About our founder Gary S Eisenberg

(October 1964 – May 2024)

Gary, a federal Lawyer admitted in Washington D.C., brought with him an international perspective on South African immigration and citizenship law. Gary’s profession began with international trade regulation and multinational legal compliance. He has been widely published in his field, especially within the transformative context of South Africa’s liberation in 1994. Over the following three decades he established his reputation through his dedication to the rule of law, to his profession and his clients.

gary eisenberg lawyer

An undisputed legacy

Gary S. Eisenberg founded Eisenberg & Associates on March 3, 1997, with the vision of providing expert legal services within the realms of administrative and constitutional law.   Under his leadership, the firm became a forerunner in setting compliance standards for immigration and citizenship statutes, offering tailored solutions to both individuals and corporations.His unwavering dedication to defending immigrants’ rights earned him recognition as South Africa’s top immigration lawyer and was rightfully recognised as the intellectual leader in his field of immigration law by his peers for decades.  Gary’s commitment to excellence and integrity of the legal practice has left an indelible mark on the field and has significantly contributed to the advancement of immigration law in South Africa.

Gary practiced exclusively in the fields of South Africa’s immigration law, South African citizenship law and extradition matters.  He established an outstanding reputation for his creative and steadfast approach in handling complex immigration and citizenship problems. As a result, he has been recognised for his protracted litigation on the democratisation of South Africa’s immigration process contributing to the foundation of South Africa’s current immigration system.  He was a published expert for his insights into various and wider aspects of immigration law, including the political environment.

Gary’s premature passing in May 2024 was a loss for the entire community and the profession at large.  The law firm he founded, Eisenberg & Associates, continues to thrive under the strong foundation he laid.  His leadership philosophy, values, and strategic direction remain embedded in its operations, allowing Eisenberg & Associates to carry forward his mission & ethos and to uphold the high standards he set.  Through this enduring legacy, Gary Eisenberg’s impact on the legal profession and the lives of countless individuals will continue to resonate for years to come.

“Credence can be given to compliments paid by an enemy or opponent. Mr Eisenberg and I have never been enemies, but we were cast by history into the role of opponents. In our respective roles we both worked to forge our country’s history”

Prince Mangosuthu Buthulezi – Minister of Home Affairs 1994 – 2004

“This celebration offers us the opportunity to place on record Mr Eisenberg’s contribution, which is worth mentioning because of what he did for our country and the example it may set for the entire legal profession”

Prince Mangosuthu Buthulezi – Minister of Home Affairs 1994 – 2004
“Into all this came Gary Eisenberg, armed with his faith in the rule of law and the provisions of the Constitution. He took me to court time and again, and time and again he won. Entrusted as I was with the responsibility of executing the law and then on the books, in the beginning I fought him and hoped to defeat him. But then I realised the inequality of the law and, even though I was called upon to resist his actions, in my heart I supported them, while I began promoting a comprehensive revision of the law”
Prince Mangosuthu Buthulezi – Minister of Home Affairs 1994 – 2004

“Eisenberg took me to court… To the best of my knowledge that was the first public interest law suit brought by a lawyer, not on behalf of a client but in the general interest of the rule of law and the South African people”

Prince Mangosuthu Buthulezi – Minister of Home Affairs 1994 – 2004

“Gary came to my office, and with his characteristic overpowering intellect and bombastic presence dropped the various laws that I had drafted onto my desk and asked me to point to where the issue of morality was a criterion for acceptance or rejection of an immigration permit.  I did not bother to open any of the documents, as I knew Gary was right.”

Prince Mangosuthu Buthulezi – Minister of Home Affairs 1994 – 2004

“Eisenberg… did not give up his self-assumed role of watchdog. In many respects, his legal oversight was more intense, competent and productive than the parliamentary portfolio committee.”

Prince Mangosuthu Buthulezi – Minister of Home Affairs 1994 – 2004
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