Technology & Innovation Archives - Werksmans Attorneys https://werksmans.com/gs-team-practice-area/technology-innovation/ Corporate and Commercial Law Firm Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:31:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://werksmans.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/cropped-WERKSMANS-W-scaled-1-32x32.bmp Technology & Innovation Archives - Werksmans Attorneys https://werksmans.com/gs-team-practice-area/technology-innovation/ 32 32 Sabine Letellier https://werksmans.com/team-members/sabine-letellier/ Mon, 21 Apr 2025 10:22:25 +0000 https://www.werksmans.online/?post_type=gs_team&p=18570 Sabine Letellier is a Senior Associate in the Banking & Finance, Regulatory, Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions, and Technology & Innovation and practice areas. Banking & Finance Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions Regulatory Technology & Innovation Your Content Goes Here Matters related to: Banking and Finance Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions Technology & Innovation [...]

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Sabine Letellier is a Senior Associate in the Banking & Finance, Regulatory, Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions, and Technology & Innovation and practice areas.

  • Banking & Finance
  • Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Regulatory
  • Technology & Innovation

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Matters related to:

  • Banking and Finance
  • Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Technology & Innovation

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]]> Hlonelwa Lutuli https://werksmans.com/team-members/hlonelwa-lutuli/ Thu, 17 Apr 2025 13:31:31 +0000 https://www.werksmans.online/?post_type=gs_team&p=18533 Hlonelwa, is an Associate in the Technolgy & Innovation, Digital Media & Electronic Communications and Investment Funds practice areas. Digital Media & Electronic Communications Investment Funds Technology & Innovation Your Content Goes Here Your Content Goes Here Your Content Goes Here Your Content Goes Here [...]

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Hlonelwa, is an Associate in the Technolgy & Innovation, Digital Media & Electronic Communications and Investment Funds practice areas.

  • Digital Media & Electronic Communications
  • Investment Funds
  • Technology & Innovation

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]]> Francisca Heese https://werksmans.com/team-members/francisca-heese/ Thu, 17 Apr 2025 13:26:47 +0000 https://www.werksmans.online/?post_type=gs_team&p=18530 Francisca Heese is an Associate, practising in a number of areas, namely Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions; Private Equity; and Technology and Innovation. She has advised on M&A transactions; including co-ordinating due diligence investigations in the context of such transactions. In particular, she has experience in advising on, negotiating and drafting a variety of commercial [...]

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Francisca Heese is an Associate, practising in a number of areas, namely Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions; Private Equity; and Technology and Innovation. She has advised on M&A transactions; including co-ordinating due diligence investigations in the context of such transactions. In particular, she has experience in advising on, negotiating and drafting a variety of commercial agreements for clients in the retail sector, financial services sector, agricultural sector and technology sector. She advises on company law and corporate governance matters.

Years of Experience: 3 years

Commercial

  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Private Equity
  • Technology and Innovation

  • Acted for prominent retailers, private equity funds and farming enterprises in the RSA and Africa and other clients who supply/service the retail sector in various commercial transactions and matters. These transactions and matters cover various commercial and operational areas including: corporate financing, JSE requirements, BEE and group restructuring, acquisitions and disposals of shareholdings in companies and of business enterprises or business assets, lease and property sale agreements, IT transactions, supply agreements, SLAs, manufacturing and packing agreements, and others. Some examples of these transactions and types of matters include:
  • Advising the Shoprite Group on the acquisition of a majority stake in RA Cellular (Pty) Ltd
  • Advising Pepkor on the sale of The Building Company Proprietary Limited to Capitalworks Private Equity
  • Advising 1K1V on its disposal of its 59% shareholding in the Consumer Profile Bureau Group (a credit bureau group in South Africa) to Ascension private equity fund (this transaction was shortlisted for the Dealmakers BEE Deal of the Year, 2024)
  • Advising on manufacturing agreements and logistics services agreements for a multinational food products supplier to the retail sector
  • Advising financial services clients on the acquisition of independent financial service providers
  • Advising on supply agreements for retail clients
  • Advising private equity funds on their acquisition and disposal of equity stakes in technology companies in South Africa
  • Advising various company boards and shareholder groups on company law issues and shareholder disputes
  • Advising various company boards regarding corporate governance matters

*** Prior to joining Werksmans, a key member of the private equity deal team which won the Dealmakers Private Equity Deal of the Year in 2020 and 2022.

  • Admitted Attorney, 2024
  • LLM, Stellenbosch University
  • LLB, Stellenbosch University
  • BCom (Law), Stellenbosch University

Publications

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]]> Wesley Vos https://werksmans.com/team-members/wesley-vos/ Thu, 17 Apr 2025 12:22:17 +0000 https://www.werksmans.online/?post_type=gs_team&p=18492 Wesley Vos is a Senior Associate in the Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity practice areas. He advises local and international clients on complex domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, private equity investments and exits, corporate restructurings, and general corporate and finance matters. Wesley regularly leads and manages multi-disciplinary due diligence processes, drafts and [...]

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Wesley Vos is a Senior Associate in the Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity practice areas.

He advises local and international clients on complex domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, private equity investments and exits, corporate restructurings, and general corporate and finance matters.

