Boutique Intellectual Property (IP) Law firm Spoor & Fisher has announced the appointment of Ms Tshepo Shabangu as the Chairperson of the Partnership. A qualified attorney, trade mark practitioner and notary public, Ms Shabangu specialises in local and international registration of trade marks. She joined Spoor & Fisher in 2005 and has helped to build an impressive trade mark practice with clients across the globe, including many German and Japanese multinational corporations.
 
With this appointment, Ms Shabangu becomes the second female to lead the firm in its nearly 100 year history.  She joins an increasing pool of women professionals in senior leadership positions in the legal sector and at Spoor & Fisher.
 
Her appointment reinforces the firm’s commitment to strong leadership at the top that is diverse. Together with the firm’s executive committee and the partners, Ms Shabangu plans to have an active role in extending the footprint of the firm and enhancing IP services available to clients on the continent. She is passionate about people development and is committed to growing and mentoring the firm’s next generation of talented lawyers.
 
She also runs the LIFT AS YOU CLIMB mentorship programme, showing her commitment to giving back and paying it forward.
 
Ms Shabangu says, “I am honoured to be given this opportunity to build on the firm’s past successes as well as lead in an era of digital transformation and disruption where IP is at the heart of innovation and economic growth”.
 
Ms Shabangu is the past president of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL) and sits on the council of the Law Society of the Northern Provinces (LSNP), the body regulating attorneys. She also represents the Law Society of South Africa on the council of the International Bar Association (IBA).
 
Ms Shabangu has served on public and private sector boards and trusts, and has diverse experience in areas such as corporate governance, strategy, talent management, coaching and business development.  She has spoken extensively, both locally and internationally, regarding the drivers of change in the legal profession, including how technology impacts the provision of legal services.
 
Ms Shabangu has obtained an LLM with Magna Cum Laude from the University of Bonn in Germany, an LLB from the University of Natal and a BProc from the University of Durban Westville. She is fluent in 7 languages, including German.