Hugh Raichlin

Principal Attorney & Accredited Mediator

Hugh Raichlin is the founder and principal attorney of HRA, established in 1993. He brings 40 years of legal experience, with a practice spanning commercial litigation, property disputes, family and divorce matters, estates and mediation.

Practice Areas

Mediation & Arbitration Family & Divorce Law Commercial & Corporate Law Property Law & Conveyancing Wills, Trusts & Estates

Practical experience across contested and negotiated matters

Hugh's work includes High Court and Magistrates' Court litigation, contract disputes, property-broker commission claims, lease disputes and matrimonial matters. He helps clients assess the legal issue, consider the available process and decide what professional assistance is needed.

The firm's broad practice also allows related issues—such as company interests in a divorce, estate disputes or business premises—to be considered in context rather than in isolation.

Independent mediation appointments

Hugh is a certified Court-Annexed Mediator and an internationally accredited mediator through the Society of Mediators (UK). His mediation work covers appropriate commercial, workplace and family disputes.

Neutral role clarity:When appointed as mediator, he acts impartially and does not represent one side. Parties may need their own independent legal advice. Where HRA is approached to represent a client rather than act neutrally, that is a separate engagement subject to the relevant checks.

Qualifications and professional credentials

Bachelor of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand: 1982.
Bachelor of Laws, University of the Witwatersrand: 1985.
Admitted as an attorney: 1987.
Court-Annexed Mediation Certificate of Competence: Association of Arbitrators (Southern Africa) NPC, 2025.
Internationally Accredited Mediator: Society of Mediators (UK).
Associate Member (AAArb): Association of Arbitrators (Southern Africa) NPC; membership number 3630.
Member: South African Association of Mediators.

Career

Founder and senior attorney, Hugh Raichlin Attorneys: 1993–present.

Partner, Ivor Trakman & Partners: 1990–1993.

Professional Assistant, Edward Nathan Inc.: 1989.

Corporate training

Hugh has also provided legal training for businesses, property professionals and managing agents on legal process, lease-related issues and dispute management.

Selected reported matters

Property broker commission and effective causeSupreme Court of Appeal · 16 March 2001

Nach Investments (Pty) Ltd v Knight Frank South Africa (Pty) Ltd

[2001] ZASCA 13

Hugh Raichlin was the attorney of record for the successful Knight Frank party in a property-broker commission dispute. The Supreme Court of Appeal upheld the decision in Knight Frank's favour, finding that the offer it produced was the effective cause of the sale and that commission was payable.

Read the judgment on SAFLII

Homeowners association litigationSouth Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg · 16 October 2012

Sector Five Trading 46 (Pty) Ltd v Villa Nosa Homeowners Association

[2012] ZAGPJHC 192

HRA acted for the homeowners association in an appeal arising from four default judgments. The appeal was dismissed with costs, with additional costs awarded to the association in relation to procedural applications.

Read the judgment on SAFLII

Executor removal and estate administrationGauteng Local Division, Johannesburg · Reasons 8 September 2025

Shorkend N.O. and Others v Setton N.O. and Others

[2025] ZAGPJHC 912; Leave to Appeal [2026] ZAGPJHC 153

HRA acted for the successful applicants in deceased-estate litigation. The court ordered an executor's removal, the appointment of an independent senior legal practitioner and the return of specified estate assets. A subsequent application for leave to appeal was refused in February 2026.

Read the judgment on SAFLII

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