Wesley regularly leads and manages multi-disciplinary due diligence processes, drafts and negotiates transaction agreements, and advises on transaction structuring and corporate law matters.

Years of Experience: 5 years

Commercial

  • Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Private Equity
  • Technology and Innovation

  • Advising clients in the retail sector, agricultural sector and private equity funds on various commercial transactions and corporate matters. These matters and transactions include corporate financing transactions; security documents for financing transactions; acquisitions and disposals of shareholding, business enterprises and assets; transactions involving the sale of a business as a going concern; commercial property transactions involving the development and sale of commercial shopping centres; asset lease transactions; transactions involving the acquisition of software; service level agreements; manufacturing and packing agreements.
  • Acted for clients implementing complex local and cross-border M&A transactions (buyer and seller side).
  • Advised clients in relation to various corporate restructurings in the context of private equity and M&A transactions.
  • Key matters that Wesley advised on include:
    • Advising the Shoprite Group on the disposal of its retail subsidiary in Madagascar to the Habibo Group
    • Advising Les Grands Chais de France (global supplier of wine and other liquor to the retail and hospitality sector in South Africa and various countries around the world) on its acquisition of the wine businesses of Neethlingshof Estate and Villiera Wines
    • Advising private equity funds on their acquisition of equity stakes in technology companies in South Africa
    • Advising large commercial farming enterprises with the expansion of their businesses locally and in Africa
    • Advising various company boards and shareholder groups on company law issues and shareholder disputes
    • Advising various company boards regarding corporate governance matters

  • LLB Cum Laude, University of Stellenbosch
  • Bcom Law, University of Stellenbosch
  • Certificate in International Economic Law, Humboldt University, Berlin

  • Listed as a recommended lawyer by Legal 500 | 2024 | Commercial, Corporate/M&A

Publications

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]]> Tracy-Lee Janse van Rensburg https://werksmans.com/team-members/tracy-lee-janse-van-rensburg/ Mon, 14 Apr 2025 11:48:06 +0000 https://www.werksmans.online/?post_type=gs_team&p=11500 Tracy - Lee Janse van Rensburg is a Director, practising in the Banking & Finance, Technology & Innovation and Regulatory practice areas. She specialises in banking and financial services regulation; debt capital markets; leveraged and acquisition finance; leveraged management buy-outs; securitisation; and syndicated and bilateral financing structures. Additionally, Tracy-Lee, has an array of expertise [...]

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Tracy – Lee Janse van Rensburg is a Director, practising in the Banking & Finance, Technology & Innovation and Regulatory practice areas. She specialises in banking and financial services regulation; debt capital markets; leveraged and acquisition finance; leveraged management buy-outs; securitisation; and syndicated and bilateral financing structures. Additionally, Tracy-Lee, has an array of expertise across the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, Consumer Protection Act, Financial Sector Regulation Act, Cybercrimes Act, Banks Act, National Credit Act, Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, Protection of Personal Information Act, Promotion of Access to Information Act, Public Finance Management Act and Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act. She holds several qualifications: a BCom LLB; a Diploma in Advanced Labour Law; an Advanced Diploma in Banking Law; a Diploma in Insolvency Law (cum laude); a Diploma in Corporate Law (cum laude); and a Certificate in Compliance Management.

  • Banking & Finance
  • Regulatory
  • Technology & Innovation

  • Banking and financial services regulation
  • Debt capital markets
  • leveraged and acquisition finance
  • leveraged management buy-outs
  • securitisation and syndicated and bilateral financing structures
  • The Financial Intelligence Centre Act
  • Consumer Protection Act
  • Financial Sector Regulation Act
  • Cybercrimes Act
  • Banks Act
  • National Credit Act
  • Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act
  • Protection of Personal Information Act
  • Promotion of Access to Information Act
  • Public Finance Management Act and Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act

Represented:

