Simone Dickson

Technology transactions

Outsourcing and large-scale technology transactions.

Information technology agreements

Information technology agreements and sourcing, including in respect of software development (including agile methodologies), licensing, cloud services (including infrastructure and storage), website and app development and associated terms and conditions; maintenance and support arrangements, hardware, intellectual property assignment and professional services/consulting.

Leading high-profile transactions

Leading high-profile transactions in relation to various aspects of digital innovation, network outsourcing and enterprise licensing arrangements with multinational vendors.

Legal requirements

Technology, intellectual property, outsourcing, service level agreement and e-commerce- related legal requirements.

Data protection

Data protection requirements and obligations, including in the context of POPI and GDPR compliance projects and data breach response planning.

Cybercrime

Governance around cybercrime.

Media related commercial transactions

Media related commercial transactions, including licensing arrangements, production agreements, sponsorship agreements, freelancing arrangements and event management.

Technology procurement

Advising a major retailer on its technology procurement and contracting requirements.

advising a major retailer on its technology procurement and contracting requirements

advising a major telecoms player on its sourcing requirements

taking the lead on a number of complex agreements and service arrangements for the technology division of a major bank, which also included running high volumes of day to day matters involving tight deadlines for the client. The high profile matters she was involved in included (i) the renegotiation of the bank’s enterprise software, service and support agreements with a number of global vendors, including Oracle, Microsoft, SAP and IBM (which included a number of cloud service considerations); (ii) assisting the bank with its digital transformation initiatives (which often involved tight deadlines, complex commercial models and non-technology related services); and (iii) advising the bank on an online retail platform and related mobile application, including drafting all agreements relating thereto; (iii) assisting with licence compliance verification related issues. The client often specifically praised her quality of work and level of assistance;

advising two major local banks on their template agreements and licensing arrangements, including for cloud services;

expert in outsourcing service arrangements, including with regard to due diligence exercises, transition and transformation, service levels, ensuring effective technology roadmap planning and compliance, licensing and intellectual property arrangements, benchmarking, step-in, cross-functional service dependencies, issues around termination, including disengagement and the effect of termination on assets and employment related issues;

advised a major local bank on the outsourcing of its enterprise voice platform;

Lead advisor to a major long term insurer on the outsourcing of certain of its IT service arrangements, including managed network services – Simone was involved from assisting with preparing the tender documents to drafting and negotiation of the agreements with the vendors;

assisted with the joint outsourcing project by two SOEs of their respective IT infrastructure and service requirements;

advised a media client on all its sponsorship, production and associated arrangements for the production and broadcast of a licensed television production in South Africa; and also advised the client on its licence and services arrangements with U.S. based licensors;

lead advisor to a technology service provider, assisting the client with all licensing, support and implementation arrangements relating to its claims processing platform;

assisted in a number of due diligence investigations in respect of the IT aspects relevant to the transaction;

assisted various clients with their POPI and/or GDPR compliance projects; and