From teacher to attorney, how South Africa’s Natasha Mohunlal started her own law firm

Get to know Natasha Mohunlal; she is a Trademark Attorney, and the founder and Managing Director of Natasha Mohunlal and Associates Inc. based in Pretoria, South Africa. The firm is into intellectual property law services, specifically, trademark registrations, copyright patents, and design services, according to Lionesses of Africa.

Mohunlal started her law firm to make a bold statement: that one can be a mother, celebrate womanhood, and find professional success all at the same time while overcoming their past. She launched her firm after 18 years of experience in intellectual property law.

Prior to starting her law firm, she worked for two of the leading Intellectual Property law firms in South Africa. The invaluable experience she accumulated guided her to start Natasha Mohunlal and Associates Inc.

“I was employed by two of the leading Intellectual Property law firms in South Africa,” she said. “My vision and fortitude for growth, expansion and success led me to the decision of establishing my own practice. My exclusive focus is in taking the time to understand my clients’ brands, brand requirements and what it represents to them. We protect brands and that’s what makes us special.”

Today, her team includes a group of students she mentors and teaches. One of them is Hazel, who has been with her since June 2023. “I have seen her grow so much these past few months. We have our own little happy bubble, and we make sure we inspire and motivate each other daily,” she said.

She started her entrepreneurial journey without any experience in business ownership. She was a teacher until a kid got her injured and she decided to postpone teaching and pursue the legal profession.

“I don’t come from an entrepreneurial background. I used to be a teacher and after a kid injured me, I decided to hold off on teaching and pursue the legal route instead. After working for a law firm for over a decade, I decided that I could do everything from the admin, secretarial, accounts, and the actual legal, professional work,” she told Lionesses of Africa.

“This equipped me as I ran my own practice as a senior associate for 2 years before opening my own law firm. I think joining networking organizations do help grow your business. I mainly work on referrals and ensure I provide excellent service delivery and ensure guaranteed referrals.”

Mohunlal’s law firm won the SA IP Law Firm of the Year 2022 at the Middle East Africa Business Awards. Her firm also won the Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year 2023 at the Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Global Awards.