue through professional services fees, billed on an hourly basis, fixed fee for defined engagements, or at statutory tariff rates for regulated services such as conveyancing. Pricing is generally not publicly disclosed and is quote-based per matter. Its go-to-market approach is reputation-driven and sales-led, relying primarily on client referrals, professional networks, and an active content marketing program — the firm publishes regular legal insights articles covering Companies Act amendments, tax law, employment law, family law, and Competition Commission merger control thresholds, alongside a recurring newsletter titled 'The Legal Issue.' Distribution is purely direct and domestic — clients engage the firm through its two South African offices via consultation, retainer, or matter-specific engagement; no intermediated channels, marketplaces, or software platforms are used.

The firm employs 51-100 staff, is led by CEO Yvonne Boden (a director since 1991 who joined in 1988), with additional senior directors Howard Stephenson (Corporate & Commercial, Executive Committee), Graeme Palmer (Tax & Corporate, Executive Committee), and Simphiwe Maphumulo (Property & Conveyancing). There are no proprietary software products, APIs, AI/ML capabilities, or technology platforms disclosed; services are delivered exclusively through professional legal practitioners using standard legal practice methods combined with modern document management and client communication technologies.

Name

Garlicke & Bousfield

Legal name

Garlicke & Bousfield Incorporated

Website

https://gb.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Garlicke & Bousfield is a South African full-service law firm founded in 1977, operating from KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Town, serving corporate clients and high-net-worth individuals across twelve practice areas including corporate/commercial law, litigation, tax, employment, and estates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Legal Services (5411), Offices of Lawyers (541110), Offices of Lawyers (54111)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Insolvency Law (BPAHAAAH)

Keywords

• Legal services
• Commercial law
• Litigation services
• Conveyancing services
• Estate planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services Fees: The firm generates revenue through professional legal fees charged for its comprehensive range of legal services including corporate and commercial law, litigation, conveyancing, estates and trusts, employment law, tax law, matrimonial and family law, and other specialised legal practices. Fees are typically billed on an hourly basis, fixed fee for specific services, or statutory tariff rates for regulated services such as conveyancing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Garlicke & Bousfield is a full-service South African law firm providing attorneys, notaries, and conveyancing services through twelve specialized practice divisions. Core offerings span Corporate & Commercial, Litigation, Employment Law, Tax, Estates & Trusts, Matrimonial & Family Law, Conveyancing & Property, Building/Engineering & Construction, Environment & Planning, Intellectual Property, and Mediation, plus a Pro Bono department.

Product overview

Garlicke & Bousfield Incorporated is a full-service South African law firm offering specialized legal and related services through distinct departmental divisions. The firm operates as a unified portfolio of legal service lines rather than a single product or platform. Core service areas include Corporate & Commercial, Litigation, Employment Law, Tax, Estates & Trusts, Matrimonial & Family Law, Conveyancing & Property, Building & Construction, Environment & Planning, Intellectual Property, and Mediation. Each department functions as a specialized practice area, with the Tax Division and Corporate & Commercial Department being particularly prominent. The firm also offers a Pro Bono Department for community service. Services are delivered through professional legal practitioners rather than through software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate & Commercial Legal Services Comprehensive corporate and commercial legal services for businesses including mergers and acquisitions, competition law, corporate governance, and commercial contract drafting.
• Litigation Services Full-service litigation representation in the High Court, Magistrates' Court, and various tribunals for trials, applications, and other legal proceedings.
• Employment Law Services Employment law services covering labour disputes, disciplinary actions, employment contracts, and compliance with South African labour legislation.
• Tax Law Services Specialised tax law services including tax planning, tax disputes, tax litigation, and advisory services for individuals and corporate clients.
• Estates & Trusts Services Estate planning, deceased estate administration, trust formation and management, curatorships, and related tax planning services.
• Matrimonial and Family Law Services Family law services including divorce proceedings, parenting plans, antenuptial contracts, and matrimonial property matters.
• Conveyancing and Property Services Property transfer and registration services including residential and commercial conveyancing, tariff-based services, cost calculation, and property tax guidance.
• Building, Engineering and Construction Legal Services Legal services for building, engineering, and construction matters including contract drafting, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance for construction projects.
• Environment and Planning Legal Services Environmental law and planning legal services for regulatory compliance, environmental impact assessments, and land use planning matters.
• Intellectual Property Legal Services Intellectual property protection and enforcement services including trademarks, patents, copyrights, and commercial IP matters.
• Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Services Alternative dispute resolution through mediation for various legal matters including family disputes and commercial conflicts.
• Pro Bono Legal Services Free legal services provided to underserved communities and individuals who cannot afford legal representation.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• SPCA (Kloof and Highway SPCA; Durban and Coast SPCA)minorOthersGarlicke & Bousfield directors serve in governance roles with animal welfare organisations. Graeme Palmer is Chairman of the Kloof and Highway SPCA, and Yvonne Boden serves on the Durban and Coast Board of the SPCA. These are pro bono community service engagements rather than commercial partnerships.
• LHC Foundation (trading as iCare)minorOthersYvonne Boden serves on the Board of Trustees of the LHC Foundation, trading as 'iCare', an organisation concerned with the plight of street children and their rehabilitation into society. This is a pro bono community service role.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/garlicke-bousfield-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Garlicke & Bousfield