Afrikaans
Ben het die grade B.Proc (2000) en LL.B (2004) verwerf aan die Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit. In 2000 het hy begin werk as kandidaat prokureur by ‘n firma in Randburg. Hy is in September 2002 toegelaat as prokureur in die destydse Transvaal, en het verskyningsbevoegdheid in die Hoë Hof verkry in 2006. Daarna, in 2007, is hy toegelaat in die Wes-Kaap, en in 2009 het hy verskyningsbevoegdheid in die Wes-Kaapse Hoë hof verkry.
Ben is aangestel as direkteur van sy vorige firma in 2007, en hy het toe hul Wes-Kaapse takkantoor oopgemaak en bestuur. Twee jaar later het hy besluit om die groot stap te neem en sy eie firma te begin.
Ben het ‘n Diploma in Insolvensiereg en Praktyk aan die Universiteit van Pretoria in 2010 voltooi en daarna ook ‘n MBA-graad aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch se Besigheidskool wat hy in 2014 verwerf.
Ben was ook aangestel as ‘n dosent vir die Prokureursordes van Suid-Afrika (LSSA) se Praktykbestuur kursus, ‘n kursus wat verpligtend is vir alle prokureurs wat vir die eerste keer op bestuursvlak praktiseer, hetsy op hul eie of in vennootskappe. In hierdie kursus word aan prokureurs die praktiese elemente geleer oor hoe om hul firmas te bestuur. Ben is ook aangestel as ‘n kommissaris in die Hof vir Klein Eise.
Ben is ‘n arbiter op die paneel van kommersiële arbiters van AFSA, die ArbitrationFoundation of Southern Africa, en is ook ‘n goedgekeurde arbiter op die paneel van die Prokureursorde van Suid-Afrika, sowel as die Kaapse Provinsiale Raad van die __. In hierdie hoedanigheid het hy al as arbiter opgetree ten einde kommersiële dispute te besleg.
Benewens werk, geniet Ben dit baie om tyd saam met sy gesin, naamlik sy vrou en drie kinders, te spandeer. As gesin geniet hulle dit om te gaan kampeer. As die tyd dit toelaat, geniet hy dit om te lees, of om met sy kajak te gaan see-visvang. Hy is ook ‘n aktiewe lid van die Gereformeerde Kerk Bellville. Ben glo aan die waarheid van die volgende woorde van Johannes Calvyn:
Laat hierdie ons reël vir goedhartigheid en behulpsaamheid wees, dat wanneer ons ook al ander kan help, ons moet optree as rentmeesters wat eendag van onsself sal moet rekenskap gee.
English
Ben obtained the degrees B.Proc (2000) and LL.B (2004) from the Rand Afrikaans University. In 2000, he commenced articles with a firm in Randburg. Ben was admitted as an attorney in September 2002, in the then Transvaal, and was admitted to appear in the Transvaal High Court in 2006. In 2007, he was admitted to practice in the Western Cape, and in 2009, he was granted the right to appear in the Western Cape High Court.
Ben became a director of his previous firm in 2007, and at that time he started up their branch office in the Western Cape. After two years, he decided to take the plunge and set up his own firm.
Ben obtained a Diploma in Insolvency Law and Practice from the University of Pretoria in 2010, and also completed an MBA degree at the University of Stellenbosch Business School in 2014.
Ben has in the past lectured at the Law Society of South Africa’s Practice Management Course, a compulsory course for attorneys who practice at management level for the first time, whether on their own or in partnership. In this course they are taught some practical skills to manage their legal practices. Ben also sits as a Commissioner of the Small Claims Court.
Ben has been appointed to the panel of commercial arbitrators of AFSA, the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa, and is also on the panels of approved arbitrators of the Law Society of South Africa and the Western Cape Provincial Council of the Legal Practice Council. In this capacity, he has sat as arbitrator in commercial disputes.
Besides working, Ben enjoys spending time with his family, comprised of his wife and three children, and going camping. When time allows, he will be found reading a book, or perhaps going sea-fishing on his kayak. He is also an active member of the Gereformeerde Kerk Bellville.
He lives by the words of John Calvin:
Let this be our rule for goodwill and helpfulness, that whenever we are able to assist others we should behave as stewards who must someday give an account of ourselves.