David Warmback

David Warmback, an equity partner at Shepstone & Wylie Attorneys, was born in Durban and grew up in Kloof. “I went to Kloof Junior School and then Kloof Senior Primary School,” he recalls. “We then moved to Westville, and I completed my high school at Westville Boys’ High from 1972 to 1978.” After high school, David attended the then University of Natal, where he initially enrolled for a bachelor of arts in subjects with a focus on a teaching degree.

However, towards the end of his BA, David felt teaching was not for him. “I had a teaching loan, which was useful, but I realised I could pay it back by working and could use that to sponsor legal studies instead,” he explains. He decided to pursue a bachelor of laws. “Because I hadn’t done any law credits in my BA, I had to enrol in a three-year LLB programme, on top of the two years already completed. "His final years at university were marked by personal tragedy. “My dad died unexpectedly at the age of 50,” he shares, “which put quite a strain on the family.” However, David managed to finish his studies in five years, and after national service, he began looking for a position in law.

However, David’s first job wasn’t in law. “If you’re looking at informal jobs, my first job was at age 16 as a cashier at Checkers in Overport City,” he re- counts, “I was keen to start earning some pocket money.” He did this job, which he said was quite hard work, for some time before moving into his formal legal career.

David began his career at Shepstone & Wylie in 1987. “I started as what was then called an articled clerk,” he explains. Over time, David progressed through the ranks and is now one of the two senior equity partners in the corporate and commercial department. “We have a team of eleven professionals, including one who practises remotely in Johannesburg.”

A FULFILLING ROLE
David describes his current role as providing corporate and commercial legal services to the firm’s clients. “I give advice, seek solutions, negotiate and draft various commercial agreements,” he explains. These include mergers and acquisitions, sales and lease agreements, shareholder agreements, property sales, joint ventures, and more. “My specialty is property-related commercial work,” he notes, adding that he spent about 12 years in the firm’s property services and conveyancing department before moving to the commercial department in 1999.

His responsibilities also include providing leadership input, marketing, and training for junior staff. “It’s a varied role, but one that I find very fulfilling,” he says.

David’s proudest accomplishment is not directly related to his legal career, although he has been involved in several notable projects during his 37 years in law. He was appointed as the Honorary British Consul for KwaZulu-Natal 13 years ago, a position that he has held alongside his legal work, which he has found rewarding.

“At the end of last year, I was featured in King Charles III 2024 New Year’s Honours list and awarded an MBE for my services assisting British nationals in South Africa. Receiving the honour was definitely a highlight,” he says. He is still to receive the award formally, having been given a few dates during the coming winter season, but is waiting to receive further dates for Spring and Summer of 2025 for the investiture. “It is quite exciting,” he adds.

David believes the best advice he has ever received is to ‘never stop learning’. He emphasises that this is particularly important in his profession. “The law is always changing, not just through new legislation, but through court judgments that create new legal precedents,” he advises. “You have to keep up with these changes and also learn about the business of different clients to properly draft commercial agreements.”

He stresses the importance of learning about people and how to interact with them effectively. “You’re always learning about human nature and relationships,” he says.

David is inspired by Roger Federer. “He is a fabulous sportsman with an unbelievably long career, an incredible record of achievements, a great work ethic, and a role model to so many,” he says. “And, above all, he is a really nice person.”

POSITIVE FEEDBACK
David reflects on the challenges he has faced, noting that no specific event stands out, but he identifies time management as one of the most difficult aspects of his profession including making provision for home time. “In a busy legal practice, you’re dealing with many clients and many matters at once. There are often tight deadlines, large transactions that need to be closed quickly, and multiple parties involved.”

He acknowledges that managing client expectations and workflow is an ongoing challenge. “It’s not something you can fully overcome; it’s just an ongoing problem not only in the legal field but in any business,” he says.

David believes in recognising performance and providing positive feedback to keep his team motivated. “Communication is key,” he asserts. “You need to encourage teamwork and ensure that everyone is working towards common goals.” He emphasises the importance of promoting well- performing staff and continuously looking for new opportunities. “We are always targeting new clients and maintaining our marketing efforts,” he adds.

TAKE SMALL STEPS
David acknowledges the tough times that businesses in KwaZulu-Natal have faced over the past few years. “We’ve had Covid-19, floods, political unrest, infrastructure challenges, and low growth rates,” he says. However, he remains hopeful. “Following the recent election, there is hope that political will can create a business- and investor- friendly environment in the country, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal.”

He thinks that addressing these challenges can help the business environment to become more positive, enabling the economy to recover and creating the jobs that are so needed.

“For most people, things don’t happen overnight,” he says. “You’ve got to keep going, keep pushing, and over time, with perseverance, you will achieve your goals and dreams.”