Established in 2019, FDP Law is a full-service law firm providing strategic legal services to both individuals and
businesses. The firm is led by director Francois Pienaar, an experienced commercial and litigation attorney formerly of
Ward, Ward & Pienaar Attorneys.
At FDP Law, we focus on delivering practical legal solutions, high-quality service, and efficient turnaround times,
ensuring that our clients' matters are handled professionally and resolved effectively. Our areas of expertise include
commercial and company law, civil litigation, property law, family law and related legal services.
FDP Law is a registered legal practice with the Legal Practice Council and holds a valid Fidelity Fund Certificate,
providing clients with the assurance that client funds are protected in accordance with South African legal requirements.
The firm is also fully compliant with the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA), ensuring that all regulatory
obligations relating to client verification and financial transparency are met.
Our approach combines legal expertise with a strong commitment to professionalism, integrity, and client-focused service.
Francois Pienaar
[B.Comm, LLB]
Director
Shayni Pappin
[LLB, LLM]
Director
Larah-Lané van der Westhuizen
[B.Comm, LLB]
Candidate Attorney
Christine Jooste
[BPolSci, LLB]
Candidate Attorney
Francois Pienaar
Director
B.Comm, LLB
Francois Pienaar is the director and shareholder of FDP Law.
Having graduated with his B.Comm, LLB from the University of Stellenbosch, he commenced his articles in 1991 with Tinus Slabber and Associates. He became a salaried partner in the firm and then in 1996, together with Tinus Slabber, he joined Webber Wentzel Bowens Attorneys. In 2001 he joined Delport & Ward Attorneys as a partner and shortly thereafter the firm Ward, Ward & Pienaar was established.
After nearly 30 years in the game, Francois decided to start his own firm and hence FDP Law came into being in October 2019.
Practice Areas: Civil law, with specific expertise in commercial work (including contractual drafting), trusts, commercial litigation, insolvency, property, wills and estates, intellectual property and family law (particularly divorce).
Outside of the office, Francois enjoys reading fiction and rock and surf angling (sometimes simultaneously).
Shayni graduated with her LLB from the University of Cape Town in 2015 and went on to do her LLM in Commercial Law at UCT in 2016, with a semester exchange at Queens University in Canada.
Following completion of her articles at Shepstone & Wylie Attorneys in 2018, Shayni started at Ward Ward & Pienaar Attorneys as an Associate, then joined Francois Pienaar at FDP Law since its inception in October 2019 and became a director in March 2023.
Practice Areas: Commercial litigation, general High Court and Magistrates Court litigation, Customs and International Trade, Company law, Insolvency and Labour law.
In her spare time, Shayni enjoys running and musical theatre and can often be seen acting, singing and dancing in community theatre productions around Cape Town.
Larah graduated from Stellenbosch University with her BComm Law degree in 2021, she then obtained her LLB degree in 2023 after which she started her Candidate Attorney journey at FDP Law at the beginning of 2024.
Larah-Lané is her full name, but at the office we all call her Larah.
She has a particular passion for Family Law and aims to gain experience in High Court and Magistrates Court litigation, as well as all the other practice areas that FDP Law has to offer.
When Larah is not at the office, you will find her playing some sort of sport or cuddled up with her cat watching reality television.
Christine graduated from the University of Pretoria in 2021 with a BPolSci International Studies degree after which she decided to pursue her LLB at Akademia whilst working full time in an administrative position at a quantity surveying firm. She obtained her LLB in 2025 and started as a Candidate Attorney at FDP Law at the beginning of 2026.
She is especially interested in Environmental Law, Construction Law, and litigation but mainly just looking forward to learning as much as she can and gain the necessary experience to become a well-rounded legal professional.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking, jogging, reading (especially historical fiction), and spending quality time with her family and cat.
