Wilmari Strachan is an Executive at ENS in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (“TMT”) team. She specialises in information and communications technology (“ICT”) law, including the related technical, commercial, compliance, business, customer and performance management aspects.  She has a special interest in telecommunications, internet and e-commerce law, data privacy, as well as software and application (“app”) development.

Wilmari was previously the head of legal services at a major South African telecommunications company, where she was in charge of the legal, regulatory and compliance division. This experience provided Wilmari with an excellent understanding and deep knowledge of the technology, internet and telecommunications legislative and regulatory environment. This includes an in-depth knowledge of industry-specific legislation and codes, as well as legislation with a more operational impact on businesses, enabling her to provide clients with holistic, practical advice.

Wilmari has acted for various large listed companies in the IT industry and retail sector, and has significant experience in negotiating and drafting complex information and communications technology agreements, including sub-marine cable landing and partnering agreements,  international capacity agreements, roaming and managed network agreements, facilities leasing agreements, peering agreements, cloud computing agreements and outsourcing agreements. Wilmari had also acted in various telecommunication disputes, including complex disputes relating to call termination and transit charges, number porting and facilities leasing. 

In addition, Wilmari has advised on the structuring of various M&A transactions in the telecommunications industry, with emphasis on ensuring the expeditious transfer of business, while taking into account the relevant regulatory and licensing conditions.

She has been involved in ground-breaking innovation and technology advancements in the South African internet market, and has served on the management committee of the Internet Service Providers Association of South Africa.

She has assisted various corporates and multination entities to take their business on-line, has published various articles on e-commerce and created a compliance toolkit for e-commerce platforms.

She has presented various seminars, workshop and training on data privacy, access and security.  Wilmari has implemented numerous compliance programmes and conducted compliance audits for clients. She has drafted various agreements and policies in respect of data privacy, access and security. Wilmari has also written and published articles on data privacy, access and security and appeared on eTV and CNBC and various radio stations and has been quoted in various media publications.

Wilmari is recognised as a leading/recommended lawyer by:

• Who’s Who Legal 2019, 2020, 2021 Data Information and Technology – Global Leader (South Africa); 2022 Telecoms and Media – Global Leader (South Africa)