Maisels Group Members

Chris has a public and commercial law practice, with a focus on constitutional law, human rights, administrative law, environmental law, and corporate governance.
Chris completed his BA LLB at Rhodes University. He also holds BCL, MPhil and DPhil (PhD) degrees from the University of Oxford, which he attended as a Rhodes Scholar.
Before joining the Bar, Chris clerked at the Constitutional Court and was chairperson of Oxford Pro Bono Publico. He is an honorary research associate at Rhodes University.
Chris has a particular interest in the emerging field of climate change law. He was a member of the counsel team in the first climate change litigation in South Africa, Earthlife Africa v Minister of Environmental Affairs. He represents and advises clients in ongoing climate change matters, on issues ranging from climate loss and damage to shareholder activism. In 2023, he was a visiting scholar at the Columbia Law School’s Sabin Centre for Climate Change Law.

Reported and notable judgments
• Mamasedi v Chief of South African Defence Force and Others [2024] ZACC 17 (21 August 2024) – Successful challenge to the automatic termination of a soldiers’ employment, upholding labour rights in the military.
• Centre for Child Law and Others v South African Council for Educators and Others [2024] ZASCA 45; 2024 (4) SA 473 (SCA) – Review application to ensure effective disciplinary action against teachers accused of assaulting learners.
• Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town and Another v Minister of Home Affairs and Others [2023] ZACC 45; 2024 (4) BCLR 592 (CC)– Amicus intervention supporting a constitutional challenge to amendments to refugee laws.
• Bliss Brands (Pty) Ltd v Advertising Regulatory Board NPC and Others [2023] ZACC 19; 2023 (10) BCLR 1153 (CC) – Defence of the constitutionality of advertising self-regulation.
• South African Iron and Steel Institute and Others v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others [2023] ZACC 18; 2023 (10) BCLR 1232 (CC) – Successful constitutional challenge to ensure proper public participation.
• Helen Suzman Foundation and Another v Minister of Home Affairs and Others [2023] ZAGPPHC 1548; 32323/2022 (28 June 2023) – Challenge to the planned termination of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) regime.
• Women's Legal Centre Trust v President of the Republic of South Africa and Others [2022] ZACC 23; 2022 (5) SA 323 (CC); 2023 (1) BCLR 80 (CC) – Amicus intervention supporting legal recognition for Islamic marriages.
• GroundWork v Minister of Environmental Affairs [2022] ZAGPPHC 208 (18 March 2022) – Challenge to dangerous levels of ambient air pollution in the Highveld region of South Africa.
• Somali Association of South Africa and Others v Refugee Appeal Board and Others [2021] ZASCA 124; [2021] 4 All SA 731 (SCA); 2022 (3) SA 166 (SCA) – Review on behalf of eight Somali asylum seekers, addressing systemic barriers to asylum.
• AB v Pridwin Preparatory School [2020] ZACC 12; 2020 (9) BCLR 1029 (CC); 2020 (5) SA 327 (CC) – The leading judgment on the protection of the rights of children attending private schools.
• Centre for Child Law and Others v Media 24 Limited and Others [2019] ZACC 46; 2020 (4) SA 319 (CC); 2020 (3) BCLR 245 (CC) – Constitutional challenge to secure enhanced protection for the anonymity of child offenders, witnesses and victims in criminal proceedings.
• OUTA & Another v Myeni [2020] 3 All SA 578 (GP) – Action to declare the former chairperson of South African Airways to be a delinquent director for life.
• Eskom Holdings SOC Limited v McKinsey and Company Africa (Pty) Ltd and Others [2019] ZAGPPHC 185 (18 June 2019) – Self-review to claw back R1,6 billion in unlawful payments.
• Ahmed v Minister of Home Affairs [2018] ZACC 39; 2018 (12) BCLR 1451 (CC); 2019 (1) SA 1 (CC) – Amicus intervention to lift the ban on asylum seekers applying for visas and permanent residence.
• South African Reserve Bank v Bank of Baroda (South Africa) [2019] ZAGPPHC 218; 2019 (6) SA 174 (GP) – Litigation on FICA enforcement.
• Annex Distribution (Pty) Ltd and Others v Bank of Baroda [2017] ZAGPPHC 608; 2018 (1) SA 562 (GP) – Litigation to secure closure of Gupta-linked bank accounts.
• Economic Freedom Fighters and Others v Speaker of the National Assembly and Another [2017] ZACC 47; 2018 (2) SA 571 (CC); 2018 (3) BCLR 259 (CC) – Application to initiate impeachment proceedings against former President Zuma.
• Earthlife Africa Johannesburg v Minister of Environmental Affairs and Others [2017] 2 All SA 519 (GP) – South Africa’s first climate change litigation and a successful review of the environmental authorisation for a proposed coal-fired power station.
• Democratic Alliance v Minister of International Relations and Cooperation [2017] ZAGPPHC 53; 2017 (3) SA 212 (GP); [2017] 2 All SA 123 (GP) – Litigation challenging and ultimately preventing South Africa’s intended withdrawal from the International Criminal Court.
• Free Market Foundation v Minister of Labour and Others [2016] ZAGPPHC 266; (2016) 37 ILJ 1638 (GP); 2016 (4) SA 496 (GP); [2016] 3 All SA 99 (GP) - Defence of the constitutionality of the collective bargaining regime.