LAWYER PROFILE
Siphokazi Kayana

Siphokazi Kayana

Global 2026

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Ranked in 1 practice area

About

Provided by CMS South Africa

Global

Practice Areas

Dispute resolution

Public Procurement

Career

- 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

Professional Memberships

Member of the Legal Practice Council, Gauteng Office

Advancing Women in the Workforce (AWW) Circle of Mentors

Publications

- Global uncertainty and South Africa’s role in international dispute resolution | African Law & Business | 24 September 2025

- Law & Technology: the future of commissioning in South Africa | Law-Now | 27 February 2025

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.

- A national development finance institution – assisting with a number of litigations matters with a view to settling these matters expeditiously on behalf of our client.

Education

University of the Western Cape, South Africa

LL.B

2007

Awards

Dispute Resolution | Tier 3

Legal 500, South Africa,

2026

Dispute Resolution | Siphokazi Kayana, Band 5

Chambers & Partners, South Africa

2026

Dispute Resolution | Tier 4

Legal 500, South Africa

2025

Dispute Resolution | Siphokazi Kayana, Band 5

Chambers & Partners, South Africa

2025

Litigation and Dispute Resolution Team of the Year (Large Sized Firm) | CMS South Africa

African Legal Awards

2024

Languages Spoken

English

IsiZulu

IsiXhosa

Key sectors

Financial InvestorsGovernment and Public SectorHealth and Life SciencesResources and MiningTechnology, Media and Telecoms (TMT)

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Global Guide

Dispute Resolution - South Africa

Band 5
Band 5

Individual Editorial

Siphokazi Kayana handles a broad range of disputes on behalf of clients, such as contractual issues, procurement and data protection-related disputes. Her clients are mainly in the TMT space.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Siphokazi Kayana is a true professional. She has sophisticated clients and understands each particular client's needs. She always has the client's needs at the top of her priority.

    Dispute ResolutionChambers Global Guide
  • She has incredible talent, is quick on her feet and strategic in her thinking.

    Dispute ResolutionChambers Global Guide

Ranked Individuals at CMS South Africa (6)

South Africa

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