• BA with law subjects, University of Stellenbosch
• LLB, University of Stellenbosch
• Master of Laws (Taxation) (LLM), UNISA
• Post-graduate Diploma in Tax Law (with distinction), University of Cape Town
• Certificate in Advanced Corporate Law and Securities Law, UNISA
• Year of admission as an attorney: 1997
• Registered SAIT Chartered Tax Advisor

Ben Strauss has been advising local and international clients in a wide range of tax, commercial and property law matters for over 25 years. His expertise in tax and corporate transactions encompass structuring corporate transactions in relation to complex tax matters, structuring transactions, M&A transactions, and exchange control and property transactions. Ben is a registered tax practitioner, and an attorney, notary, and conveyancer. In his previous roles, Ben was General Legal Counsel at MWEB and Senior Tax Manager at KPMG. Before joining Johan and Clara to form Solaris Law, Ben was a director at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr for 16 years, and in 2021 ran his own practice, Ben Strauss Law. In 2023, Ben was recognised as “Lawyer of the Year” in the category Mergers and Acquisitions, Cape Town by Best Lawyers, and in 2024, Ben was recognised as “Lawyer of the Year” in the category Private Equity, Cape Town by Best Lawyers.

• LLB, University of Pretoria
• Year of admission as an attorney: 2007

Johan Green has practised in corporate law for over 17 years and is a recognised specialist in listed and unlisted mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and capital markets transactions. During his career he has advised listed and unlisted companies on substantial acquisitions, takeovers, disposals, public-to-private transactions, mergers, IPOs, private equity investments and corporate finance transactions. Johan practised as a director at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr from 2011 until he co-founded Solaris Law with Ben and Clara in 2022. In 2020, Legal 500 EMEA recommended Johan for his expertise in corporate and commercial law, and mergers and acquisitions. In 2018-2019, Johan was recommended as a rising star by IFRL 1000 and in 2020-2021 as a highly regarded lawyer for mergers and acquisitions & equity capital markets.

• BAcc LLB, University of Stellenbosch
• International Summer School in International Finance and Renewable Energy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong: 2018.
• International Summer School in Intellectual Property, Xiamen University: 2019.
• Year of admission as an attorney: 2022

James Wewege is an admitted attorney specialising in corporate and commercial law. James completed his articles at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr in 2022 and he was promoted to associate in the same year. James joined Werksmans Attorneys as an associate in 2023, where he was promoted to senior associate in 2024. James joined Solaris Law in 2025 as a senior associate in the Corporate and Commercial Department where he advises clients on a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions. In 2025, Legal 500 EMEA recommended James as a key lawyer, and recognised him as a leading associate, for his expertise in banking and finance.

• LLB, North-West University
• Year of admission as an attorney: 2023

Alicia Cusack is an admitted attorney specialising in corporate and commercial law. Alicia completed her articles at Van Velden-Duffey Attorneys Inc, where she was retained as a junior associate in the commercial litigation department. Following her admission, Alicia joined Van Wyk Van Heerden Inc. as a legal associate, where she specialised in commercial dispute resolution, with a focus on High Court litigation. Alicia then transitioned into transactional practice, joining SWART Inc. as an associate in the corporate-commercial team, advising start-ups and high-growth companies on transactional and advisory matters, including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital funding, cross-border structuring and exchange control. Alicia joined Solaris Law as an associate in the Corporate and Commercial Department.