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John Giles

John Giles (BA LLB) - PARTNER

Email
Tel: 0860 111 245
Cel: 083 322 2445
skype: johngiles

John is an information, communication and technology (ICT) lawyer.  He has 10 years of experience applying his knowledge to companies to help them grow and avoid legal problems, difficulties, and disputes.

In particular, he has knowledge relating to and experience in high value, complex end-to-end commercial technology transactions. He has advised large multi-national technology vendors (so is aware of international best practice) as well as small start-ups. He has also helped companies that procure technology and technology users.  He loves technology and is a big fan of Web 2.0 and on-demand hosted solutions.

A business wants legal solutions on-demand when they need them and at a cost effective price. To provide legal solutions more effectively he uses technology.  This includes using Internet based technologies to transform the way legal services are provided by standardising, systematising and packaging legal services and providing online legal services whenever possible. There will always be a need for bespoke, personal, high-level, consultative legal services. John provides these traditional legal services. But he takes the practice of law further by using technology. Internet based technologies like web-based platforms on which legal applications and services can be provided, and document assembly software. By using technology he enables business to help-themselves or do-it-themselves where possible.

He is a big believer in the concept of open law - providing access to primary legal information and sharing legal information.

Specialities

• The law relating to information, communication and technology and the application of technology to the law.
• Legal writing in plain English.
• Adding value by applying his knowledge to the specific circumstances of his clients.

Experience

Partner at Michalsons Attorneys (October 2008 - Present)

Director at Lematics (October 2006 - Present)

Lematics is a shortening of the term legal informatics - the application of information technology in law. One of the offerings of Lematics is PropDox, which provides customised documents for properties on-demand. Lematics plans to launch many other online legal services like PropDox in the near future relating to employing people (EmployDox is in the early implementation phase) and technology businesses.

Partner at Harty Rushmere Attorneys (April 2000 - September 2006)

• Technology transactions, including transactions involving software and services, enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementations, outsourcing, on-demand hosted solutions, and Software as a Service (SaaS).
• Marketing (including internet marketing) and advertising, including competitions and sponsorships.
• Digital or new media.
• Supplier agreements.
• Channel agreements.
• Collaboration and teaming.
• Tenders.
• Source code escrow arrangements.
• Electronic and mobile commerce, and the Internet, including web site terms.
• Intellectual property, especially copyright and confidentiality issues.
• Access to information, privacy and protection of personal information.
• Information governance.
• Commercial deals of all types, including black economic empowerment deals.
• Commercial transactions relating to properties, such as lease, sale and shareholder agreements.
• Issues unique to technology start-ups.
• Gaming, both traditional and online.
• Domain names, including transfers and disputes.

Admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa in August 2001.

Education

Microsoft Corporation Incorporated - MCSE, Systems Engineer, 1998 - 1999. Networking essentials and implementing and supporting various Microsoft technologies.

Stellenbosch University or Universiteit Stellenbosch - BA LLB, Arts, Law, 1992 - 1996

Expertise:

• Member of the King III IT Governance Sub-Committee (May 2009)

Interests:

New technology, open law, Web 2.0 and on-demand hosted solutions, digital or new media, scuba diving, tennis, surfing, wine, investing (especially in property).

Groups and Associations

• Attorney of the High Court of South Africa (Gauteng & Cape Provincial Divisions)
• Member of the Law Society of the Northern Provinces and the Cape of Good Hope - view his Fidelity Fund Certificate
• Founder member of the IT Lawyers Forum of South Africa
• Cybernotary with the Thawte web of trust

Speaker

Guest speaker at many conferences and events and directly to companies

Media

Summit TV, Brainstorm, Business Day, IT Web

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