Professional background and experience:

Carien is a legal professional with experience in commercial and property-related litigation. Carien practiced as an attorney from 2011 to 2015 before becoming an Advocate in 2016. Her legal career has focused on commercial litigation, where she has represented a broad range of clients in the High Courts and lower courts, particularly in banking and commercial law practices. Notable experience includes working as an attorney at the Legal Resources Centre, where she gained valuable experience in case management, client management, drafting applications, legal research and opinion writing, client consultation, managing her own practice, and preparing and running legal workshops. She also represented the Legal Resources Centre at a "colloquium on the state of Social Economy of South Africa," where she assisted in drafting a framework declaration addressing policy and framework, education and job creation, tax and financing policy, and policy implementation in the social economy. 

Carien holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from Stellenbosch University, an advanced certificate in Tax Law from the University of South Africa, a Master of Laws in Banking Law from the University of Johannesburg, a Master of Laws in Constitutional Property Law from the University of South Africa, and a Master of Laws in International European Business Law from Trinity College, Dublin. 

Mediation experience and style:

Carien was accredited as a commercial mediator by Conflict Dynamics and the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) in 2021. She has a strong interest in resolving commercial disputes through mediation, leveraging her litigation background to facilitate effective outcomes. Carien's mediations are characterized by her calm, facilitative approach that prioritizes clarity, balanced communication, and constructive engagement between parties. Her professional approach fosters an environment where parties can collaborate to reach mutually acceptable and lasting solutions.