Savanna Stephens

Senior Associate

  Johannesburg

  +27 11 535 8322

  +27 11 535 8697

  sstephens@werksmans.com

Savanna is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer, with in-depth knowledge in advising local and multinational companies on commercial contracts, technology, data protection, privacy and cyber-security related matters. She specialises in technology, cyber-security, data protection and privacy laws. She has advised and acted for domestic and international clients in a broad range of sectors and industries including healthcare, financial, emerging technologies, hospitality, retail, industrial, manufacturing, media and entertainment. Savanna has experience in advising clients on a range of transactional and general commercial advisory matters, including complex cross-border transactions, commercial IT licensing, distribution agreements and franchising arrangements, data protection compliance, data breaches, e-commerce, marketing, mobile technology and applications and fintech. She also has experience in advising on specialized transactions in the technology and telecommunications sector. Savanna has advised local and multinational corporations on the effects of data protection regulation concerning European, South African and other African jurisdictions’ data protection regulations. She honed her specialist skill through a short-term secondment in data protection and privacy teams in Brussels and Paris and more recently through a long-term secondment to one of Africa’s largest mobile network operator’s legal team, where she focused on telecommunications, technology and fintech.

Years of Experience:   10 years

  • Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Technology & Innovation
  • Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity laws
  • Digital infrastructure, technology and communications
  • Commercial Agreements (including information technology, outsourcing and service level agreements)
  • E-commerce 
  • Consumer protection issues
  • Private and public M&A transactions in the technology and telecommunications sector
  • Transactional and general commercial advisory matters, including complex cross-border transactions
  • Advising various multinational technology and FMCH companies on market entry issues for the launch of certain products and services (including digital services) and advising on the relevant data protection implications for South Africa. 
  • Advising financial services providers on compliance with data protection laws, including conducting compliance assessments and implementation projects prior to POPIA coming to force.
  • Advising several global technology companies on the introduction of a new platform and software application in the South African market.
  • Conducting several POPIA compliance assessments and implementation projects of several multinational companies. 
  • Advising a South African Bank on implications and application of the General Data Protection Regulation to its operations arising from its branch in the UK.
  • Advising several automotive manufacturers on market entry issues in relation to the launch of internet of vehicle services and in the South Africa.
  • Advising a multinational technology company on market entry issues related to web services, digital streaming and e-commerce.
  • Acting as co legal advisors to Telkom and Swiftnet, in respect of the proposed listing of the tower and mast business, Swiftnet on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. This listing was abandoned mid 2022, due to prevailing market conditions.
  • Acting as South African legal advisors to Altron and Bytes Technology on the demerger of Bytes from the Altron group and subsequent listing on the London Stock Exchange and secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
  • Advising Dimension Data, a global information technology services company, on the acquisition of e commerce platform in United Kingdom.
  • A petrochemical company on the disposal of fifty percent of its business in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique and the subsequent joint venture arrangements with its new partner.
  • The management private equity sellers of 100% of the shares in a beverage manufacturer to a JSE listed investment company.
  • Advising a global records management company on the acquisition of a local document management and shredding company for purposes of expansion of the document management business;
  • Advising a global internet and entertainment group with the introduction of a video streaming service into South Africa.
  • LLB, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2014
  • Admitted as attorney and notary public in South Africa, 2017
  • Certificate in Advanced Company Law II, University of Witwatersrand, 2017
  • 2017: Associate
  • 2020: Senior Associate
  • Acting as South African legal advisors to Altron and Bytes Technology on the demerger of Bytes from the Altron group and subsequent listing on the London Stock Exchange and secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. This deal was awarded Deal of the Year (2020) by DealMaker's.