Fhulufhelo Nyathela: Breaking barriers practicing in niche laws
Fhulufhelo Nyathela, founder and managing director at boutique law firm, Fhulufhelo Nyathela Attorneys (FNA Inc), says her nomination earlier this year for the top 30 South African Women in Leadership’s Top 30 Trailblazers Awards for 2021 is a dealmaker. It encourages her to keep building and never give up. “Being recognised in this manner means that as a young woman in business and in the legal fraternity, I am on the right track and not only influential but also inspiring to other young people.” FNA Inc specialises in construction and engineering law, one of the few black-owned law firms in South Africa with that specific focus, as well as commercial and corporate law, labour law and employment law, criminal law, estate law, property law and third-party claims. It is the expertise in construction and engineering that sets the company apart from its peers. Fhulufhelo started her law firm after applying for a full-time position that went to another applicant who specialised in construction law. Not to be outdone and recognising a niche, she made a decision to set up her firm specialising in exactly that. She describes her career in law as more of a calling, and says the career chose her instead of the other way around. When she was in high school, she thought she was going to be an accountant and even attended a commercial high school where the focus was on accounting and related subjects. It was during
Fhulufhelo Nyathela distinguished herself and prospers in a scarce and specialised law niche – construction and engineering.
that time that she realised she was more interested in helping people and she was passionate about seeing justice done. She decided to study law and has not looked back or regretted it for a moment. Not that it was all moonshine and roses. “The field is still very much male dominated and to gain respect or recognition in the field as a female attorney, you must really work hard to stand out. I have had to work constantly and consistently extra hard to put my name out there. “The building of my law firm from the ground up was my greatest achievement thus far. I started with very little, working from home, to what it is today and to still have doors open at FNA Inc is a huge achievement.” Entrepreneurship is not a skill people are taught at home or at university, she says. It takes a preparedness to get yourself skilled, trained and mentored, she says. “Educating young South Africans about entrepreneurship is of vital importance as such skills will reduce the unemployment rate of graduates. Young, aspiring entrepreneurs should not be afraid to get started. Start small, start with nothing; it does not matter. One of the world’s biggest
companies – the computer giant Apple – was started in a garage. “So, I am asking our young unemployed South Africans: What is stopping you? Just start. What matters is your vision and determination. Put in the effort and work extra hard. Look for ways to grow yourself, dominate and stand out among your peers. You are more than capable,” she advises. There are a few things she wished she had known earlier. Initially, she had no idea how long the process of becoming an attorney would be and found it much longer than expected. “From obtaining my LLB degree to doing my articles for two years, writing four board exams, then applying to the high court to be admitted and waiting for the court to decide whether I was fit and proper… After all the years of hard work it was still in the hands of the court to admit me as an attorney or not!” Today she views every case as unique and worthy of special attention according to the needs of the client and treating each with dedication, hard work and persistence. Fhulufhelo Nyathela holds an LLB degree from the University of Johannesburg.
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