Nicolette Smit

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 ...

Zama is a construction law and dispute resolution specialist with over a decade’s experience acting for employers, contractors, subcontractors, project managers, banks, project companies and mining companies. Having advised on all aspects of project delivery in various sectors and jurisdictions across Africa, she provides clients with a single point of contact for strategic legal advice from the conception of a project, through to its execution and completion.

Mongezi has over 10 years of experience in the fields of corporate and commercial dispute resolution, insolvency law, credit law (foreclosures, corporate recoveries, business rescue, liquidations and restructuring), insurance law (life assurance, pension fund and disability fund claims), public administration law, procurement and public finance law, general litigation and arbitrations. Additionally, he has vast specialist knowledge in sectors such as mining, alternative energy solutions, proj...

Gary Pritchard is an established Attorney in practice since 1992. Gary focuses on construction and engineering law as well as general commercial litigation including insurance and banking litigation, construction and sports law. He is a former director of one of Johannesburg’s largest law firms where he practiced for the past 19 years. Gary has achieved the following accolades: 2019 Recommended in Legal 500 Construction2019 Recognised in The Best Lawyers in South Africa for Construction...

Peter joined Cox Yeats in 2010 as a Candidate Attorney, whereafter he was appointed as an associate and in 2015 was appointed a partner. Peter completed his LLB at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2009, after matriculating from Durban High School. He practises in the Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure Law Team and also deals extensively with procurement related issues. Peter was appointed as a member of the Joint Building Contracts Committee Drafting Panel in January 2018.

Randhir Naicker is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation. Randhir, who practices law in Durban, South Africa, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Randhir is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Anne Venter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation. Anne, who practices law in Cape Town, South Africa, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Anne is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tina Halstead is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Tina, who practices law in Umhlanga Rocks, South Africa, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tina is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...