With some 30 years of experience, Hugh has played a vital role in the development and growth of the firm's Real Estate practice in Johannesburg. He has gained a reputation throughout the property industry, the financial sector and the legal profession as a leading expert in property law, property finance and real security. Hugh specialises in property and mortgage finance, real security including notarial bonds, bank and institutional property and security-based transactions, regulation of money lending, commercial property development, property law generally and conveyancing.

Hugh began his career in 1973 at Williams, Gaisford & Steyn as a Candidate Attorney. In 1974, he moved to Bowman, Gilfillan & Blacklock, where he was made an Associate in 1975. He was promoted to Partner in 1978. Hugh moved to Cliffe Dekker & Todd as a Director in 1980. He is currently a Director at Cliffe Dekker Inc.

BA LLB, LLM (cum laude), University of the Witwatersrand
Date of Admission: 1975

• Advised Foodcorp, Brait and, indirectly, Citigroup with regard to aspects of securities required for the issue of a high yield eurobond and attending to the co-ordination and registration of country-wide securities for this purpose

• Represented a property developer and three associated companies with regard to a series of complex property transactions culminating in the disposal to Westacre Projects of some 60 hectares of the farm "The Bush" in the Somerset West area, for development purposes

• Advised Nedbank with regard to the risks and security aspects of mortgage finance provided for the development of a leasehold-based apartment scheme erected in airspace situated on the roof of Mandela Square in the Sandton CBD, funding for the acquisition by sub-lessees of rights in respect of the apartments, the structure of end-user loan agreements, security documents and registration of securities

• Represented foreign owners with regard to the disposal of the Hebron timber plantation in Mpumalanga Province to Vuka-Ramanas Forest Products

• Represented (together with Jonathan Witts-Hewinson of the Litigation Department) the Rondeklip Investment Trust in a claim for a servitude of right of way of necessity in respect of environmentally sensitive landlocked farmland in the Plettenberg Bay area, culminating in a favourable landmark judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeals

• Advised Brait and, indirectly, Citigroup with regard to aspects of securities required for the issue of a high yield eurobond for the New Reclamation Group, and attending to the co-ordination and registration of country-wide securities for this purpose

• Advised Nedbank with regard to the structure and standard documentation relating to its home loan product and related security documentation, for the purpose of complying with the National Credit Act, 2005

• ^PLC Which Lawyer 2007 Yearbook, highly recommends Hugh Jackson (corporate real estate)

• Best Lawyers International 200: South Africa ranks Hugh in Real Estate