  • Life Healthcare on its disposal of 100% of its interest in its European based diagnostics business Alliance Medical Group (AMG) to iCON Infrastructure including in respect of the negotiation of the sale agreement, the approvals necessary under South African law to implement the sale and the restructure of some of Life’s South African and offshore debt (including amendments to its bond programme). This deal was awarded by DealMaker’s as Deal of The Year (2023).
  • the dealer managers and solicitation agents on the South African law aspects in relation to the exchange offer issued by Edcon Bondco Ltd and Edcon Holdings Ltd to noteholders in respect of the outstanding €425 million senior notes due in 2019
  • the South African guarantors and obligors under the Petra Diamonds US$ Treasury Plc senior secured second lien notes offering in the sum of €300 million
  • Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, in its capacity as Arranger and Dealer, under the domestic medium term note programme established for Liberty Group Ltd in an amount of ZAR 5 billion and the issue of various tranches of notes thereunder
  • Absa Bank Limited, in its capacity as Arranger and Dealer, under the domestic medium term note programme established for the Land and Agricultural Bank Development Bank of South Africa in an amount of ZAR 10 billion and the issue of various tranches of notes thereunder
  • Absa Bank Ltd (acting through its Absa Capital division), in its capacity as Arranger and Dealer and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (in its capacity as issuer) on the establishment of a ZAR 15 billion domestic medium term note programme and the issue of notes thereunder
  • BidvestCo Ltd and Bidvest Group Ltd in relation to the establishment of their ZAR 4.5 billion domestic medium term note programme. Advised FirstRand Bank Ltd (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division), in its capacity as Dealer, on the issue of notes under the programme
  • Absa Bank Limited, in its capacity as Arranger and Dealer, under the ZAR 4 billion domestic medium term note programme established for the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and the issue of various tranches of notes thereunder
  • Absa Bank Ltd, in its capacity as Arranger and Dealer, in connection with a ZAR 1.2 billion asset backed note programme for NBC Pension Backed Lending (Pty) Ltd
  • Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, as Arranger and Dealer, in relation to the update of a number of residential mortgage backed note programmes under the auspices of Siyakha Fund (RF) Limited, Blue Granite Investments No. 1 (RF) Limited and Blue Granite Investments No. 2 (RF) Limited
  • Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, as Arranger and Dealer, in relation to the establishment of a number of residential mortgage backed note programmes for SA Home Loans Proprietary Limited under the auspices of The Thekwini Fund 10 (RF) Limited, The Thekwini Fund 11 (RF) Limited, The Thekwini Fund 12 (RF) Limited, The Thekwini Fund 13 (RF) Limited, The Thekwini Fund 14 (RF) Limited, The Thekwini Fund 15 (RF) Limited, The Thekwini Fund 16 (RF) Limited, The Thekwini Fund 17 (RF) Limited, The Thekwini Fund 18 (RF) Limited, Amber House Fund 2 (RF) Limited, Amber House Fund 3 (RF) Limited, Amber House Fund 4 (RF) Limited, Amber House Fund 5 (RF) Limited, Amber House Fund 6 (RF) Limited and Amber House Fund 7 (RF) Limited
  • Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, as Arranger and Dealer, in relation to the update of a number of residential mortgage backed note programmes under the auspices of Siyakha Fund (RF) Limited, Blue Granite Investments No. 1 (RF) Limited and Blue Granite Investments No. 2 (RF) Limited
  • SA Home Loans Proprietary Limited, as Arranger, in relation to the establishment, update and amendment of a number of residential mortgage backed note programmes under the auspices of Milkwood Home Loans (RF) Limited, The Thekwini Fund 9 (RF) Limited, The Thekwini Fund 13 (RF) Limited, Amber House Fund 2 (RF) Limited, Amber House Fund 3 (RF) Limited, Amber House Fund 5 (RF) Limited, Amber House Fund 6 (RF) Limited and Amber House Fund 7 (RF) Limited
  • Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, as Arranger and Dealer, in relation to the establishment of a serialised asset backed note programme for Blue Shield Investments 02 (RF) Limited
  • Servest Proprietary Limited, Servest Facilities Services Proprietary Limited, Stohberg Facilities Management Proprietary Limited, Camp Management Services Botswana Proprietary Limited, Servest MultiServices Group Namibia Proprietary Limited, Servest MultiServices Group Botswana Proprietary Limited and ServeProp Proprietary Limited, in the capacity as borrower and guarantor’s local counsel, in relation to the negotiation and subsequent amendment of various ZAR facilities made available to the group by FirstRand Bank Limited, acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division (“RMB“), Absa Bank Limited, acting through its Absa Corporate and Investment Banking division (“Absa“) and Investec Asset Management Proprietary Limited (acting as agent on behalf of its clients) (“Investec“), which included the negotiation and drafting in relation to both on and offshore security packages
  • Inter alia, Petra Diamonds Limited, Petra Diamonds UK Treasury Limited, Petra Diamonds Netherlands Treasury B.V., Petra Diamonds Jersey Treasury Limited, Petra Diamonds US$ Treasury Plc, Wilcroft Company Limited, Petra Diamonds Southern Africa Proprietary Limited, Blue Diamond Mines Proprietary Limited, Finsch Diamond Mine Proprietary Limited and Tarorite Proprietary Limited, in the capacity as borrower and guarantor’s local counsel, in relation to, inter alia, the refinancing of various ZAR and USD facilities with, inter alia, RMB, Nedbank Limited, acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division, Absa and Investec, which included the negotiation in relation to various on and offshore facilities and security packages, including in relation to the offshore Bond Offering
  • Pasdec Automotive Technologies Botswana Proprietary Limited and Pasdec Automotive Technologies Proprietary Limited, in the capacity as borrower and guarantor’s local counsel, in relation to the negotiation of as well as the subsequent amendment to the BWP facilities made available by Botswana Development Corporation Limited, which included the negotiation and drafting in relation to both on and offshore security packages
  • Elandsfontein Exploration and Mining Proprietary Limited, in the capacity as borrower’s local counsel, in relation to the US$ funding made available by BNP Paribas for purposes of the Elandsfontein Phosphate Project, which included negotiating the funding agreement together with the relevant security package
  • Lloyds TSB Bank, in the capacity as the lender’s local counsel, in relation to the security package provided by, inter alia, SLR African Holdings Proprietary Limited and SLR Management Limited in relation to various offshore facilities made available by the lender to SLR Management Limited
  • Crimson Castle (RF) Proprietary Limited and SA Home Loans Proprietary Limited, in the capacity as the borrower’s local counsel, in relation to the negotiation of funding made available by Absa Bank Limited, which included negotiating the funding agreement together with the relevant security package
  • Structured Mezzanine Investments Proprietary Limited, together with ancillary members in the group, in the capacity as the borrower’s and guarantors’ local counsel in relation to the funding made available to Structured Mezzanine Investments and/or other members of the group by, inter alia, Absa Bank Limited, Nedbank Limited and The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, which included negotiating the terms and conditions of the funding agreement together with the relevant security package
  • Shoprite Investments Limited, Shoprite Checkers Proprietary Limited and other members of the group, in the capacity as the borrower’s and guarantor’s local counsel, in relation to the negotiation of various facilities made available to the group by, inter alia, Absa Bank Limited, Standard Bank Limited and FirstRand Bank Limited, acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division
  • Standard Bank of South Africa Limited and BMW Financial Services (South Africa) Proprietary Limited, in relation to the establishment, update and amendment of an asset backed note programme for SuperDrive Investments (RF) Limited

