Shamla Pather

Shamla Pather is an attorney at her firm, Shamla Pather Attorneys, which caters to clients in the corporate, commercial, family, property, criminal, and litigation spheres.

Shamla describes herself as a girl from the back streets of Chatsworth, who grew up in a home with her mum, dad, and three brothers. She says she had a phenomenal childhood and was a child of the community.

“I’m the youngest of the siblings and the only daughter. I lived a very sheltered life and was brought up traditionally Indian. What was fundamental for me is that despite being raised in a home where money was a problem, we were raised with much love.”

Shamla didn’t realise growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s that her family was poor until she finished school and was told there was no money for her to attend university. She was advised to get married as it would be cheaper than tertiary education.

Through the assistance of her oldest brother, Vishnu, who saw Shamla’s potential, she was able to study further. During those years, Shamla realised she needed to harness her potential and that she had a hunger not to let her family down, as well as a desire to accomplish something in her life.

EMPOWERING PEOPLE
Shamla has now been in practice for 26 years. After completing her articles, which she described as a horrible time due to encountering several problems, Shamla joined a boutique law firm. There, she became a partner for 17 years, after which she took on further opportunities at two larger firms.

Feeling limited and wanting to empower people, Shamla decided to chart her own course. Shamla Pather Attorneys now has nine employees, with offices in Umhlanga and Sandton.

Speaking of her personal journey, Shamla said, “My purpose as Shamla Pather is to be the best mother that I can be to my daughter, Jade, who has made me incredibly proud, having graduated Cum Laude from the University of Cape Town. She’s my purpose in life – to do the right thing, to be a good person, to be an individual who stands out among others, but in a way that adds value. My daughter always reminds me of who I am and who I want to be. For me, juggling a difficult career over a prolonged period and still getting it right with your child is my award. No accolade is as important to me as being a mother.”

Speaking of her firm, Shamla expanded, “Shamla Pather Attorneys needs to be a brand that always does the right thing. That means testing my legal knowledge and being the best law firm that I (and my team) can be.”

HAVING INTEGRITY
The best advice that Shamla has received is, ‘Never forget the people who help you on your way up because you will see them on your way down.’

One of Shamla’s main driving forces is having integrity; as such, her biggest challenge is in creating opportunities. “I found early on that if you don’t know people in significant positions, or if you’re not willing to do things that you’re not comfortable with, you’re not going to get far, and I refuse to do this. I’m not prepared to be a statistic, which has often intimidated people, but it has given me the satisfaction that I have achieved.”

When asked how she keeps her team motivated, Shamla said, “I share a lot of my experiences. I’m not an easy boss, but I have always instilled that right is right. It doesn’t matter what the situation is. I always tell them that if you put your hand up and own up to something, we are in a beautiful profession where there is an answer for everything.”

Shamla also motivates her team by demonstrating an immense capacity to work extremely hard. In addition, she ensures that she knows what’s happening with each staff member, both person- ally and professionally. “I’m very proactive in empowerment in my firm, and it doesn’t matter who you are – whether you make the tea here or go to court here. Everybody’s the same.”

INSPIRED BY LOVE
Reflecting on the challenges she has faced, Shamla commented that the three best months of her career were during Covid. “I worked super hard in one room in my home to the point where my staff got paid every month without deductions, even though they were at home, and that year they all received fourteen cheques. If you put your head to it, you can overcome adversity. It’s just a mindset to me.”

Speaking of the people who have inspired her, she says her husband, a medical doctor, is a key person in her life. “I am inspired by the love he has for my daughter and the sacrifices he has made. I’m also inspired by the fact that he gave me such latitude within which to grow and to be the professional that I am.”

In addition, Shamla has always been inspired by her late mother, whom she emulates and remembers for her values and capacity to love and take care of her family. Her daughter is another source of inspiration; Shamla says she is the epitome of kindness, humility, intelligence, and sophistication.

Looking to the next 10 years, Shamla’s goals are not confined to law. She would like to use her skills to be more charitable, engage in more social responsibility activities, empower more people, and teach other lawyers.

In conclusion, Shamla’s motto is, “Make a mistake every day as long as you don’t make the same mistake every day. If you do that, you’re not opening yourself up to learning new things from the mistakes you have made. Mistakes also allow you to identify your weaknesses. It’s important to be conscious of where you find yourself in life.”