About us
With a legacy spanning several decades, we are one of South Africa’s most respected and trusted names in the insolvency sector. Our reputation for integrity, technical excellence, and results-driven service has been earned through consistent delivery in the most demanding of circumstances.
Our team comprises specialist Insolvency Practitioners who operate at the apex of the profession. We have managed the liquidation of tens of thousands of entities—ranging from SMEs to publicly listed companies—across every sector of the economy, including some of the country’s most complex and high-profile matters.
Our core mandate is to maximise returns for creditors, preserve employment where possible, and safeguard and unlock value for all stakeholders. We pride ourselves on guiding all affected parties through the challenges of the insolvency process with clarity and a focus on transparency and efficiency.
We are trusted partners of many of South Africa’s top law firms, banks, and financial institutions. Our practitioners are members of the South African Restructuring and Insolvency Practitioners Association (SARIPA) and serve on the panels of the Master of the High Court and the South African Revenue Service (SARS). We are also proud members of INSOL International, the global federation of insolvency professionals.
OUR PEOPLE
NORMAN KLEIN
Norman is a leading figure in the South African insolvency industry, with a distinguished career spanning several decades. A Chartered Accountant (SA) and registered Auditor and former partner at Fisher Hoffman Stride (now PKF), he holds a BCom from the University of the Witwatersrand, along with a Higher Diploma in Tax Law.
As the long-serving Chief Executive Officer of both Westrust and Metrust, Norman has played a central role in shaping the profession. He previously served on the National Committee of the Association of Insolvency Practitioners of Southern Africa (AIPSA) and chaired its Taxation Sub-Committee for several years.
Throughout his career, Norman has overseen some of the most complex and high-profile liquidations in South African history. His unmatched expertise continues to be sought after by major financial institutions, family offices, and private equity firms, where he acts in various capacities including as advisor, trustee, and executor.
GAVIN KLEIN
Gavin is an admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa with BCom and LLB degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand, as well as a Diploma in Insolvency Law. Since entering the field in 2005, he has played a central role in many of South Africa’s largest and most complex insolvency matters.
Appointed to the Master of the High Court’s liquidator panel in 2010, Gavin has successfully overseen the liquidation of hundreds of companies across a broad range of industries. He has also led numerous post-liquidation trading operations, often in highly challenging and commercially sensitive environments.
Beyond his insolvency practice, Gavin acts as executor in high-net-worth deceased estates, trustee to substantial family trusts, and serves as a trusted legal and strategic advisor to a number of prominent commercial entities.
MONICA COWIN
One of the country’s leading insolvency practitioners with over 44 years of experience in insolvency and estate administration, Monica Cowin brings unparalleled expertise to the field. Her career began at the South African Revenue Services (SARS) in 1981, where she developed a strong foundation in the administration of deceased and insolvent estates.
She is a practitioner on the Master of the High Court’s National and PDI Lists and has served on the panels of various financial institutions and creditor groups across South Africa. She held roles as a senior insolvency practitioner at Mazars and Progressive Administration prior to taking up her current role as a Director of Westrust. She is the former Secretary of the Northern Region Committee of the South African Restructuring and Insolvency Practitioners Association (SARIPA).
ALLAN PELLOW
Allan is a highly respected figure in the South African insolvency profession, with a career spanning several decades. He has successfully managed some of the country’s largest and most complex liquidations across a wide range of industries and sectors. A holder of a Diploma in Business Management, Allan has served on the Master of the High Court’s Panel of liquidators since 1991.
In addition to his insolvency practice, Allan is the Independent Non-Executive Chairperson of Brikor Limited, where he also serves on both the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.
He is the former Chairperson of both the Association of Insolvency Practitioners of Southern Africa (AIPSA) and the South African Restructuring and Insolvency Practitioners Association (SARIPA), having played a pivotal role in shaping the development and professional standards of the industry.
SAFIYAH EBRAHIM COOK
Sayifah is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa with over four years’ post-admission experience in debt collection, commercial litigation, and insolvency.
She holds LLB and LLM degrees from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and WITS. She began her career at Sim & Botsi Attorneys before joining Nita van Zyl Inc. in 2010.
Known for her client-focused approach and practical problem-solving, she brings extensive legal and commercial experience to her role and is a practitioner admitted to the Master of the High Court’s National and PDI Lists.
IGNATIUS ABE TEMANE
A SARIPA Insolvency Practitioner with almost a decade of experience in the industry, Abe holds a B-Proc degree from the University of Zululand, a Certificate in Business Rescue from UNISA, an Insolvency Certificate from the University of Pretoria and an Advanced Management Certificate from WITS Business School.
He is a Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) approved junior liquidator of retirement funds in terms of the Pension Funds Act and has previous experience in both local government and the insurance industry.
Talk To Us
info@westrust.com
PHONE NUMBER
010 446 0031
ADDRESS
104 William Road, Norwood, Johannesburg, South Africa