Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH), one of South Africa and Kenya's leading corporate and commercial law firms, continues to evolve with a refreshed Technology & Communications service offering. This offering is led by the accomplished Sector Head Tayyibah Suliman, a Director at CDH’s Corporate & Commercial practice. 

According to CDH CEO Brent Williams, this move reflects CDH's commitment to delivering cutting-edge legal services in the ever-changing landscape of technology and communications. 

“Although we have been active in the technology and media space for years, the sector is ever evolving and requires an agile and innovative response that enables our clients to thrive in this fluid new world. We know that Tayyibah will exceed our client's expectations as she brings her multifaceted skills set to bear in their matters. We have no doubt that it will be nothing short of spectacular,” says Brent.

Tayyibah is a legal luminary with a remarkable 15-year career. She joined CDH as a Candidate Attorney in 2008, ascending through the ranks by demonstrating exceptional expertise in managing intricate technology, media, telecommunications, and data protection matters across diverse jurisdictions. Her career trajectory continued in various executive roles within Vodacom Group, where she provided invaluable legal, regulatory, risk, and compliance counsel. Notably, Tayyibah served as the Consulting Legal Executive, overseeing the legal portfolio for Vodacom Business Africa and deputising for the Chief of Legal in Safaricom Ethiopia. Her career attests to her global perspective and proficiency in navigating international legal landscapes with cognisance of the specific challenges encountered by in-house legal teams. Throughout her career, Tayyibah has consistently provided strategic public policy, compliance, and risk advice, emphasising pragmatic solutions tailored to the unique needs of her clients. 

"CDH's Technology & Communications practice is a diverse and multidisciplinary team" says Ian Hayes, CDH's Corporate & Commercial's Practice Head, "that aims to be a full-service entity, covering historical areas like software, hardware, subscriptions, and venturing beyond into outsourcing. We are thrilled to have a lawyer of Tayyibah's calibre onboard."

Key focal areas of the service offering include:

Fintech: Offering comprehensive legal services in the rapidly evolving fintech sector.

Commercial Technology: developing and advising on the full spectrum of technology agreements (including cloud, AI, hardware, software, intellectual property and product innovation). 

Digital Media: Addressing the dynamic legal landscape of digital media and related agreements.

Data Protection: Ensuring clients' compliance with data protection regulations and safeguarding their digital assets.

Telecommunications: Leveraging CDH's Africa-wide capability to navigate telecommunications regulatory matters, expansion of operations, submarine cable arrangements and commercial transactions.

Sourcing: support to implement wide range of outsourcing arrangements, including technology, FMCG, telecommunication and infrastructure development. 

The sector offering provides a wide range of services in both traditional and emerging technology spaces. The team is committed to serving clients across Africa, offering expertise in telecommunications and other innovative areas.

In the words of Tayyibah, "Our goal is to redefine how legal services intersect with technology and communications. The Technology & Communications practice at CDH is poised to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the evolving digital landscape, providing strategic and forward-thinking solutions to our clients." Under her leadership, CDH's Technology & Communications service offering is set to shape the future of legal services in the technology sector, offering unparalleled expertise, innovation, and client-focused solutions.