Assisted:

  • Discovery Bank Limited, in preparing NCA-compliant pre-agreement statement and quotation, together with the underlying loan agreements, for purposes of their new Home Loan Product
  • The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited in reviewing the terms and conditions of various credit agreements for purposes of ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions of the National Credit Act, 2005
  • Absa Bank Limited in reviewing the terms and conditions of various credit agreements for purposes of ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions of the National Credit Act, 2005
  • The JD Group with various queries in relation to the National Credit Act, 2005
  • China Construction Bank Corporation (Johannesburg Branch) in reviewing the terms and conditions of their various product offerings for purposes of ensuring compliance with, inter alia, the terms and conditions of the Protection of Personal Information Act, Code of Banking Practice and general regulatory provisions
  • Prepared various legal opinions for, amongst others, The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, the JD Group, Foschini Retail Group Proprietary Limited, Real People Holdings, Real People Assurance Company Limited, Nedbank Limited, SA Home Loans Proprietary Limited and various other financial institutions and corporates in relation to various aspects of the National Credit Act, 2005
  • Reviewing the terms and conditions of the pre-agreement statement and quotation, together with the underlying loan agreements for various institutions, including various corporates, registered as credit providers under the National Credit Act for purposes of ensuring their compliance with the terms and conditions of the National Credit Act, 2005
  • Advising various clients on various aspects of the terms and conditions of the National Credit Act, 2005 including but not limited to, advice on the registration process, advice on the affordability assessments, cost of credits, enforcement procedures and non-compliance with the provisions of the National Credit Act, 2005
  • Assisting The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited in relation to the review of various terms and conditions for purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2008
  • Assisting Royal Canine in reviewing various marketing and promotional material for purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2008
  • Assisting the JD Group with various queries in relation to the Consumer Protection Act, 2008
  • Assisting various financial institutions, offshore legal entities, corporates and small companies in providing legal opinions on, inter alia, various sections of the Consumer Protection Act, general CPA compliance and the structuring of various products
  • Assisting various financial institutions, offshore legal entities, corporates and small companies in relation to various queries on, inter alia, the Financial Advisory Intermediary Services Act, 2002, the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 2001, the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013, the Financial Markets Act, 2012, the Public Finance Management Act, 1999, Banks Act, 1990, the Financial Sector Regulation Act, 2017, and other relevant legislation
  • Assisting various financial institutions, corporates and small companies in relation to the preparation of their Risk Management and Compliance Programmes, providing general guidance on the provisions of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 2001, and providing training in relation to the provisions of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 2001, which would include preparing various legal opinions in relation to various aspects of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 2001, pursuant to recent amendments to the legislation around the scope of accountable institutions

  • Certificate in Compliance Management, Rand Afrikaans University, 2004
  • Diploma in Corporate Law (cum laude), Rand Afrikaans University, 2003
  • Diploma in Insolvency Law and Practice (cum laude), Rand Afrikaans University, 2002
  • Diploma in Advanced Banking, Rand Afrikaans University, 2002
  • Diploma in Advanced Labour Law, Rand Afrikaans University
  • Admitted as an attorney, 1998
  • LLB, Rand Afrikaans University, 1998
  • BCom, Rand Afrikaans University, 1995

  • Ranked lawyer (Band 3) by Chambers Global | 2026 | Capital Markets: Debt
  • Ranked as a highly regarded practitioner by IFLR 1000 | 2020 – 2025 | Banking and Capital Markets
  • Ranked as a leading lawyer by Chambers Global | 2023 – 2025 | Capital Markets: Debt
  • Recognised as a rising star by IFLR 1000 | 2017 – 2021 | Banking and Capital Markets

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]]> Tebogo Sibidla https://werksmans.com/team-members/tebogo-sibidla/ Mon, 14 Apr 2025 11:43:39 +0000 https://www.werksmans.online/?post_type=gs_team&p=11497 Tebogo Sibidla is a Director in our Commercial Practice and a regulatory lawyer with a pan-African focus on digital, technology, and sector‑specific regulatory frameworks. With over two decades of experience, she advises local and multinational clients on navigating complex regulatory environments, particularly in sectors shaped by rapid technological and digital transformation. She advises clients [...]

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Tebogo Sibidla is a Director in our Commercial Practice and a regulatory lawyer with a pan-African focus on digital, technology, and sector‑specific regulatory frameworks.

