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Siphokazi Kayana
Director

Siphokazi Kayana

Head of Dispute Resolution

Languages
  • English
Social media

Siphokazi is the Head of Dispute Resolution with over 15 years of experience.
  
She assists clients with the full remit of dispute resolution and litigation services, with a focus on arbitration, commercial litigation and constitutional and administrative law reviews.  Siphokazi has honed these litigation skills across a range of industries, namely telecommunications, mining and commodities, construction and engineering, international trade and investment. 

She regularly assists clients with her commercially acute approach in resolving litigious situations.  Her clients include private and public companies, state-owned entities, mining houses, financial institutions, construction and engineering firms, pharmaceutical organisations, telecommunications companies and consumer products.

Before joining CMS as Head of Dispute Resolution, Siphokazi gained her experience and skills from working at a top tier national law firm for close to a decade, and then founding her own firm.  She was also the Head of the Africa Region for Teach for All, a global network of independent, locally led and funded partner organizations whose stated shared mission is to expand educational opportunity around the world by increasing and accelerating the impact of social enterprises that are cultivating the leadership necessary for change. 

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    They are feisty and ready to take action. They followed up with and updated me regularly on where we were. An approachable and accessible team.
    Legal 500 | Dispute Resolution, South Africa, 2023
  • Quote
    They are professional and very to the point.
    Legal 500 | Dispute Resolution, South Africa, 2023
  • Quote
    They are highly skilled, attentive and responsive.
    Legal 500 | Dispute Resolution, South Africa, 2023
  • Quote
    The practicality of this team was quite impressive.
    Legal 500, South Africa, Dispute Resolution, 2024
  • Quote
    Siphokazi’s respectful, strong and considered leadership of her team was a breath of fresh air.
    Legal 500, South Africa, Dispute Resolution, 2024
  • Quote
    Siphokazi brings in the right resources and ensures the deadlines are met. She is very practical when approaching issues.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2025

Relevant experience

  • A South African-based financial services group – assisting on numerous disputes matters, some of these matters relate to several high value Banking Facilities Agreements that our client entered into with several businesses. 
  • A development finance institution – acting for the client in a host of litigation matters and assisting client in the disputes and in reaching settlement.
  • An Intelligent Transportation Systems company – advising on action proceedings against the Government of South Africa relating for the recovery of between R400 million - R700 million for services that our client provided to the government.  
  • An Intelligent Transportation Systems company – in a matter against a national air navigation company  relating to its notice of intention to blacklist/restrict our client from future Government and Government related/funded projects for a period of 10 years.
  • An Intelligent Transportation Systems company – advise on a dispute relating to certain contractual obligations in terms of a terminated service level agreement entered into between our client and the Road Traffic Management Corporation. 
  • A national development finance institution – assisting with a number of litigation matters with a view to settling these matters expeditiously on behalf of our client. 
  • An information enablement company – advised in relation to a complex shareholders dispute in terms of client’s insurance policy with a global insurer.  
  • A major satellite television service – assisted client with seeking relief ordering a major technology group to provide necessary information pertaining to a certain IP address for the protection of the proprietary interests of our client. 
  • A South African state-owned entity – advising on its loan exposure to a pan-African telecoms service provider.
  • A South African state-owned entity – advising on its exposure as a shareholder to a large listed agro-processing company (in business rescue). 
  • A global chemicals and energy company – assisted with conducting a highly confidential and sensitive investigation into an incident that occurred at the client's various mines. 
  • A large South African rail, port and pipeline company –advising in relation to a dispute in relation to, amongst others, a license agreement and the Petroleum Pipelines Act 60 of 2003. 
  • A fibre and mobile network construction solutions provider - assisting in numerous litigation matters. 

Publications

 

Memberships & Roles

  • Member of the Law Society of the Northern Provinces.
  • Advancing Women in the Workforce (AWW) Circle of Mentors.

Education

  • 2007 - LL.B. University of the Western Cape, South Africa.