Simone Dickson

Simone Dickson is an independent legal consultant based in South Africa specialising in commercial information technology and communications law. She has been named Commercial Information Technology Law Expert of the Year in South Africa at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025, an individual recognition that reflects more than a decade of focused expertise in one of the most rapidly evolving areas of commercial practice.

Dickson built her specialisation over many years, including a period as a director of a major South African business law firm, before establishing her own independent consultancy. This move allowed her to offer clients senior, dedicated expertise in technology and data law without the constraints of a larger institutional structure. Her long concentration on information technology and communications law has established her as one of the recognised authorities in the field in South Africa, and she has been ranked for many consecutive years as a leading practitioner in IT and telecommunications in the Chambers Global directory, an indicator of the consistency and depth of her reputation among clients and peers.

Her expertise spans the range of legal issues that arise in technology, communications and e-commerce. She advises on data privacy and data protection, an area of growing importance as organisations grapple with the requirements of South Africa's data protection regime and the expectations of customers and regulators. She also advises on outsourcing and sourcing arrangements, licensing and procurement, system implementation projects, and the legal risks associated with digital transformation. Her work extends to emerging areas such as medical technology, financial technology, cloud services and mobile applications, reflecting the way in which technology now permeates almost every sector of the economy.

Commercial information technology law brings together several strands of legal discipline. Technology transactions typically involve questions of intellectual property, service levels, data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity and the arrangements for disengagement when a relationship ends. Dickson advises clients on the full range of these issues, helping them to structure and negotiate agreements for managed and consulting services, development, maintenance and support, and the many other arrangements through which technology is delivered. Her ability to address both the commercial and the technical dimensions of these transactions makes her a valued adviser to organisations undertaking significant technology projects.

Data protection and cybersecurity have become central concerns for businesses, and Dickson's work in these areas reflects the heightened attention now paid to the responsible handling of personal information and the management of digital risk. Organisations increasingly require advice not only on compliance but on how to build data protection and security into their commercial arrangements and their day-to-day operations. As a specialist consultant, Dickson brings focused expertise to these questions, guiding clients through a regulatory landscape that continues to develop.

Operating as an independent consultant, Dickson offers clients direct access to a senior specialist with a sustained track record in her field. For businesses navigating the legal complexities of technology, communications and data, this combination of depth, independence and long-standing recognition is particularly valuable. The award of Commercial Information Technology Law Expert of the Year in South Africa at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025 affirms her standing as one of the country's leading practitioners in this increasingly important area of commercial law.