With over two decades of experience, she advises local and multinational clients on navigating complex regulatory environments, particularly in sectors shaped by rapid technological and digital transformation. She advises clients across a range of regulated sectors, including media, broadcasting, electronic communications, digital platforms, e-commerce, iGaming, online betting, esports, digital entertainment, and the technology and electronics sector. Her expertise includes regulatory licensing, compliance strategy, and risk management, as well as advising on advertising and marketing, consumer protection, data protection and privacy, and administrative law.

She has significant experience supporting operators, platforms, and investors in navigating complex regulatory frameworks and securing regulatory approvals. She also advises on e-waste and environmental regulatory frameworks affecting technology businesses.

Tebogo is a strong advocate for modern, harmonised and commercially workable regulatory frameworks in Africa, supporting cross-border trade, reducing compliance complexity, and enabling innovation and sustainable digital growth.

Years of experience: 21 years

  • Digital Media & Electronic Communications
  • Regulatory & Compliance
  • Technology & Innovation

  • Licensing and regulation of audio and audiovisual services
  • Legislative and regulatory advisory, including analysis of draft laws, regulatory impact assessment, and preparation of written and oral submissions
  • IT and telecommunications policies and agreements
  • Electronic communications and telecommunications regulation
  • Digital platform and online content regulation, including social media, AI, music rights, content licensing, and content governance
  • Advertising, marketing, and promotional competition compliance
  • AI, data governance, and emerging technology regulation
  • Digital service taxes
  • Data protection, privacy, and information governance
  • Films, games, and publications classification
  • Cybersecurity and cybercrime
  • Consumer protection and market conduct regulation
  • Regulatory strategy, compliance frameworks, and risk management
  • Engagement with regulators and regulatory authorities
  • Regulatory investigations, enforcement action, and dispute resolution
  • Satellite service licensing and regulation
  • Licensing and regulation of gambling, online betting, and esports ecosystems
  • Environmental compliance, including electronic waste (e-waste) regulatory frameworks
  • Cross-border regulatory advisory across multiple African jurisdictions, including coordinating multi-jurisdictional filings and engagement with regional regulatory frameworks and bodies such as COMESA

  • Advised Blue Label Telecoms on the regulatory approval for its acquisition of a controlling interest in Cell C, including the transfer of control of electronic communications licences before the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, contributing to a transaction critical to the sustainability of a major mobile operator.
  • Advised MultiChoice Group on the sector specific regulatory aspects of the acquisition by Groupe Canal+, a ZAR 55 billion transaction and the largest media M&A deal in Africa, including coordinating regulatory approvals across multiple African jurisdictions.
  • Regularly advises leading pan-African audiovisual service providers on digital platform regulation, online piracy, and emerging regulatory frameworks across multiple African jurisdictions, including cybersecurity, data protection, and content governance.
  • Advised a pan-African legal information company on data protection and regulatory issues relating to the aggregation and commercial use of public legal data, including considerations relevant to digital platforms and AI-driven use cases across multiple African jurisdictions.
  • Advised on regulatory licensing across Africa, including strategic structuring, drafting applications, and negotiating licence terms, successfully securing audio, audiovisual and electronic communications licences, and licence renewals across Africa, including Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
  • Developed compliance frameworks for multinational companies, including drafting compliance risk management plans and providing compliance training across multiple African jurisdictions in respect of sector specific, consumer protection, competition, and data protection laws.

  • Director, Werksmans Attorneys (2011–present)
  • Certificate in Competition Law, University of the Witwatersrand (2011)
  • Admitted as an Attorney (2007)
  • Certificate in Advanced Broadcasting Law, University of the Witwatersrand (2006)
  • LLB, University of the Witwatersrand (2004)

  • Ranked Band 3 (Media & Broadcasting, South Africa) – Chambers Global Guide 2025, 2026
  • Recognised by Who’s Who Legal (now Lexology Index) as a leading practitioner in Telecoms & Media and as a Recommended Global Leading Lawyer in Data Privacy & Protection
  • Listed and recognised in The Legal 500 (Media, Communications & Technology; Data Privacy)
  • Member of Werksmans’ highly ranked Media & Communications and Digital Media & Electronic Communications practice:
  • Band 2 ranked team (Chambers Global 2025)
  • Dealmakers (Ansarada) Deal of the Year 2024
  • African Legal Awards – TMT Team of the Year (2025)
  • Contributor to DataGuidance, providing jurisdictional input and regulatory insight on data protection, data residency, and privacy developments
  • Contributed as a legal expert to World Bank digital regulatory and indicators surveys for South Africa (2020 and 2022)
  • Recognised in the Women in Business Law Expert Guide (Euromoney), 2021

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]]> Samantha Sinden https://werksmans.com/team-members/samantha-sinden/ Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:15:33 +0000 https://www.werksmans.online/?post_type=gs_team&p=11471 Samantha Sinden is a Director and specialist corporate and regulatory lawyer in the Digital Media and Electronic Communications practice area, with over 16 years’ experience in digital media, broadcasting, electronic communications and competition law. She advises multinational broadcasting groups, telecommunications companies, and technology clients on complex regulatory, compliance, competition, and transactional matters across South [...]

