How TVDM Consultants Was Founded
How TVDM Consultants Was Founded. TVDM Consultants believes in forming long-lasting relationships, built on trust, with its clients, ranging from legal practitioners, managing agencies, developers, scheme executives and owners in community schemes. Established n 2020, the company prides itself on treating each matter in a powerful yet sophisticated manner, equipping its clients with the knowledge and confidence to navigate community scheme living.
TVDM Consultants was co-founded by Zerlinda van der Merwe. Having grown up in community schemes, Zerlinda pursued her passion by graduating from the University of Stellenbosch with her BA LLB LLM (Cum Laude) degrees. While completing her LLM thesis, specifically focused on the Constitutionality of Sectional Title Rules, Zerlinda undertook a comparative study of Strata Title in Melbourne, Australia. Having worked as a research intern for the South African Research Chair in Property Law (“SARCPL”), Zerlinda contributed towards various Property Law, Neighbour Law and Sectional Title Juta publications.
After graduating, Zerlinda joined Pam Golding Property Management Services (“PGPMS”) managing a portfolio of sectional title schemes and homeowners’ associations. Following this hands-on experience, Zerlinda then joined the sectional title department of Biccari Bollo Mariano Attorneys (“BBM”), where she completed her Articles of Clerkship with Marina Constas. After the completion of her Articles and admission as attorney of the High Court, Zerlinda joined Graham Paddock at Paddocks as a Specialist Community Schemes Consultant, providing legal advice and training to the industry, including the Community Schemes Ombud Service (“CSOS”). Zerlinda then went full circle by re-joining PGPMS as the General Manager.
As trustee in both her professional and personal capacities, and member of various types of community schemes, Zerlinda lives and breathes all aspects of community schemes living. Having now left the field of property management, to turn her ultimate dream into a reality, Zerlinda has co-founded TVDM Consultants, where her many years of practical experience allows her to continue making a mark in the community schemes industry.
The company was also co-founded by Nicole Tavares. Nicole started out her career with a focus on business studies, following which her journey in property law began. She embarked on paralegal and conveyancing courses, which allowed her the opportunity of joining Herold Gie Attorneys in the initial role of receptionist for the conveyancing department, earning her stripes quickly to become a correspondent conveyancing secretary.
Using the practical knowledge that she gained during her career in the property industry, Nicole is a keen property investor teaching others the ropes of community scheme living. Nicole being a co-founder and Director of TVDM Consultants, continues to add to the community schemes industry with her experience in property, dispute resolution and business management, and is in the process of completing her BCom (Law) degree.
