Marina Horak
Meet your Mediator
Marina Horak is a qualified mediator trained by Fair Practice, an International Mediation Institute-accredited training centre in Johannesburg. Her mediation training is further accredited by the SA Board for People Practices, ensuring her expertise in dispute resolution.
In addition to being a mediator, Marina is an experienced attorney, notary, and conveyancer. She has practiced as a Commercial Litigation Attorney since 1999 and is well-versed in the High Court and Magistrate’s Court Rules, which she engages with daily.
Marina firmly believes there is a better way to handle divorces, one that emphasizes divorce mediation between the parties before the issuance of summons. This approach promotes a more amicable and cost-efficient resolution.
As a Conveyancer, Marina has a deep understanding of property disputes, whether involving Freeholdings or the unique challenges posed by Body Corporates and Homeowners Associations.
With many years of experience as a deceased estate administrator, both as an attorney and previously with First National Trust, Marina also assists parties in navigating estate and trust disputes, particularly when a loved one has passed away or is incapacitated.
Before becoming a lawyer, Marina served as a criminal and civil Magistrate, where she honed her skills in dispute resolution and developed the ability to assess conflicts objectively.
As a Commercial Litigator for many years, Marina has firsthand experience with the frustrations litigants face in the court system, where “Justice delayed is Justice denied.” She understands the importance of finding a more efficient and satisfactory resolution through mediation.
How do we Mediate?
To initiate the mediation process, parties must jointly approach us with a request to mediate their dispute. With over 36 years of legal experience, we possess a broad and diverse skill set, though it is not without its limits. If we determine that we can be of assistance, we will proceed by presenting the parties with a mediation agreement. This agreement will define the costs, representation, conduct of the mediation, and the desired outcome.
While we prefer to conduct mediation via digital platforms such as Zoom or Teams for convenience, in-person mediation can also be arranged if all parties are local.
Throughout the mediation, our objective is to guide the parties towards reaching their own agreement. Once a consensus is achieved, we provide support in drafting the final agreement, ensuring it serves as a definitive and satisfactory resolution to the dispute.