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Samantha Sinden is a Director and specialist corporate and regulatory lawyer in the Digital Media and Electronic Communications practice area, with over 16 years’ experience in digital media, broadcasting, electronic communications and competition law. She advises multinational broadcasting groups, telecommunications companies, and technology clients on complex regulatory, compliance, competition, and transactional matters across South Africa and numerous African jurisdictions. Samantha is recognised for leading high-stakes matters at the intersection of broadcasting regulation and competition law, including landmark multi-jurisdictional regulatory transactions, and pan-African compliance programmes. She co-led the regulatory workstream for the largest media M&A transaction in sub-Saharan Africa (valued at R55 billion), coordinating regulatory applications across 10+ countries. Samantha provides ongoing regulatory, competition law, intellectual property, advertising, consumer protection and compliance advice across 20+ African jurisdictions, including Angola, Botswana, eSwatini, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe.

Years of Experience: 16 years

Digital Media & Electronic Communications

Commercial

  • Media & Communications
  • Competition
  • Regulatory & Compliance
  • Music Copyright
  • Advertising
  • Consumer Protection

Advises on

  • Electronic Communications Law
  • Broadcasting Law
  • Telecommunications Law
  • Competition Law
  • Compliance audits and compliance programmes
  • Multi-jurisdictional regulatory compliance and risk management
  • Administrative and regulatory law
  • B-BBEE and ownership equity compliance in the ICT sector
  • Intellectual property and anti-piracy
  • Legislative reform and parliamentary submissions
  • Corporate transactional regulatory support
  • Consumer Protection Law
  • Advertising Law

  • Media and communications law, including
    – audio-visual media services and broadcasting policy, licensing and regulation
    – digital media & electronic communications
    – content regulation across all media platforms
    – films, games and publications classification
  • Licensing by ICASA
  • Pan-African compliance programme design and implementation across Southern and Eastern African territories
  • Multi-jurisdictional regulatory filings for major corporate transactions (10+ countries)
  • Regulatory proceedings before ICASA, Competition Tribunal, and civil courts
  • Video-on-demand and streaming service regulation across 12+ international jurisdictions
  • Anti-piracy laws and frameworks
  • High Court litigation on confidentiality of regulatory submissions
  • Copyright royalties and collective management across 12 African countries
  • Extensive ongoing regulatory advice across 20+ African jurisdictions, including Angola, Botswana, eSwatini, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe

  • Director, Werksmans, 2019
  • Senior Associate, Werksmans, 2014
  • Associate, Werksmans, 2012
  • Certificate in Economics for Law, University of the Witwatersrand, 2013
  • Admitted as an Attorney, 2012
  • LLB (cum laude), University of the Witwatersrand, 2009

  • African Legal Awards, TMT Team of the Year, 2019 & 2025
  • ANSARADA Dealmakers Deal of the Year, 2024 (Canal+/MultiChoice transaction – largest media M&A in sub-Saharan Africa, valued at R55 billion)
  • Nominated as one of Thomson Reuters’ Stand-out Lawyers, 2022
  • Recognised in Euromoney’s Women in Business Law Expert Guide, 2021
  • Joint winner of the 2010 Juta Prize for best article published by a candidate attorney in De Rebus, 2010
  • Certificate of Merit for the most distinguished performance in the course Sale and Lease, 2008
  • Certificate of Merit for the most distinguished performance in the course Public International Law, 2008
  • Council Member of the Wits Law Students Council, 2007 to 2009
  • Dean’s Merit List, 2007 to 2009

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]]> Roger Wakefield https://werksmans.com/team-members/roger-wakefield/ Mon, 14 Apr 2025 09:58:25 +0000 https://www.werksmans.online/?post_type=gs_team&p=11463 Roger Wakefield has over 30 years’ experience at Werksmans as a highly skilled litigation and dispute resolution lawyer. He specialises in major commercial litigation with a focus on international arbitration; investment treaty arbitration and cross border disputes; technology disputes and Maritime Law. Roger has deep expertise in cross border disputes; enforcements of foreign judgments; [...]

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Roger Wakefield has over 30 years’ experience at Werksmans as a highly skilled litigation and dispute resolution lawyer.

He specialises in major commercial litigation with a focus on international arbitration; investment treaty arbitration and cross border disputes; technology disputes and Maritime Law. Roger has deep expertise in cross border disputes; enforcements of foreign judgments; and private international law and commercial litigation in the United States.

He is also skilled in arbitration, mediation and alternative dispute resolution; IT litigation; administrative law; intellectual property law trademarks and copyright law; healthcare and health funding; mining law; and corporate fraud.

Roger writes the South African Chapter in Juris Publication Enforcement of Foreign Money Judgments and edits the Lex Africa Guide to the Enforcement of Foreign Money Judgments and Arbitral Awards in Africa.

