Meet Our Expert Pension Fund Attorneys
At Jonathan Mort Inc., our team combines deep technical expertise with decades of practical industry experience. As leading pension fund law specialists, we deliver strategic legal advice, compliance counsel, and robust risk management tailored to the complexities of the South African retirement fund landscape.
Jonathan Mort
Director
BA LLB (University of Cape Town)
Jonathan Mort is one of the pre-eminent pension fund attorneys in South Africa, with nearly 30 years of experience in pension fund issues, who has advised clients (mainly large pension funds) throughout South Africa and other South African countries. His specific area of interest is in governance and investment issues relating to pension funds, and providing legal advice to the various stakeholders. He has also advised medical schemes.
Jonathan is also an experienced pension fund trustee, acts as an independent non-executive director of financial services companies, unit trust and life companies, and has been appointed as an inspector of financial institutions. He is a past president of the Pension Lawyers Association and has served on the executive of the International Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers Association (IPEBLA). He also serves on the IRFA Legal and Technical Coommittee and the Actuarial Governance Board of the Actuarial Society.
Vanessa Bell
Director
BA LLB (University of Cape Town); LLM (London School of Economics)
Vanessa Bell graduated with a BA LLB degree from the University of Cape Town and further obtained a Master’s degree in Law (Financial Law & Regulation) from the London School of Economics in 2020. Vanessa is also a former President of the Pension Lawyers Association and former steering committee member of International Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers Association (IPEBLA).
Prior to specializing in pension funds law, Vanessa gained considerable legal experience in commercial and general litigation. In addition to her pension law advisory and litigation practice, Vanessa is an experienced retirement fund trustee and acts as an independent nonexecutive director of financial services companies, unit trust and life companies. She also serves on the Actuarial Society Disciplinary Committee and the Disciplinary Committee of the Legal Practice Council.
Laurence Mort
Legal Associate
BSocSc Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (University of Cape Town);
LLB (University of Cape Town)
BSocSc Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (University of Cape Town); LLB (University of Cape Town)
Laurence Mort is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa who recently completed his legal articles at Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Inc. where he practiced in their dispute resolution department focusing on financial services litigation.
Laurence matriculated with 7 distinctions from Bishops Diocesan College. He thereafter graduated from the University of Cape Town with a BsocSc degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (with distinction) as well as a LLB degree (cum laude). He has also duly completed the FSCA Retirement Funds Trustee Training Toolkit.
Vanessa O’Sullivan and Mary Davis
Administrative Support Team
The firm is assisted by its incredible administrative support team, Vanessa O’Sullivan and Mary Davis, who are responsible for handling client billing, database and file management, document delivery as well as other professional assistance necessary for the success of the firm.
