Advocate Paul (PJ) Pretorius SC is a distinguished senior counsel with an extensive career in dispute resolution, having practised as an advocate since 1977 and appointed Senior Counsel in 1994. A member of the Johannesburg Bar, he has served as both arbitrator and mediator in industrial, community, and commercial disputes under the auspices of bodies including Tokiso, IMSSA, AMSSA, ADRASA, and AFSA.

Paul’s contributions to the field include serving on the South African Law Commission’s working group on Arbitration and ADR, authoring numerous publications, and editing Dispute Resolution (Juta, 1993).

Paul is accredited by the UK’s Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution and has lectured extensively in South Africa and abroad. Notably, he was the Evidence Leader at the State Capture Commission from 2018 to 2022 and currently serves as an arbitrator for the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Geneva. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded a Doctorate of Law (Honoris Causa) by the University of Rhodes in 2025.

Recent Processes: 

  • Mediated a dispute in the telecommunications and technology industry.

  • Mediation in the investment and private equity industry.

  • Mediated a dispute in the financial services and health insurance industry.

  • Mediation in the energy and petrochemicals industry.

  • Mediated a dispute between parties in the engineering and construction industry.