James McKinnell

After qualifying with a B Com LLB from Wits University Craig served articles with MJ Silver Rothbart and Cohen, a commercial and insolvency firm Craig was admitted as an attorney with this varied practice. Gaining invaluable experience practising as a professional legal assistant, Craig was involved in commercial drafting, commercial litigation, restructures, insolvency enquiries and related litigation. Craig was a member of the Legal Counsel team in a commercial environment for six years and...

After completing a postgraduate LLB at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, Andrew relocated to Cape Town to join a leading corporate practice in their litigation and dispute resolution department. Andrew was active in student politics whilst at Wits having been elected to the Law Students Council and sat as a student representative on the University’s disciplinary board. After completing his articles, Andrew was appointed as a professional assistant before joining Craig...

Thys joined the firm as a partner in 2014 and heads up the Insolvency Team. He specialises in the fields of Insolvency, Business Rescue and Debt Recovery. Thys previously practiced as a senior associate and director heading up an Insolvency, Debt Recovery and Business Rescue Department for a number of years, and has extensive experience as both a liquidator and specialist attorney in all matters relating to Insolvency. His expertise includes liquidations, sequestrations, schemes of arrangemen...

Emili specialises in Property & Real Estate. She was admitted as an Attorney in 1986. Emili is a qualified conveyancer and notary public. During her articles she was exposed to property transactional work and her love for property and property law became her passion. She qualified as a conveyancer in 1991 and has practiced as a property law professional for more than 3 decades in all areas of property law including opening of sectional schemes, commercial, residential transfers including ...

Laura has been a partner at Cox Yeats since 2019. She has experience in a number of sectors, however, her primary focus is in Energy and Natural Resources, where she has particular expertise with oil and gas, renewables, concession agreements, power purchase agreements, construction and projects and broad regulatory advice within these areas. Laura provides professional support and advice to numerous large organisations, included listed entities, operating within South Africa and abroad. She ...

Anne Venter is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation. Anne practices law in Cape Town, South Africa Best Lawyers has recognized Anne Venter since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Anne Venter is held by other lawyers.

David joined Cox Yeats in 2013 and was appointed partner in 2014. He obtained his LL.B Summa Cum Laude from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban in 2005. David specialises in Commercial Litigation and Construction and Infrastructure Law. His commercial litigation experience comprises fields such as, Contractual Disputes, Administrative (Tender) Law and Commercial Arbitrations. He is experienced in negotiation and drafting of JBCC, NEC3, GCC and FIDIC agreements and their enforcement. David...

Michael Jackson has been the Managing Partner at Cox Yeats since 2011. He also heads up the Corporate & Natural Resources Law Team at Cox Yeats. He received his B.Com. LL.B. cum laude from the University of Natal, Durban and his LL.M with first class honours from Cambridge University where he was elected a scholar of St John’s College. His principal areas of practice are Business Law, Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions, Natural Resources & Energy and Empowerment & Transfor...

Alastair joined the firm in 1977, became a partner in 1980 and is now one of the senior partners of the firm. He is a Notary Public, holds a certificate in tax (UKZN), is a fellow of the Association of Arbitrators (Southern Africa) and the current Chairman of the KwaZulu-Natal Chapter and invests of his time pro bono by sitting as a Small Claims Commissioner on a monthly basis. He is a member of the International Bar Association. During his time in practice he has gained considerable experien...

Aidean Camilla Ross is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. She is a partner in the Maritime, Insurance, and International Trade Law Practice of Cox Yeats. She specialises in all aspects of maritime, insurance and international trade law, with particular emphasis on marine insurance, shipping litigation and road carriage claims. She joined Cox Yeats in January 2018 as an article clerk and was appointed as an associate in March 2020, having been a...