Marc Evan Aupiais

Profile: Qualified and enrolled Irish Solicitor (IE), English and Welsh Solicitor (UK), and South African Attorney (ZA). Irish citizen. Honours bachelor's degree (LLB Law: Irish NFQ level 8). Years' experience: law and business. Trained in law, business administration, accounting, compliance, finance, negotiation, computing, and management. To work as a solicitor, general counsel, in-house solicitor, or in compliance, administration, et cetera.

Qualified and enrolled as:   Irish Solicitor (Dec 2021); English and Welsh Solicitor (Aug 2021); South African Notary Public (June 2018); and South African Attorney (Jan 2016).

Skills: Leadership: persuasive; often elected to positions of authority. Communication: advanced oral and written ability; able public speaker. Research: skilled at investigation, interviewing, advice, and research. Technical: Advanced computer and IT skills. Soft Skills: able to interact and negotiate with, actively listen to, brief, and convince others. Critical Thinking: able to critically analyse and apply facts, law, and other considerations. Computer skills: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, Outlook, Google Docs, Dragon NaturallySpeaking, PDFs, (Legal:) Westlaw, LexisNexis, (Programming:) Delphi, VB, HTML, PHP, (Cybersecurity) Kali Linux, et cetera.
 

Employment History (for 2021-2023 see: education and qualified and enrolled)

Owner, Marc Evan Aupiais Attorney, October 2017 - August 2020

South Africa shares a large common legal heritage with Irish and English law (I am an Irish and English Solicitor). I found answers to complex legal problems. Most clients gave me repeat business and referrals. I advised, assisted, and represented clients. I fact-found, researched matters, and drafted, certified, and registered contracts and other documents.

My focus: corporate (governance, risk, advice, assistance, best practices, corporate structures), contract (drafting and advice, including e.g., for cross-border SLA), business, compliance, human resources, property, wills, and notarial law.

I set up and did the upkeep of my firm's business, marketing, website, records, compliance, accounts (bookkeeping, analysis, reconciliation, statements, invoicing), databases (Access, Excel), anti-money laundering (AML) systems, and its interactions with various government bodies. I used IT, data privacy systems, and encryption extensively. As law firms are a financial and regulated environment, I was my firm's assigned money laundering reporting officer (MLRO).

Attorney, Serina Govender Inc Attorneys-at-Law, October 2016 - September 2017

I advised and represented clients and drafted legal letters, contracts, and litigation documents. My focus was contract (drafting and advising on a range of ordinary and statutory contracts, including transfer of major interest in a business, etc), corporate (fiduciary duties of directors, compliance with companies, general, and financial laws), competition 
law, labour law, wills, estates, landlord/tenant, sale, and military criminal law.

Attorney, Botha and Sutherland Attorneys, May 2016 - June 2016

I appeared for dozens of insurance matters at court. I drafted for a wide range of matters. I did legal research, determined merits, investigated, located missing parties, and reviewed and resolved old file issues. My focus: tort and insurance.

Candidate Attorney & Post Articles of Clerkship, Desmond Barry Attorneys, March 2015 - May 2016

I refined my abilities for research, writing, drafting, and presentation, with my principal at the firm, who was a published legal author, and former partner of a top law firm. My work focused on High Court litigation, insurance law, risk management, liability law, contracts, duties of trustees/directors, governance, pension law and asset management law.

Candidate Attorney (trainee solicitor equivalent position), DL Wilson Attorney, August 2014 - March 2015

I drafted pleadings, affidavits, and correspondence. I interviewed clients, researched facts, and law, and represented clients at court. We took many unique matters, including cross border ones. I did extensive legal research, fact-found, and dealt with various government and other bodies. I often interacted with various medical, financial, and legal 
experts. I dealt with matters in magistrates' court (equivalent to district court), domestic violence court, CCMA (statutory labour law body), the High Court, the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA), and the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Other: Student Counsellor/Paralegal at Law Clinic ('13, June '14); News Correspondent (from '14); Web Assistance ('11 - '12); Class Representative for: Criminal Court Practice ('14), Contract Law ('10), Global English Literature & Film ('09); Deputy Chair of Executive Committee (elected): DASO at Wits ('09 - '10); Editor: SACNS (from '08).

