Page 8 - KZN Business Sense 8.3 - Ebook

LEGAL LEGEND GRAHAM COX DIES

Graham Cox, founder of Cox Yeats Attorneys Graham and Jillian Cox Graham, Jillian and their children

egal legend Graham Cox, down the years. He had the just a few, were lifelong friends. first sight. They were engaged in their finances as a result of his
died peacefully on Friday, ability to translate complex legal He was a lawyer’s lawyer. a week. involvement. A disciple of “the
L6 May 2022, just days issues into practical business Graham Cox was: Jillian was better known in Richest Man in Babylon” since
before his 90th birthday. He friendly solutions that served Durban’s medical circles as his schooldays, he knew how to
had been battling pneumonia the needs of the particular ■ A past president of the Dr Jillian Key, who worked make money work.
for the past six weeks. client. Moreover, he did this KwaZulu-Natal Law Society initially at McCords and then His life was dominated by care
Graham Cox was well with tact, good humour and and of the Law Society of for more than 30 years in for others and dedication to
South Africa, chairing both
recognised in the Durban legal discretion. He was tough and where he championed the Addington’s paediatric unit. She service. He cared about things
fraternity and the community as demanded excellence but was causes of freedom of speech, was instrumental in starting and wanted to make a difference.
a highly respected commercial always scrupulously fair and the rule of law and human the first child abuse unit at Graham Cox continued to
lawyer. He was, however, a innately kind. He demanded rights Addington. Together, Graham actively practice law and take
man of many varied talents more of himself than others and and Jillian were a winning team, care of his clients until 80 years
and interests. liked to lead from the front. ■ A past chairman of the supporting each other in their of age where he would leave for
Council of the University careers and enjoying life to the work every day as the sun rose.
Born on 21 May 1932 in Cox Yeats senior partner, of KwaZulu-Natal where he full travelling the world exploring He would spend a full day at the
Bloemfontein, he went to Michael Jackson, started his championed academic remote places. Both were also office consulting and helping with
Diocesan College (Bishops) which career with Graham Cox as excellence and freedom avid conservationists who were training young articled clerks
was in many ways the making of an article clerk. He recalls, ■ A past council member of the committed to making a tangible and associates before setting off
him. He told his son Ian Cox that “Graham was a hard task master Business Law Section of the difference to the world they lived for home again at 4pm. He could
it taught him that life was unfair but a young lawyer could not International Bar Association in. be heard telling young students
and that if you wanted anything, ask for a better mentor. I was ■ A fellow of the Association doing vacation work at the firm,
you had to make it happen fortunate to learn from one Dr George Hugues, past CEO “If you are wanting to do law
yourself. He certainly did that. He of the best.” In 2014, Jackson of Arbitrators of the Natal Parks Board pays to make money, you are in the
was the first person in his family requested Graham Cox to write ■ A member of the board the following tribute, “Some wrong business. To do law, you
to go to university. a foreword for a book written on of what was then the Natal characters loom larger than have to care.”
the firm’s 50th anniversary to Parks Board and the KZN others and Graham definitely
He went to UCT where he capture the values upon which Philharmonic Orchestra fitted into the larger category. “Above all he had a zest for
studied commerce with the Cox Yeats had been built over ■ A trustee on various charitable We shared a great deal of our life. He worked hard and played
intention of being a business the years so that these could be trusts lives together through nature hard as well. He had a wide
lawyer. That was unheard of at passed on to all those people and our endeavours to conserve range of interests and a large
the time as business lawyers did who will guide the firm into the ■ Recognised in 2012 by the it. Graham had a tremendous group of good friends. He was
not exist in South Africa. future. Graham wrote: legal profession for his love for nature and spent as a voracious reader with a huge
50 years of outstanding
In 1964 Graham Cox founded “From the beginning, we have service as a corporate lawyer much time as possible wandering library. He remained interested
the firm known as Cox Yeats. been set apart by the concern, mountain paths. Graham’s and interesting until the end
“I started my own firm because which we have for our clients, During his time of active advice and guidance as a board of his long life. While not a
member of the Natal Parks
demonstrative man, he hated
I don’t like being told what to the expertise of our professionals practice, Graham Cox specialised
do. I was employed at Unilever in Business Law, Tax Law, Board never failed and his sense fuss, he loved his family and
after I graduated, and they and an excellent support staff. Trusts and Estate Planning and of balance and justice was of friends and was beloved,” said his
Ultimately, the enduring success
son Ian Cox.
immense use in developing not
are a wonderful company to of any firm depends upon its Construction Law. just better politics and efficiencies
work for, but I wanted to be my people and I have nothing but While at university he became for nature conservation in the Graham Cox certainly lived a
own boss,” he recounted in an confidence that Cox Yeats will a nationally rated fencer winning province, but his wisdom also full life and has left an indelible
interview. Together with Jeremy prevented the Board from taking footprint in the field of law
Yeats who joined him in the achieve continuing excellence in top honours in all three weapons legal action which would have and certainly in the lives of
at the South African Universities
the service which it delivers to its
firm in 1967, Cox Yeats became Championships. He was cost us dearly. His contributions everyone he came into contact
a formidable team from the clients.” were inestimable. with. Always confident in his
outset. They combined their Graham Cox was known for his awarded University full Blues judgement yet humble, never
for his achievements in fencing.
passion for law with their astute wicked sense of humour that was His love of adventure ignited More than that he was a joy to arrogant, a true gentleman in
business sense, and with the often deployed both at work and work with and his enthusiasm every manner. His legacy lives
help of exceptional partners, a play, in many instances serving his passion for rock climbing for the goals of the Board were on.
and mountaineering. As a rock
multi award-winning firm was to defuse volatile situations climber he climbed extensively exercised, always, with clarity, He leaves behind his son Ian,
born. The firm was established and open the way to workable humour and understanding. daughters Helen and Pamela,
on the foundation of ‘care for solutions. Many clients became and led an expedition to the Nature conservation could not their spouses Lindsey, John and
Ruwenzori, which successfully
clients first and foremost and good friends. summited Mount Speke. He have attracted a more valuable Ian, and eight grandchildren. 
exceptional service together asset. Thank you, Graham.”
with sound legal advice that is He had what his generation was a member of the Mountain All of the institutions he served
Club of South Africa for nearly
useful to the client’. This legacy called a first-class brain. Lawyers 70 years. Yet when asked what on saw an improvement in For more information about Cox Yeats,
visit, www.coxyeats.co.za
lives on in the firm today. applauded his superb legal ability.
He was one of the best lawyers of his greatest achievement was, he
Graham Cox represented his generation and worked with would tell you it was marrying
many of the old, established the best. Many such as, Judges his wife Jillian. She was his
businesses in KZN. He handled John Milne, John Didcott, Hillary soulmate. They met on top of
many company acquisitions, Squires, and constitutional lawyer Table Mountain where both had
takeovers and tax law cases Professor Tony Mathews to name been rock climbing. It was love at

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