James Cross
Managing Director
Practice Areas
James practices in the fields of Environmental Health and Safety Law and currently serves as Managing Director at Tabacks. He regularly advises clients on environmental-legal administrative enforcement proceedings, litigation and administrative appeals. James provides environmental-legal input to commercial transactions and renders strategic regulatory process and compliance risk advice to clients in the private sector.
He has also assisted Government with the drafting of legislation, statutory interpretation and comment on draft legislation.
James co-founded the law firm Cameron Cross Incorporated in 2002. The firm specialised in all aspects of environmental, health and safety law. Cameron Cross Incorporated was regarded as one of the leading firms in South Africa in Environmental Health and Safety law. James joined Tabacks as a director in 2013 and acted as Chief Executive Officer from 2016 to 2018.
Engagements
James has been involved in a number of significant matters, such as:
SHE-legal interpretation and opinion provided to companies operating within the mining and industrial sectors, property development companies, public rail transport sector, environmental assessment practitioners and multi-disciplinary consultant/engineering companies
Preparation of appeals in accordance with mining and environmental legislation
Representation of mining, industrial and construction companies regarding water law, historical water rights, access to water, drafting of water use agreements and representation of clients at the SA Water Tribunal
Assistance to clients within the waste management sector on government policy and initiatives as well as legal requirements pertaining to waste licensing
Representing multi-national industrial and mining clients in environmental litigation proceedings
Representing the Minerals Council of South Africa in parliamentary proceedings on environmental legislative developments
Advising multi-national mining clients on mine closure obligations
Advising mining and industrial clients on historical environmental-legal exposure risks; transactional implications arising from environmental-legal obligations and the transfer of permits, licences and other authorisations
Education
BA LLB, Stellenbosch University (1994)
LLM, Stellenbosch University (1996)
Diploma in Corporate Law, University of Johannesburg (2000)
Accomplishments
Included in The Best Lawyers in South Africa™ for Environmental Law, 2021-2025
Nominated as Best Lawyers' Lawyer of The Year™ for Environmental Law in Johannesburg, 2022
Ranked by Chambers and Partners in South Africa for Environment, 2018-2023
Events & Publications
Presented Papers and Presentations at conferences facilitated by the International Association of Impact Assessment / Institute for International Research and Governance Forum;
Contributed articles in Professional Management Review and Environmental Management Magazine
Responsible for the drafting of the environmental-legal section of the Guideline for the Rehabilitation of Mined Land published by the Chamber of Mines;
Responsible for the drafting of the environmental-legal section titled: Policy and Legislative Overview – Management and Protection of Karst and Cave in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, a project managed by the IUCN South Africa Office;
Principal author of volume 19 of the Integrated Environmental Management Information Series published by the erstwhile Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism now Department of Environmental Affairs titled: Environmental Assessment of International Agreements.