General Information

Nicolene is an entrepreneur, attorney, and business strategist who mentors founders building scalable, investment-ready businesses. 

With nearly 20 years of experience working alongside entrepreneurs, she helps businesses move from survival mode to structured growth — ensuring they are legally compliant, financially sound, and strategically positioned for funding and expansion. 

She is the Founder and Managing Director of the law firm SchoemanLaw Inc. (est. 2007), advising business leaders across South Africa and internationally. Nicolene combines legal expertise with a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning (CFP, Stellenbosch University), giving her a unique ability to align legal, financial, and operational strategy. 

As an internationally accredited Legal Project Professional and Africa’s accredited training provider for Legal Project Management (IILPM), she equips entrepreneurs with structured implementation tools — not just theory. As an Extended DISC consultant, she also mentors founders on leadership, decision-making, and team dynamics. 

She is the founder of two platforms designed to make legal strategy practical and accessible: 

PocketAdvisor – a structured “legal business-in-a-box” program with implementation videos and ready-to-use contract templates. 

Contracts4Biz – an online contract platform helping entrepreneurs self-manage legal compliance and contracting efficiently. 

Nicolene has mentored and trained founders through leading incubators, accelerators, and tertiary institutions. 

Her thought leadership has been featured in various academic publications and mainstream media, including radio and television, simplifying complex legal issues for business owners. 

Beyond her numerous awards, she has most recently been recognised as Legal Personality of the Year (2023), Female Founder Star of the Year (2023) and Runner Up Phenomenal Women in the Winelands Awards (2025), Nicolene is passionate about helping entrepreneurs: 

Build credible, fundable businesses 

Structure for investment and succession 

Align legal, financial, and operational strategy 

Lead with clarity and confidence 

Her mentoring style is practical, authentic, strategic, and implementation-focused — helping founders turn vision into value and growth into long-term sustainability.