Michelle van Niekerk
Michelle joined the Recoveries Corporation Group in 2007 in a legal capacity, then moved to Mason Black Lawyers as the leading associate in the Melbourne office. A specialist in commercial litigation and insurance litigation who focuses mainly on defended insurance matters.
She began her legal career in commercial litigation, family law and personal injury law in Pretoria, South Africa in 1999, after completing a B-Proc Law Degree with the University of South Africa .
Three years with the Road Accident Fund of South Africa (the equivalent of the Victorian TAC) followed, where Michelle acted for the defendant regarding claims for compensation for injury or death as a result of motor vehicle accidents where liability and quantum was in dispute. She gained particularly valuable experience through working in the high quantum and serious injury division.
Private practice then attracted her to specialise in personal injury law acting on behalf of plaintiffs, with involvement also in the practice’s property law division. Michelle next started her own firm, Van Niekerk-De Kock Attorneys, specialising in personal injury law acting for plaintiffs, property law and family law. This was a particularly busy time for her professionally, as she also launched a real estate agency and was actively involved in managing both businesses.
Michelle was admitted as an Australian lawyer after completing further legal studies here. She retains links with her homeland through the South African Business Network in Melbourne.