Robby is a partner in the Technology, Media, Telecommunications and Intellectual Property Team at Webber Wentzel. He obtained his BA, LLB and LLM from the University of the Witwatersrand and was admitted as an attorney in 2001.
Prior to joining Webber Wentzel, Robby was Legal Manager for EDS (the leading global technology services company which subsequently merged with Hewlett Packard) and was primarily responsible for overseeing the activities of EDS in Middle East and Africa. During this time, he was involved in several significant transactions in the Middle East and Africa, including the multi-billion Dollar global applications outsourcing transaction with Vodafone. In addition to being involved in the establishment and oversight of various joint ventures in the region, Robby was involved in advising on various transactions involving the following countries:
Africa: South Africa, Botswana, Morocco, Egypt, Benin, Angola, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Burkina Faso, Benin, Kenya and Guinea
Middle East: Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
Areas of expertise
Technology/eCommerce
Intellectual property
Consumer protection
Telecommunications
Media and broadcasting
Data protection
Top matters
eCommerce: Extensive experience advising clients in all industries and sectors, both local and international, on all aspects relating to the establishment of online activities, websites, ventures and initiatives, including in the C2C, B2B and B2C context; drafting and reviewing website terms and conditions, privacy policies, cookie policies, licences and the like; providing advice on the use of digital signatures, digital certificates and other authentication measures and devices; conducting website audits; advising on computer crimes, fraud and other offences committed in an online context.
Technology: Robby has extensive experience in preparing, reviewing and negotiating a broad range of technology related agreements, including amongst others, infrastructure and applications related outsourcing agreements, software licence, implementation, development and maintenance agreements, hardware procurement, systems acquisition agreements, consulting agreements, hosting agreements, website development and Internet related agreements, and escrow agreements.
Consumer Protection: Providing extensive advice and preparing and reviewing agreements, policies and other documentation relating to the interpretation and application of the Consumer Protection Act for clients in various industries, including the advertising, banking, financial services, telecommunications, information technology, broadcasting, real estate, hospitality, gaming, food, transportation, construction, steel, mining and manufacturing industries. This includes entities operating throughout the supply chains of these industries, such as producers, manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers.
Intellectual Property: (i) preparation, review and negotiation of agreements, and preparation of opinions, involving the development, exploitation and commercialisation of intellectual property, including (amongst others) development, commissioning, licensing, distribution, franchising, sponsorship and assignment agreements, (ii) attending to litigation relating to intellectual property infringement.
Telecommunications: (i) providing regulatory advice and liaising with regulators on behalf of clients; (ii) negotiation, preparation and review of technical services, equipment and facilities agreements, including interconnection and facilities leasing agreements; (iii) providing regular and ongoing advice to a mobile cellular network operator and mobile cellular service providers in respect of regulatory and licensing issues; (iv) conducting reviews of regulatory environments and licence conditions of operators in multiple jurisdictions throughout Africa; and (v) providing advice in relation to proposed mergers and acquisitions in the telecommunications industry in various African territories, including Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Sudan, Sierra Leone, DRC, Chad and Mozambique.
Broadcasting & Media Law: (i) representing both public and private broadcasters regarding various aspects of their businesses; (ii) representing and providing advice to the National Association of Broadcasters on intellectual property related issues; (ii) preparation negotiation and review of channel distribution agreements, signal distribution agreements, television production agreements, commissioning agreements, artists' contracts, restraints of trade, content and distribution agreements, (ii) providing advice on issues related to television, film, music, advertising and sponsorships, radio production, facilities leasing and film financing.
Accolades
Listed as a leading lawyer by Chambers Global 2012 in the area of IT & Telecommunications.
Included in the Mail & Guardian’s “200 Young South Africans” 2010. He is described as "one of South Africa's few experts in the field of information and communications technology".
