Ridwaan Boda is the head of ENS’s award winning Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) law practise and the co-head of the Fintech law practice as well as the co-head of the data privacy practice.

Ridwaan has extensive experience in technology transactions, including cloud computing, digitization projects, IT outsourcing, systems implementation, and technology product development. He excels in drafting and negotiating technology contracts, such as Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and has expertise in data privacy law, AI law, data commercialization, and monetization law. Ridwaan is knowledgeable in sports and sponsorship law, e-commerce law, advertising and marketing law, social media law, and media law, including celebrity and influencer marketing.

His skills extend to cybersecurity law, technology M&A, private equity, fintech law, health tech law, legal tech, and new and emerging technologies law, including metaverse law. Ridwaan has structured technology partnerships, including reseller and distributor programs, and has proficiency in commercial intellectual property (tech) law and employment tech law. He also addresses issues related to replacing people with technology, labour broker services, employee transfers in sourcing transactions, and general commercial contracts. Additionally, Ridwaan provides legal training, further highlighting his comprehensive expertise in the legal aspects of technology.

Ridwaan has a global client base and has deep expertise in the financial services, IT, telecommunications, resources and retail sectors. He advises clients seeking to enter and expand their businesses into Africa and beyond and have acted for some of the world’s largest corporations.

Ridwaan's career highlights include establishing and building a Chambers and Partners Band 1 rated team in IT and Telecommunications law, serving as the lead legal counsel on some of the largest and most complex technology transactions in the MEA region, and mentoring some of South Africa’s finest legal minds, helping their careers to prosper. He has also spoken at prestigious events on four continents and is recognized as a legal influencer. His achievements include winning multiple awards, such as "Lawyer of the Year" on several occasions, and being recognized as an expert in IT and Telecommunications law, Data Governance and AI law, data privacy law, corporate law, data commercialization law, and fintech law.

For the past decade, Ridwaan has served as a member of the United Nations Data Governance and AI Expert Group (formerly the UN Privacy Advisory Group). He is currently the Chair of the Substantive Law Committee on Technology Sourcing for the International Technology Lawyers Association, having previously held the position of Vice-Chair. Additionally, Ridwaan is the Founder and Chair of Privacy Officers Africa and a member of the International Sport Lawyers Association.

Education

• BCom (University of the Witwatersrand)
• LLB (University of the Witwatersrand)
• LLM (University of South Africa)
• Admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa

Ridwaan is recognised as a leading/recommended lawyer by:

• Chambers Global Guide 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 – IT & Telecommunications (South Africa)
• Chambers Fintech Guide 2021, 2019 (South Africa)
• Best Lawyers® 2023, 2022, 2021 – Information Technology Law, Corporate Law; 2021, 2020, 2019 - Information Technology Lawyer of the Year (South Africa)
• Client Choice Awards 2019, 2016 – IT & Internet (South Africa)
• Under Ridwaan’s leadership, ENS TMT Team was awarded the TMT Team of the Year in Africa at the African Legal Awards for 2013 and 2014

• Data security breach: Information Regulator takes action against Department of Justice

  By Ridwaan Boda, Naledi Ramoabi |May 2023

• Films and Publications Amendment Regulations, 2022

  By Ridwaan Boda, Naledi Ramoabi |October 2022

• South Africa: New POPIA/Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance Note Issued

  By Ridwaan Boda |April 2020