MEET THE TEAM

Tumelo Mashabela

Director & Registered Patent Attorney

“Be the Change that you want to see in the World” – Mahatma Ghandi

Qualifications

LLM in Intellectual Property and Technology Law – American University Washington College of Law
LLB – University of South Africa
BSc Electrical Engineering – University of Cape Town

Expertise

Intellectual Property Law
Commercial Law
Entertainment Law
Environmental Law
Corporate Law
Commercial Litigation
Labour Law

Professional Associations

Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa
Registered Patent Attorney in South Africa
Fellow Member of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL)
Member of the Legal Practice Council

Hobbies

Spending time with family
Travelling
Exercising
Hiking
Reading

BONGANI MDAKANE

Consultant – Attorney

Qualifications

LLB – University of South Africa
Post Graduate Diploma in Drafting and Interpretation of Contracts – University of Johannesburg

Expertise

Intellectual Property
Commercial Law
Commercial and Civil Litigation
Entertainment law
Labour Law

Professional Associations

Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa
Member of the Legal Practice Council

Hobbies

Music

BONTLE CHOKOE

Associate Attorney

Qualifications

LLB – University of Limpopo

Expertise

Intellectual Property Law
Commercial Law
Entertainment Law
Commercial and Civil Litigation

Professional Associations

Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa
Member of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL)
Member of the Legal Practice Council

Hobbies

Speaking engagements and presentations
Research and writing
Reading
Networking

FLORENCE TSHAYA

Office Manager & Legal Secretary

Qualifications

National Diploma in Marketing Management – Tshwane North College
Higher Certificate in Law – University of South Africa

Expertise

Intellectual Property Searches, Reporting, and Management
Administration
Office Management

Hobbies

Reading

Networking
Outdoor activities
Motorcycle riding

ALLAN JOHN RABIE

Consultant – Patent Attorney

Qualifications

LLB – University of South Africa
Master’s Degree in Polymer Chemistry – University of Stellenbosch
BSc (Hons) in Polymer Chemistry – University of Stellenbosch
BSc in Industrial Chemistry – University of Stellenbosch

Expertise

Intellectual Property Law
Commercial Law
Commercial Litigation

Professional Associations

Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa
Registered Patent Attorney in South Africa
Member of the Legal Practice Council

Hobbies

Spending time with family
Deep sea fishing

BIOGRAPHY

Tumelo Mashabela

Director & Registered Patent Attorney

Tumelo is a dynamic patent attorney with extensive skills in various aspects of intellectual property (IP), corporate and commercial law. Tumelo holds a degree in BSc Electrical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, an LLB degree from the University of South Africa, and an LLM in Intellectual Property and Technology Law from the American University Washington College of Law.

Tumelo began her career as a software engineer at a prestigious weapons company where she gained her technical experience. Following that, Tumelo qualified as the first black female patent attorney in South Africa during 2009 having worked at some of the largest IP and commercial law firms in the country. With 18 years of experience in the legal profession, more than 14 years post admission, Tumelo has a wide range of expertise in drafting contracts, developing IP strategies and policies, conducting IP audits and due diligence investigations. With her vast knowledge and experience; Tumelo established her own IP law firm; Tshaya Mashabela Attorneys, in 2016.

Tumelo is passionate about creating IP awareness, and has done so both locally (in South Africa) and internationally. Tumelo has been actively participating as a guest lecturer, and imparting her knowledge and expertise at the WIPO Summer School, since 2012. She has also appeared on a number of media outlets, such as eNCA, Newzroom Afrika, and Power FM, as a thought leader on various topics related to IP law.

Tumelo is currently a Board Member of the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI). She served as an Advisory Board Member for the National Intellectual Property Management Office, an agency of Department of Science and Innovation. She is a former non-executive Director for UJ Invnt (Pty) Ltd, a commercialisation arm of the University of Johannesburg. She was an Independent Contractor contracted to UNISA to develop content for an IP Management Post-Graduate Diploma. Tumelo was awarded a Professional Excellence in Innovation Management Award by the Department of Science and Innovation in Collaboration with SARIMA during 2018. She is currently a moderator for one of the Patent Board Exams, and an external examiner for a post-graduate course: Intellectual Property, New Technologies and Innovation at the University of Pretoria. Tumelo is an innovative entrepreneur, businesswoman, and patent attorney who is shaping the world of IP Law.

BIOGRAPHY

Bongani Mdakane

Consultant – Attorney

Bongani Mdakane is an admitted attorney with over 12 years of experience in the legal fraternity. He holds an LLB from the University of South Africa (UNISA), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Drafting and Interpretation of Contracts from the University of Johannesburg (UJ).

Bongani started his legal career at Spoor & Fisher, where he served articles and specialised in Trade Mark and Copyright Law. He would later obtain an opportunity to expand his legal experience outside of Intellectual Property Law when he joined Lexcorp, a legal insurance company offering general legal services to its policyholder clients. This is where Bongani gained exposure to Labour Law, Family Law and Criminal law. Following his time at Lexcorp, Bongani gained Commercial Law experience by serving as a Commercial Legal Advisor at Clientele Legal’s Business/SMME department.

In this role at Clientele Legal, Bongani’s duties involved drafting and reviewing contracts, advising companies on statutory compliance including, (without limitation) the Consumer Protection Act, and Labour Relations Act, instituting disciplinary hearings and carrying out debt collection. In addition, Bongani managed litigation matters.

An ardent music lover, it was Bongani’s long-held wish to merge his legal experience with his love for music. This opportunity came in the form of the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) where Bongani served as a Legal Advisor. At SAMRO, Bongani obtained invaluable experience in the music industry, particularly in the context of collective management.

Notably, Bongani was part of the team which made written submissions to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on the Copyright Amendment Bill. Eager to continue his work in the music industry, Bongani joined one of the leading independent record labels, Ambitiouz Entertainment as a Legal and Business Affairs Manager.

This role at Ambitiouz Entertainment involved, (without limitation), drafting, reviewing, and negotiating Artist Agreements, Licence Agreements, Endorsement Agreements, Performance Agreements, Publishing Agreements, Distribution Agreements, and Joint Venture Agreements. The role also involved publishing administration and management of litigation matters. During his tenure at Ambitiouz Entertainment, Bongani joined the Composers, Authors, and Publishers Association (CAPASSO) as a Non-Executive Director.