Experience: 31 years

  • Digital Media & Electronic Communications
  • Disputes
  • Intellectual Property

  • Arbitration
  • Private International Law and Cross-Border Disputes
  • Maritime and Shipping Law
  • Investment treaty arbitration
  • Disputes
  • Technology Disputes
  • Intellectual Property

  • Enforcing a USD 100 million arbitration award against the Government of Zimbabwe in favour of KfW Bank
  • Represented the Premier Soccer League in its dispute with the SABC relating to broadcast rights. The SABC’s claims against the PSL were dismissed by the arbitrator in January 2008, paving the way for the PSL to conclude one of the biggest sports broadcast rights deals in South Africa.
  • Involved in majority of the leading cases on the enforcement of foreign judgments in South Africa since 1994.
  • Attachment of a commercial Airbus airliner belonging to the Government of Tanzania in litigation proceedings against Tanzania.
  • Attachment of mineral cargo aboard ship belonging to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in litigation proceedings against the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • Acted for the Premier Soccer League in court proceedings declaring that copyright vested in its fixture lists, requiring gaming operators using fixtures to pay royalties
  • Represented numerous multinational companies in cross-border disputes and litigation.
  • Represented numerous multinational companies in litigation against foreign states.
  • Representing Danish investor against the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania regarding a breach of the bilateral investment treaty between the two countries
  • Represented ship owners in Maritime disputes

  • Admitted as an Attorney, 1993
  • LLB, University of the Witwatersrand, 1990
  • BA, University of the Witwatersrand

  • Named as a leading commercial litigator in the International Who’s Who of Commercial Litigators (2013 – 2017)
  • Rated as a leading arbitration lawyer in Best Lawyer since 2010
  • Member of the Management Committee of LEX Africa: a network of leading law firms in 27 countries across Africa
  • Member of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Centre’s (MARC) Court of Arbitration
  • Member of the South African ICC Nomination Committee

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]]> Roelof Bonnet https://werksmans.com/team-members/roelof-bonnet/ Mon, 14 Apr 2025 09:52:59 +0000 https://www.werksmans.online/?post_type=gs_team&p=11460 Roelof Bonnet is a Director in the Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions practice area. His experience includes mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, joint ventures and the formation, structuring and restructuring of business entities. Roelof regularly advises prominent listed and private companies across a range of sectors, including manufacturing, mining, construction, technology and private equity. [...]

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Roelof Bonnet is a Director in the Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions practice area. His experience includes mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, joint ventures and the formation, structuring and restructuring of business entities. Roelof regularly advises prominent listed and private companies across a range of sectors, including manufacturing, mining, construction, technology and private equity.

  • Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Technology & Innovation

Roelof specialises in transactional work, both in the public and private space, with particular expertise in private equity transactions across a range of sectors.

  • Advised Masimong Group Holdings and RMB Investments & Advisory on the acquisition of a stake in KWV 1918, a leading wine and spirits producer in South Africa, which owns and distributes brands such as KWV Brandy, Roodeberg, and KWV Wines.
  • Advised Sabvest Capital, Shalamuka Capital and RMB Corvest on the disposal of a 55% stake in Sunspray Food Ingredients, a supplier of spray dried food ingredients, spray drying of nutrition products and other flavour products.
  • Advised Lesaka Technologies, a prominent Fintech company with a NASDAQ listing, on various acquisitions, including:
    • the Adumo group, a leading provider of omnichannel payments ecosystems to emerging businesses and large-scale enterprises in South Africa and Southern Africa, from Crossfin and others for ZAR1.59 billion;
    • Touchsides SA, a data analytics and merchant services company, from Heineken International B.V.; and
    • the Cash Connect group, provider of smart retail cash management and payment solutions and other fintech solutions in South Africa and Southern Africa, for approximately ZAR3.7 billion.
  • Advised RMB Corvest and Dlondlobala Capital and their consortium on their acquisition of the liquid cartons manufacturing business from Nampak Products Limited, which business is a leading manufacturer in South Africa, Malawi, Zambia and other African jurisdictions.
  • Advised Digital Ecosystems, an investment company operating in the B2B tech sector, on various acquisitions, including a controlling stake in Digitata, a Mauritian AI technology business, and Paytime Holdings, an employee financial wellness service provider.
  • Advised RMB Corvest and Shalamuka Capital on the acquisition of a 30% stake in Switch Telecom, a Voice over Internet Protocol telecommunications service provider.
  • Advised Gammatek, a branded mobile technology accessories distributor to leading telecoms companies, on the acquisitions of various businesses, including the business of LUKS Group, a distributor of audio products and brands and related accessories including Skullcandy branded products, and the business of Celcom, a distributor of cellular phone accessories.
  • Advised Sabvest on the disposal of its shares in Metrofile (listed on the JSE) to Afropulse Group by way of an on-market block trade.
  • Advised Sabvest and its consortium on the acquisition of a minority stake in Versofy Holdings, one of the largest home and SME solar installation and power solutions groups in South Africa, offering Solar as a Service and rent to buy solutions.
  • Advised Baobab Industrial Group, a portfolio company of RMB Corvest and Shalamuka Capital, on the acquisition of the businesses of West Rand Engineering, Dupleix Liquid Meters and Sectional Poles in the industrial sector.
  • Advised Matasis Investment Holdings on the disposal of Aard Mining Equipment, a manufacturer and supplier of underground mining equipment, to Epiroc, a mining safety equipment multinational coporation.
  • Advised Sabvest Capital and Masimong on the acquisition of a 37% stake in ARB Holdings, an electrical wholesaler and lighting distributor of leading branded products such as Eurolux and Cathay Lighting products.
  • Advised Agile Capital on the B-BBEE transaction of Berry Astrapak, a specialised manufacturer of an extensive range of rigid moulded, and thermoformed plastic packaging products serving the African market.
  • Advised Ethos Mid-Market Fund I on various acquisitions, including an interest in MTN Zakhele Futhi (to provide black South African citizens with an opportunity to participate in the ownership of MTN, one of the largest cellular network providers in South Africa), and controlling interests in companies from their founders.
  • Advised Net1 on its secondary listing on the JSE Limited.

