Adv HGA (Hein) Snyman SC

Adv HGA (Hein) Snyman SC is a senior advocate who was admitted as an advocate on 6 September 1994. He was called to the bar during 1995. He has been practicing at the Pretoria Society of Advocates (“the PSA”) for the past 30 years. He was granted senior status (SC) on 12 December 2010. Hein holds B.Com (Law) and LLB degrees for the University of Pretoria (“UP”). He also holds an Advanced Taxation Certificate from UNISA. Prior to being called to the Bar, he was employed from 1 January 1992 for three years at SARS’ Receiver of Revenue offices in Pretoria. At the time his duties included the audit of income tax refunds; taxpayers’ tax files; income tax returns; assessments and trusts. From his second year of employment this also entailed conducting detailed SARS audits and investigations into matters referred to his unit by the public and other SARS officials. He later served as the head of his unit. Since he started practising at the Pretoria Bar on 1 July 1995, his practice mainly relates to tax matters (all types of tax), the recovery procedures and tax administration. In addition to tax, this encompasses administrative law; company law; insolvency law; and constitutional law. It comprises all types of civil litigation. Although his practice over the years mainly focussed on the field of tax, in which field he is regarded as an expert, he has a wealth of experience and expertise in general commercial litigation. He appears regularly across the country in the High Courts and in the Tax Courts. A number of his briefs also included overseas litigation. Hein had the privilege of appearing in the Supreme Court of Appeal on several occasions. He has also appeared in the Constitutional Court. Hein also appears regularly at insolvency and tax inquiries. He has been briefed in a number of high profile matters and several of his matters have been reported in the law reports. Hein has been a Chairperson of the Board for the Hearing of Tax Appeals for the past more than 20 years. The Minister of Finance first appointed him to that position in 1997. First in terms of section 83A of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 and subsequently in terms of section 111 of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011. He has presided over several appeals referred to the Tax Board. He also from time-to-time act as a judge of the High Court. Hein is actively involved in the training of pupils (also from other Bars), colleagues and university students. He has in this regard been trained by the General Council of the Bar (“GCB”) as an advanced advocacy trainer. This entails that he regularly train colleagues at the GCB’s advocacy training courses. He has also trained internationally. He serves as the convenor of the management committee of his set of chambers.