Advocates Group 621

Established in 1913, its members are active in most areas of law. While the group has traditionally focused on commercial litigation, it has also played a significant role in human rights and public-law litigation. Its members appear in all courts in South Africa, and in other jurisdictions in Southern Africa. Several members also appear in courts... in England and Wales. In 1913, Advocates Group 621 came into being, the first group to arise at the Johannesburg Bar, which was then small and loosely organized. At its inception, like most of the Bar, it was housed in Sauer's Buildings in Loveday Street in central Johannesburg. C.F. Stallard led the group until 1924, when he was invited to become the Minister of Mines in the Smuts government. Shortly before the mantle fell on the next leader, Philip Millin QC, the group moved to Corporation Building in Rissik Street. Millin QC headed the group until, in 1937, he was elevated to the bench. Soon thereafter, the group moved to Empire Building and afterwards to His Majesty's Building and, in 1961, to Innes Chambers. In the following decades, the task of leading the group fell successively to Oscar Rathouse KC, Norman Rosenberg KC and Rex Welsh QC. Clive Cohen SC took over between 1994 and 2006. The role of group leader is currently rotated amongst the senior silks in the group. In 1997, as part of a general trend at the Johannesburg Bar, the group moved from its position directly opposite the Johannesburg High Court to Sandton, where it set up chambers on the Maude Street side of Sandown Village. It honoured its illustrious former leader who had passed away three years before by naming its new home Rex Welsh House. Facing the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Sandown Village is at the financial heart of greater Johannesburg. Advocates Group 621 is proud to count among its alumni former Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson and Edwin Cameron of the Constitutional Court, and Jonathan Heher and Johan Conradie, of the Supreme Court of Appeal. Other alumni include Bram Fischer QC and ...Read More