  • Registered with the Legal Practice Counsel
  • BCom LLB, Rand Afrikaans University (now known as the University of Johannesburg)
  • Year of admission as Attorney and Notary Public: 2007

  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2022, 2024 recommended Roelof for Commercial, Corporate/M&A.

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]]> Robert Driman https://werksmans.com/team-members/robert-driman/ Mon, 14 Apr 2025 09:43:18 +0000 https://www.werksmans.online/?post_type=gs_team&p=11455 Robert Driman is a Director in the Banking & Finance; Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions; and Investment Funds practice areas. He specialises in transactions involving banking and financial institutions and regulation; regulatory issues; international transactions; exchange control; finance; crisis management; and business rescue. Robert has extensive experience in resolving complex high-profile corporate, commercial and regulatory [...]

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Robert Driman is a Director in the Banking & Finance; Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions; and Investment Funds practice areas. He specialises in transactions involving banking and financial institutions and regulation; regulatory issues; international transactions; exchange control; finance; crisis management; and business rescue. Robert has extensive experience in resolving complex high-profile corporate, commercial and regulatory issues in many areas of commerce in South Africa and abroad. He has represented local and international banks on virtually every aspect of banking; finance documents; cross-border lending and security; restructurings; regulation; exchange control, customer relations and duties, derivative instruments and close-outs.

  • Banking & Finance
  • Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Investment Funds
  • Technology & Innovation

  • Transactions involving banking and financial institutions
  • Banking and financial services regulation
  • Regulatory issues
  • International transactions
  • Exchange control
  • Finance
  • Crisis management
  • Business rescue

  • Advised Steinhoff International Holdings in relation to a wide range of issues following its share price collapse.
  • Advised PwC in relation to the Vrystaat Munisipale Pensioenfonds (“Fund”) of which PwC was the curator following financial irregularities by the principal member
  • Have advised the Board and Company Secretary of a major listed financial services company for over 20 years in relation to corporate governance issues.
  • Advised many small and medium-sized commercial entities and public bodies in regard to their compliance with the Companies Act.
  • For over a decade was on the IT committee of his previous firm looking at all aspects of information technology risk.
  • Has advised a major international electronic communications giant in regard to the supply of its information technology suite in relation to the fitting of combat vessels for the South African Navy.
  • Advised a major financial services company in relation to a variety of information technology matters, including disputes with IT suppliers (both for hardware and software).
  • During his membership of the International Bar Association attended disaster recovery briefings in relation to unusual and dramatic technology business interruptions

  • BJournalism (Rhodes) LLB (University of the Witwatersrand)
  • HDipCoLaw (University of the Witwatersrand)
  • LLM (Banking and Stock Exchanges) (University of Johannesburg)
  • MCom Taxation (University of Cape Town)
  • 2015: Director, Werksmans in the banking and finance and corporate mergers & acquisitions teams

  • Listed as a recommended lawyer in in Investment Funds by the Legal 500 (2024).
  • Robert has extensive experience is in resolving high profile complex corporate, commercial and regulatory issues in many areas of commerce in South Africa and abroad
  • He has represented national and international banks on virtually every aspect of banking, finance documents, cross-border lending and security, restructurings, regulation, exchange control, customer relations and duties, derivative instruments and close-outs and complex problems and disputes.  He effected the first close-out in South Africa as well as the first close out in South Africa during the 2008 financial crisis (Dealstream).  He advised in relation to aspects of the Libor debacle. He has also advised bank boards and audit committees on their responsibilities
  • Robert has been briefed in some of the largest corporate insolvencies including the cross-border Parmalat insolvency and the insolvency of Macmed, advised consortiums of banks on work-outs, and represented parts of the banking community in the drafting of the legislation on business rescue. Most recently he represented a major bank in relation to its exposure to a large fashion house
  • He has acted for foreign governments in relation to funding projects in South Africa, auditing firms, educational institutions and insurers in relation to regulatory and risk, and was a director at St Augustine College, a private South African university.  He has acted in large liability claims for insurers
  • Robert has appeared before the Myburgh Commission into the rapid decline in the exchange value of the Rand as well as the Seriti Commission into the arms procurement packages. He has acted extensively in several aspects of the arms procurement process
  • Robert was a member of the International Bar Association from the mid-1990s and was the South African representative on the litigation committee
  • He has participated in the development of the South African law with regulators and before the courts in several major areas including cross-border insolvencies (Air Zambia), restraints of trade (Marfield Insurance Brokers and Aranda Textiles), and the development of banking products (the Million-a-month account)
  • Robert was recognised in the Chambers Global review as a “sound and respected” practitioner with clear insight and a commercial bent and it was stated that “[h]e does not get flustered easily and is able to take a complicated case from A to Z”
  • Robert has also been recognised in Legal 500 for his work with banks, by PLC as a recommended practitioner in restructuring and insolvency, by Best Lawyers as well as by Who’s Who Legal

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