Education

Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS), Admission Exams, Passed (MCT: 83%; OSCE: 74%), 2020

QLTS (MCT and OSCE) are admission exams written to apply to become a Solicitor of England and Wales.

OSCE: client interviews, attendance notes/case analysis, advocacy, oral presentation, legal drafting, research, and writing; subject areas: business, property, probate, civil and criminal litigation.

MCT: torts, contract law, property law, criminal law, equitable rights and obligations, human rights, business structures, legal personality, regulatory and fiscal frameworks (legal & financial services), constitutional law, judicial review, jurisdiction, authority and procedures of the legal institutions and professions (England, Wales & European Union), professional conduct, and SRA accounts rules.

University of the Witwatersrand, Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (Irish NFQ Level 8), Passed, 2009-2013

My professional bachelor's degree focussed on South African, international, and common law. I also took and passed English Global Literature and Film, English Literature in Context, ADR (negotiation, etc) and Forensic Medicine.

Law Society of Ireland (Skillnet), Courses for Solicitors, 2023

[GDPR & Irish Privacy Law] Data Security & Breaches. [Regulatory] AML: Framework, Becoming Risk Aware & Top Tips; AML Updates; S150 Costs; Cyber Security; Advanced Cyber Security; Cyber Security Update. [Irish & International Arbitration] International Arbitration in Ireland; Arbitration Agreement, Procedure & Practice; Ad Hoc & Institutional Arbitration; ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) Arbitration. [Legal Writing] Legal Writing Skills Masterclass.

[Global Legislative Drafting & Interpretation - Common Law & Civil Law] Legislative Drafting Masterclass. [Practice] Copyright; Legal Aspects: Northern Ireland Protocol; Mediation & Arbitration - essentials & virtual; Competition Law. [Safety & Tort] Safety, Health & Welfare at Work (SHWWA) Act; SHWWA Regulations & Best Practice; Civil Liability & Courts Act; Occupiers' Liability Act; SHWWA Employment Legislation; To Prepare for HSA inspection. [IT] Paperless Lawyer. [Property] Practice Notes; Easements; Land & Conveyancing Reform; Landlord & Tenant; Land Registry; Building Agreements; Non-Resident Vendors.

School for Legal Practice (L.S.S.A), Practice Management Training, Passed, 2018

Business, management, and compliance certification (attendance, exams, and assignments) by Law Society of South Africa. Content: management, finance, risk analysis & management, accountancy, fraud avoidance, internal compliance controls, investment compliance, insurance, tech, administration, HR, strategic management, budgets, and cash flow.

School for Legal Practice (L.S.S.A), Practical Legal Training, Passed with Distinction, 2014

Half-year's training and exams on running a firm, applying the law in practice, and in managing and arguing cases.

Trinityhouse High School, Matriculation/Leaving Certificate, Passed with University Exemption, 2004-2008

English, Mathematics, Afrikaans, LO, Information Technology (Programming), Science, and Business Studies.

LinkedIn Learning, Certifications, 2021, 2022

I wrote and passed all available exams. I completed the following learning paths on LinkedIn Learning:

Become a(n): Corporate Financial Planning Analyst (16 courses), Financial Analyst (10 courses), Business Operations Associate (12 courses),  Manager (8 courses), Project Manager (10 courses), Project Coordinator (10 courses), Six Sigma Black Belt (14 courses), Supply Chain Manager (13 courses), Product Manager (9 courses), Administrative Professional (12 courses), HR Business Partner (8 courses), Sales Representative (8 courses), Marketing Specialist (14 courses), Public Relations Specialist (10 courses), 
Ethical Hacker (19 cybersecurity courses); Understand GDPR and Data Privacy (5 courses); Develop Your: Writing Skills (8 courses), Finance and Accounting Skills (7 courses), HR Management and Leadership Skills (6 courses), Sales Knowledge and Skills (10 courses), Presentation Skills (7 courses);  Create a Successful Pitch for Investors (9 courses); and Create and Deliver Engaging Presentations (10 courses). Stand-alone courses: Financial Accounting Parts 1 & 2, Accounting Foundations: Global Finance and Accounting, Mergers & Acquisitions, Understanding Capital Markets, and Accounting Foundations: Understanding GAAP.