Craig Schafer

Craig Schafer is a Partner in the firm's Commercial Property Practice, based in the Johannesburg office, practicing in Property Law. He specialises in all aspects of commercial property law, property development, and property finance, representing listed property funds, property developers, and commercial property lenders in financing acquisitions, developments, restructures, and refurbishments.

Mr. Schafer has been actively involved in the establishment of numerous freehold and sectional title, commercial, industrial, and residential developments across South Africa. Notable transactions include advising FirstRand Bank and Investec Bank on a ZAR 2.6 billion development and term facility for the re-development of Fourways Mall, acting for Capital Property Fund on the transfer of industrial property portfolios valued at ZAR 481 million and ZAR 367 million, advising Eris Property Group on the development of the Gillwell Taxi Retail Park, and advising Flanagan & Gerard on the development of Thavhani Mall (valued in excess of ZAR 1 billion). He also advises on land issues arising from renewable energy projects under South Africa's renewable energy program, including solar PV, hydro, landfill gas, and wind projects.

Craig holds a BA LLB from Rhodes University and an LLM from Unisa. He was admitted as an attorney, notary public, and conveyancer in 2001. He has served as an elected national councillor for the South African Property Owners Association.

He is ranked by Chambers Global in Band 2 for Real Estate in South Africa (2026) and is described by Legal 500 as "a leader in real estate."