Partners in shaping possibility
About Us
Cox Yeats is a leading firm of attorneys which offers a wide range of commercial and personal legal services. We know that to best serve our clients, we first need to align on their goals and then deal with their legal affairs with this bigger picture in mind. Our focus is not simply to give the right technical advice, but also to help clients better understand their legal needs as a whole. In doing so, we aim to provide practical and insightful solutions and to present what can often be complex topics in a clear way.
We avoid the rigid departmentalising of our professionals. They each draw on the experience of others in their fields and from other groups within the firm to achieve clients’ objectives. This more agile approach also ensures that our clients’ affairs receive the personal attention of the attorney responsible for the work at hand. In this way, we come to know their needs and can respond quickly and comprehensively as and when legal issues arise.
Global Reach through
TAG Alliances
As part of our commitment to serving clients across borders, Cox Yeats is a proud member of TAG Alliances, one of the world’s largest multidisciplinary alliances of independent professional services firms. This affiliation enhances our global capability, enabling us to seamlessly connect clients with trusted legal, accounting, and consulting professionals in over 100 countries. It reflects our forward-thinking approach and commitment to offering clients both local insight and international reach.
Our Legacy
Founded by Graham Cox in 1964, Cox Yeats quickly grew to prominence with the addition of Jeremy Yeats as a partner in 1967. Their partnership, built on a foundation of legal excellence and astute business sense, has shaped the firm into one of South Africa’s most respected legal institutions. The firm has continuously set industry benchmarks, drawing on its proud history to provide innovative counsel while maintaining a commitment to excellence.
Our Approach to
Client Engagement
The firm’s structure allows for close collaboration between clients and professionals, ensuring that the legal advice provided is tailored to meet the strategic objectives of the client’s business. Cox Yeats’ partners operate with a significant level of independence while remaining connected to a network of experts. This approach fosters a personalised, hands-on experience for clients, where the legal team understands their business and goals, offering proactive solutions and practical advice.
The firm has always prioritised attracting and retaining the best legal talent in South Africa. Our professionals are recognised leaders in their fields and bring a diverse array of expertise to our clients. Many of our lawyers have been with the firm for over a decade and have been acknowledged for their contributions on both the national and international stages. The team’s collective knowledge and creativity ensure that clients receive the highest standard of legal service, underpinned by practical insight and legal innovation.
Commitment to Transformation
Cox Yeats is committed to transformation in South Africa. As a testament to this commitment, the firm has been assessed as a Level 3 B-BBEE Contributor under the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) scorecard system.
With a 110% B-BBEE Recognition Level, our clients can claim this percentage against their legal procurement spend for B-BBEE purposes.
Download our
BBBEE Certificate
Pro Bono
We are committed to using the law as a tool for positive change. Our pro bono legal services aim to ensure that individuals and organisations who cannot afford legal representation still have access to high-quality, solution-driven support. We believe that access to justice is a fundamental right. As part of our commitment to social justice and community development, our professionals contribute their time and expertise to provide free legal assistance to qualifying individuals and non-profit organisations across South Africa.
Our pro bono work is channelled through a dedicated Non-Profit Company (NPC), and we fund all related disbursements to ensure beneficiaries are fully supported. We partner with organisations like ProBono.Org and have provided legal assistance to a range of impactful clients, including: Our attorneys also volunteer at the Small Claims Court, the SASLAW Advice Office, and the Durban Magistrates’ Court Consumer Helpdesk, and actively participate in National Wills Week. All Cox Yeats professionals are encouraged to engage in pro bono work aligned with their expertise and values. We uphold the same standard of service in our pro bono matters as we do in all client work, combining legal excellence with a strong sense of purpose. Contact us if you are an individual or organisation in need of pro bono legal support.
Corporate Social Responsibility
We are inherently connected to the communities in which we operate. Our Corporate Social Responsibility programme is an important part of our firm’s culture, and with our broad pool of legal skills and individual talents, we are proud to engage with communities through direct initiatives rather than simply donating money. For more information on our CSR activities, see the updates on our Media page.