Mbalenhle Simelane - Associate

Practice Experience

Mbalenhle Simelane is an admitted attorney who joined MDA Attorneys in 2021.

Mbalenhle graduated at the University of Johannesburg with degrees in BCom Law and an LLB. She obtained her LLM in International Commercial Law, a flagship programme of the Faculty of Law at the University of Johannesburg, where she acquired conflict-orientated skills and vast knowledge in private-law aspects of international trade, with an emphasis on private-international legal issues. In this LLM, she was additionally exposed to a unique and wide comparative approach to legal systems in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America and South America, together with the relevant regional, supranational and international instruments in this field.

In 2020, Mbalenhle commenced her articles of clerkship with the University of Pretoria’s Law Clinic, where she acquired valuable experience in civil litigation, in both the higher and lower courts of South Africa, whilst competing Law School with the School for Legal Practice at the University of Pretoria’s Enterprises. She also has experience in alternative dispute resolution in forums such as the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, the Rental Housing Tribunal and the Motor Industry Bargaining Council.

During her time at MDA Attorneys, Mbalenhle has been involved in an international commercial arbitration with the International Chamber of Commerce, adjudication, litigation, and legal research. She has provided advice notes and opinions to clients, colleagues and directors. She has also participated in the marketing of the MDA team with her involvement in the drafting of articles under MDA Attorneys’ JBCC Series, the first of which highlights the Role of the Principal Agent under the JBCC Principal Build Agreement 2018 Edition 6.2.

Education

BCom Law (Majored in Strategic Management and International Business), University of Johannesburg, 2017

LLB, University of Johannesburg, 2018

LLM in International Commercial Law (Dissertation on the Unification of international sales law in the SADC region: the role and significance of the CISG), University of Johannesburg, 2019

Membership

Admission as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa, 2021