Fast-rising Steven Saunders appointed Partner in Cox Yeats’ BRI Practice

The contribution Steven Saunders played to the Concor restructuring, a complex matter recently shortlisted for Business Rescue and Turnaround Transaction of the Year at the 2026 DealMakers Awards, exemplifies his technical strength and leadership, says Cox Yeats partner Gareth Cremen, as the South African firm announced today that Saunders had been promoted to partner in its BRI practice.

“I am honoured to join the Cox Yeats partnership,” says Saunders, who joined Cox Yeats as a Senior Associate in early 2024. “I look forward to contributing meaningfully to our clients’ success and to the continued growth of our BRI practice.”

A graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand who was admitted as an attorney in 2022, Saunders has rapidly grown his expertise across commercial litigation, cross-border disputes, director and officer liability, informal and formal restructurings, forensic investigations, fraud matters, compliance and regulatory issues, and corporate recoveries. He has experience acting for major banks, multinational corporations, listed companies, and insolvency professionals.

Based in the firm’s Johannesburg office, Saunders is one of 30 partners guiding a national team of legal professionals in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town. He is also an active member of the South African Restructuring and Insolvency Practitioners Association (SARIPA). “Congratulations to Steven on his appointment as a partner at Cox Yeats,” says Andrew Clark, the firm’s Managing Partner. “We look forward to seeing him continue to excel and deliver value to our clients and our firm.”

Saunders promotion to partner, effective 1 March, is part of a series of senior promotions that reflect the firm’s continued investment in “developing exceptional legal talent and strengthening its leadership bench across practice areas”.

Cox Yeats has also promoted Jennifer Smit, Micaela Brown, Ross Booth, and Harshita Kapoor to Senior Associate. “These promotions reflect sustained technical excellence, increasing responsibility on complex mandates and a demonstrated ability to deliver strategic, commercially grounded advice to clients,” says the firm.

Dispute resolution attorney Smit has developed significant experience advising on complex legal matters within her practice, contributing to high-value transactions and disputes requiring detailed legal analysis and strategic input, says Cox Yeats.

Brown, whose primary area of practice is Construction and Infrastructure, has established herself as a trusted adviser to clients, bringing strong commercial acumen and sound judgement to multifaceted instructions.

Corporate & Commercial attorney Booth has played a key role in demanding matters involving intricate legal and regulatory considerations, consistently managing significant workstreams and supporting senior leadership on complex engagements.

Kapoor, a member of the Labour and Construction team, has advised on a broad range of matters within her portfolio, providing clear, solution-oriented guidance aligned to clients’ operational and business objectives.

The firm says these appointments form part of its broader strategy to ensure continuity, depth, and succession across its national platform. Originally established in 1964, Cox Yeats is known for its partner-led, collaborative approach and its ability to deliver legal advice closely aligned with clients’ commercial objectives.

“Our growth is driven by the calibre of our people,” added Managing Partner Andrew Clark. “These promotions reflect sustained excellence, commitment to our clients and confidence in the next generation of leaders at Cox Yeats.”