Muhammad graduated from the University of Johannesburg in 2007, during which year he commenced his articles of clerkship, practicing predominantly in Municipal Law, acting for the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, coupled with a mix of criminal, contractual and delictual law. Muhammad ceded the final 6 months of his contract of articles to Legal Aid South Africa where he gained extensive experience in trial advocacy, undergoing an intensive week of trial advocacy training and having conducted innumerable trials and opposed bail applications (both schedule 5 and 6).
Muhammad Karolia was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court in the year 2009. In 2010 he joined an established law firm on the east rand forging ahead to the position of director and head of litigation in 2011. In 2013 Muhammad resigned as director, caused to be registered an incorporated company and began practicing for his own account. Karolia continued practicing for his own account from 2013 to 2018.
As an Attorney, Mr. M Karolia appeared in the South Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg), various Regional and District Courts (both Regional and Criminal) throughout Gauteng, the CCMA, a number of Bargaining Councils and the Rental Housing Tribunal.
Mr. M Karolia’s Reported decisions practicing as an Attorney:
- Booysen vs Booysen 2012 (2) SA 38 (GSJ) – Deceased estate and property dispute.
In 2018 Muhammad commenced pupillage, was called to, and joined, the Johannesburg Society of Advocates (Johannesburg Bar). Since 2018 Advocate Karolia has had the pleasure of appearing in the Supreme Court of Appeal, unled in argument, on two occasions. Muhammad has further appeared in the Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Bloemfontein, Mbombela, Polokwane and Mahikeng respective divisions of the High Court. Advocate Karolia has further appeared in the Equality Court (led by G Engelbrecht SC), the Labour Court, the National Consumer Tribunal and in the Judicial Commission of the South African Equestrian Federation. Adv M Karolia has further conducted trial proceedings in both the Johannesburg and Cape Town High Courts.
REPORTED DECISIONS (JUTA)
- Katha v Pillay NO and Others 2026 (1) SA 382 (SCA) – Appeal – on the question whether the death of the property owner suspends the calculation of the 30 year acquisitive prescription period.
- Takis v Taylor and Others 2025 (5) SA 308 (WCC) – Trial – Acquisitive Prescription.
- Katha v Pillay NO and Others 2024 (1) SA 159 (GJ) – Stated Case – Acquisitive Prescription.
Qualifications:
– Baccalaureus Legum (L.L.B) 2007.
– Admitted as an Attorney in the year 2009.
– Admitted as an Advocate and called to the Bar in the year 2018.
