Sally heads up a team that is working to radically change the face of specialist legal offerings in South Africa. There are no pageants, parades or names on walls. Just quiet, intentional steps toward building a practice that dovetails the needs of insurers and financial service providers.
Barnard Specialised provides innovative, streamlined systems and legal products to boost productivity and outcomes for – as an initial focus – clients in the financial- and property industries. “We want to stay keenly focused on delivering what our clients actually need – a pre-eminent commercial and tailored legal service,” says Sally.
In a radical and inspired answer to the changing corporate demands and cultural environment in South Africa and globally, Sally and fellow shareholder and director, George Herbst, teamed up with Douw Breed and the leadership of Barnard Inc to develop a meaningful framework to share the team’s ethical and professional approach to providing legal services, while offering a sincere and just foundation for developing new legal talent with equal opportunity to tools, wisdom and opportunities.
“Our clients benefit from this approach by being able to access the established expert services of Barnard Incorporated through a bespoke specialised perspective.”
Sally and George have been personally involved in creating frameworks to understand the needs of large insurers and financial services, and to consequently help the client protect their funds and financial portfolios. “Sally is a very intentional and caring person who genuinely shows interest in those around her,” adds George. “And she is one of very few lawyers I have met, who does not have an ego that gets in the way of growing.”
Sally grew up in her granny’s house in Limpopo. “We had a rather big family, with lots of cousins who I regarded, and still regard as my siblings.” She attended Sedibeng college before studying toward a degree in law at the University of South Africa. “I drew a lot of inspiration from my mentor who was an Attorney. He taught me to believe in myself and my dreams, and I am very proud of attaining my law degree.”
When Sally isn’t quietly and deliberately changing the world around her, she likes nothing more than to spend time with her daughter or go on an outdoor adventure. Entrepreneur and author, AJ Leon says that “a good life is not living the life everyone else intended for you. It’s being deliberate in your life; being very, very deliberate in each decision you make!” Who says only mavericks and rebels can change the world? Sally Tlokana is proof that the discreet and intentional method works too.
