Page 31 - Standard Bank KZN Top Business Women 2021

I am dedicated to providing great service to my clients. I have really found

that I can do this best by getting a holistic view of the business I am assisting.

Partner Cox Yeats Attorneys Cox Yeats and I continue to work with them today – with Laura also attributes these skills to her ability to provide
one team member being Cox Yeats’s newly appointed
effective legal services. “I am dedicated to providing
Managing Partner, Andrew Clark. Not only are they
aura Kelly (nee Maitre) is a partner at Cox Yeats great service to my clients and I have really found
both exceptionally talented lawyers who practice with
Attorneys, a leading boutique commercial law that I can do this best by getting a holistic view of the
complete integrity, they are also fantastic people who I
firm. Cox Yeats, which is head-officed in business I am assisting, especially where I am helping an
thoroughly enjoy working with. They really have played a
LDurban and has recently opened offices in organisation with its commercial work or engaging with
fundamental role in where I am today.”
Johannesburg, has been voted the top medium sized law its stakeholders. I really strive to ensure that the services
firm in South Africa for the past two years. When speaking about practising as a female in law, Laura I’m providing to them are given in such a way that they
expressed that it does come with its challenges. “You can can operate as effectively as possible.”
Laura’s practice is focused primarily on insurance,
be underestimated and not taken seriously based purely
commercial and international trade law – with a specific Maintain balance
on your gender. It’s frustrating and it shouldn’t still be
focus on petroleum law. She represents various local
something which happens. However, you just have to When speaking further about her personal attributes
and global organisations, including the world’s leading
stand up for yourself and treat it as an opportunity to and the way in which she assists her clients, Laura
independent petroleum storage provider in respect of its
prove them wrong,” she explained. commented on her strong interpersonal skills and her
southern African operations.
commitment to her job. “Our work doesn’t just take
With regards to personal hurdles, Laura remarked that
Laura grew up in Durban and studied at the University place in our office behind our desks, you are required
she has had a lot of support in her professional journey
of Cape Town where she majored in both law and to step in and act as your client’s representative during
and that her main hurdle has been managing stress.
creative writing. Following the completion of her studies, negotiations or general engagements. I am very
“This isn’t a topic that people generally feel comfortable
she joined Cox Yeats in 2014, where she did her articles, comfortable with public speaking and like to believe
talking about, but I think it is something most people
became an associate in 2016 and was appointed a partner
in life have to deal with at one stage or another and I that I am good at fostering relationships with people.
in 2019 at the age of 27.
don’t think people should be shy to speak about stress. However, what really is key for your client is the ability
In commenting on her journey, Laura says, “In terms You just have to ensure that you put yourself in the best to be readily available and responsive. We live in an
of inspiration and how I got to where I am today, it possible position to manage it, especially if you work in extremely fast-paced world and clients expect no less
obviously comes down to a lot of hard work, but my a challenging job, through exercise, eating healthily and when it comes to service delivery. It’s also important to
family, who are incredibly supportive, and the team that taking time away from work when you can.” identify those times when your client needs you to be
I work with at Cox Yeats have also played a fundamental available 24/7. While maintaining balance is extremely
Continue learning
role. My parents brought me up to believe that I could important, this doesn’t mean that there won’t be times
do anything in life but also to be resilient. As law can Reflecting on her goals, Laura says that from a short- when this level of effort is required of you.”
be a demanding career, and a tough environment to term perspective, law is an evolving, dynamic sector
Laura absolutely loves dogs, and her dream would be
work in, the self-belief which they instilled in me has that is always changing. As such she intends to
to start a dog sanctuary one day. “I was actually going
certainly helped me progress professionally. continue learning in order to both explore new areas
to become a vet, but unfortunately my allergies towards
of law and to develop her expertise within the practice
Regarding my team, our model at Cox Yeats is that we certain animals meant that this wasn’t practical and so I
areas that she enjoys.
work closely and in very small teams. This is aimed at chose law,” she commented.
fostering collaboration and ensuring the best outcome From a long-term perspective, Laura enjoys not only
In conclusion, the advice that Laura would give to
for our clients and the model has proven to be incredibly dealing with an organisation’s legal requirements, but
a young woman following in her path, is to not take
successful. However, this, coupled with the long working she has a strong business acumen and provides strategic
herself too seriously, to remember what is important in
hours, means that you spend a large amount of time with and operational support for her clients wherever she
life and to strive to maintain balance. “Work hard but
your team members. Whilst we have since grown, there can. Consequently, she would like to find further ways
were three professionals in our team when I started at of using these skills, whilst continuing her legal career. take the time to do the things that you love.”

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