Attorney Kaamilah Paulse of Herold Gie Attorneys.
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Attorney Kaamilah Paulse 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.
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.
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.
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 appealed to the Justice Minister for intervention. Casoojee has described his experience as an example of broader systemic problems in family law and has called for reforms and greater transparency in custody and access proceedings.
Underlying the complaints currently before the LPC is a decision by the LPC Appeals Tribunal in March 2025, which found prima facie evidence of misconduct on two counts. These included allegations that a protection order had been improperly secured against Casoojee without proper service, as well as claims that his communication with his children had been interfered with.
Responding to questions from the media, Pierre le Roux of Herold Gie Attorneys said the matter had not yet resulted in any formal findings against Paulse.
“Your email incorrectly refers to findings made by the LPC. No finding has been made,” he said.
Le Roux explained that the Investigating Committee had simply referred two of several complaints submitted by Casoojee for further consideration by the Disciplinary Committee.
“Ms Paulse, while respecting the decision of the Investigating Committee, strongly disagrees with their recommendation, and we will argue accordingly on her behalf when the hearing takes place,” he said.
Meanwhile, Parker Attorneys, which represents Casoojee, confirmed that their client welcomed the LPC’s decision to refer the matter to a formal disciplinary hearing.
The firm said the referral marked an important step toward accountability within the legal profession.
“Our client believes that certain conduct by Paulse was unlawful and inconsistent with the ethical and professional obligations expected of a legal practitioner,” the firm said.
“These matters have now been placed before the appropriate oversight bodies for independent and impartial determination.”