The best lawyer in the world
Monday, February 20, 2006
- Organization: Independent Online
South African Taswell Papier has been named the world's 2006 Lawyer of the Year.
The Capetonian has been presented with the coveted award at the Legal Business Awards in London and is the first attorney from Africa to have been nominated.
Since the first of the awards was presented in 1997, the nominations list has recognised only the best of European, American and Asian firms.
Papier, who was born in Steenberg, was honoured for his pro bono work at the Mitchell's Plain offices of Sonnenberg Hoffmann Galombik.
He says he wanted to make sure poorer communities have access to free legal aid.
"Sonnenberg Hoffmann Galombik was the first corporate firm in the country to start up a dedicated pro bono office."
A former president of the Cape Law Society, Papier had his own law firm for 17 years, during which he took on numerous cases pro bono for apartheid victims, members of the ANC's military wing, umKhonto weSizwe, and non-governmental organisations.
He has also helped to formulate democratic South Africa's fishing laws.
When he joined Sonnenberg Hoffmann Galombik two years ago, Papier's Mitchell's Plain offices became the firm's pro bono branch.
Papier said the award was a personal honour and a testimony to the work of his firm.
"It's a recognition of (Sonnenberg Hoffmann Galombik's) contribution to society and the profession," he said.
He believes it will put South Africa on the international map as a leader in pro bono work.
Papier has been invited to the New York Bar to speak on the topic, and Sonnenberg Hoffmann Galombik's Mitchell's Plain office is to be used as a model in the UK.
The British magazine Legal Business has described Sonnenberg Hoffmann Galombik as "one of the most progressive law firms" in South Africa for transforming Papier's "township law office into a dedicated pro bono office".
Papier studied at the University of the Western Cape and has a master's degree in law from Harvard University.
He now specialises in all aspects of corporate and commercial law, including that covering foreign trade and international corporations doing business in Africa and South Africa.
The Capetonian has been presented with the coveted award at the Legal Business Awards in London and is the first attorney from Africa to have been nominated.
Since the first of the awards was presented in 1997, the nominations list has recognised only the best of European, American and Asian firms.
Papier, who was born in Steenberg, was honoured for his pro bono work at the Mitchell's Plain offices of Sonnenberg Hoffmann Galombik.
He says he wanted to make sure poorer communities have access to free legal aid.
"Sonnenberg Hoffmann Galombik was the first corporate firm in the country to start up a dedicated pro bono office."
A former president of the Cape Law Society, Papier had his own law firm for 17 years, during which he took on numerous cases pro bono for apartheid victims, members of the ANC's military wing, umKhonto weSizwe, and non-governmental organisations.
He has also helped to formulate democratic South Africa's fishing laws.
When he joined Sonnenberg Hoffmann Galombik two years ago, Papier's Mitchell's Plain offices became the firm's pro bono branch.
Papier said the award was a personal honour and a testimony to the work of his firm.
"It's a recognition of (Sonnenberg Hoffmann Galombik's) contribution to society and the profession," he said.
He believes it will put South Africa on the international map as a leader in pro bono work.
Papier has been invited to the New York Bar to speak on the topic, and Sonnenberg Hoffmann Galombik's Mitchell's Plain office is to be used as a model in the UK.
The British magazine Legal Business has described Sonnenberg Hoffmann Galombik as "one of the most progressive law firms" in South Africa for transforming Papier's "township law office into a dedicated pro bono office".
Papier studied at the University of the Western Cape and has a master's degree in law from Harvard University.
He now specialises in all aspects of corporate and commercial law, including that covering foreign trade and international corporations doing business in Africa and South Africa.
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