Frequently asked
Why is Sandton-specific tech-law practice distinct?
Sandton is the financial-services heart of South Africa. The JSE, the big-4 banks' head offices, most insurance giants, and a large share of FSCA-licensed financial-services-providers (FSPs) operate from Sandton-adjacent addresses. Tech businesses selling into Sandton-headquartered enterprise face procurement standards, security expectations, and contractual norms that differ materially from generic B2B SaaS — much closer to global enterprise-procurement norms.
What does an enterprise SaaS deal into a Sandton-headquartered bank look like?
Typical structure: 6–12 week deal cycle; layered contract stack (MSA + Order Form + DPA + Security Schedule + SLA + BCP requirements); third-party-risk-management questionnaires; FSCA / SARB-adjacent uptime expectations (99.95%+ SLAs); audit rights (often including SOC 2 Type II or equivalent); penetration-testing obligations; sub-processor disclosure and approval; POPIA + (often) GDPR cross-compliance. Vendor legal cost R25,000–R50,000 per significant deal.
What FSCA / SARB-related considerations affect Sandton tech sellers?
If you sell into FSCA-licensed FSPs or SARB-regulated banks, the buyer's third-party-risk regime cascades into your contract. You may face: vendor due-diligence questionnaires; FAIS-specific compliance attestations; operational-resilience requirements; cyber-incident notification obligations to the buyer aligned with the regulator's expectations; and audit cooperation with the buyer's internal-audit and regulator-driven reviews.
Do you handle vendor selection for Sandton corporates?
Yes — we advise Sandton-headquartered corporates on technology-vendor selection, negotiation of master agreements with foreign SaaS providers, POPIA s 72 cross-border transfer evaluation, and ongoing vendor risk-monitoring frameworks. Most engagements involve the legal team alongside in-house procurement and information security.
Can you handle Sandton-based work without a physical Sandton office?
Yes. Sandton is 60 minutes from our Pretoria base. In-person availability is straightforward for substantive meetings (negotiation sessions, board presentations). Most ongoing client communication is by email and video. Existing Sandton-based clients span enterprise SaaS sellers, in-house corporate teams, and fintech businesses headquartered in the surrounding financial district.