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Nikita Shaw

Partner | Johannesburg

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Contact

T: +27 11 669 9121

Overview

Nikita is a dual specialist in dispute resolution and data privacy and employment law, with deep expertise at the intersection of compliance, investigations and complex commercial litigation. She regularly advises domestic and international clients across highly regulated sectors, including energy, mining, construction, financial services and technology.

Nikita is a seasoned commercial litigator and arbitration practitioner, with experience managing multi-party disputes, whistleblowing matters and regulatory investigations. She is known for her ability to navigate cross-border and cross-practice issues, offering strategic and commercially pragmatic solutions that align with clients’ business objectives.

In the data privacy arena, Nikita has extensive experience in managing high-stakes, multi-jurisdictional compliance matters. She advises on operational compliance, cross-border data transfers, the use of AI and analytics in cybersecurity solutions and large-scale cyber and data breach incidents. Her approach combines technical regulatory knowledge with practical risk mitigation strategies, enabling clients to build robust compliance frameworks in complex environments.

Her employment practice spans all aspects of employment law, with particular expertise in strategic guidance on people-related matters, large-scale corporate reorganisations and post-transfer integration. She also advises on executive terminations, alternative staffing models, compliance frameworks, redundancies and sensitive workplace investigations, including those with Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and UK Bribery Act implications.

Experience

Jurisdictions worked in: South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Ghana, Nigeria, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Eritrea, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Canada, United States, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Languages fluent in: English

Nikita’s sector-specific expertise includes:

  • Energy: Advising on contentious and regulatory matters impacting wind and solar developments, including regulatory issues regarding energy curtailment, carbon credits and compliance with the Equator Principles’ social obligations.
  • Mining: Acting on cross-border shareholder disputes, whistleblowing investigations and contractual disputes in the context of mining operations and power purchase agreements.
  • Construction: Managing domestic and international arbitrations, business rescue proceedings and disputes arising from major infrastructure projects, including project delays, collusive tendering and contractual breaches.
  • Financial Institutions: Representing financial institutions in regulatory investigations, data breaches, director liability claims and market conduct disputes, particularly in multi-jurisdictional contexts.
  • Technology: Advising on disputes involving data privacy breaches, cyber threats, regulatory compliance and technology solution contracts.

Awards

  • Nikita has previously been recognised as a Next Generation Lawyer by Legal 500 EMEA in the field of Employment Law. 

AREA OF EXPERTISE

Qualifications

Education

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Labour Law, University of Johannesburg, 2014.
  • Master of Commerce (Taxation) (cum laude), Rhodes University, 2013.
  • Advanced Certificate in Business Rescue Practice (cum laude), Centre for Business Law of the University of South Africa and the Law Society of South Africa, 2012.
  • Bachelor of Laws, Rhodes University, 2009.
  • Bachelor of Arts (Legal Theory and Psychology), Rhodes University, 2007.

Professional Memberships

  • Admitted as an Attorney, South Africa, 2013
  • Previous Board Member, Advisory Board to the Rhodes University Law Faculty.

INSIGHTS

Overview

Nikita is a dual specialist in dispute resolution and data privacy and employment law, with deep expertise at the intersection of compliance, investigations and complex commercial litigation. She regularly advises domestic and international clients across highly regulated sectors, including energy, mining, construction, financial services and technology.

Nikita is a seasoned commercial litigator and arbitration practitioner, with experience managing multi-party disputes, whistleblowing matters and regulatory investigations. She is known for her ability to navigate cross-border and cross-practice issues, offering strategic and commercially pragmatic solutions that align with clients’ business objectives.

In the data privacy arena, Nikita has extensive experience in managing high-stakes, multi-jurisdictional compliance matters. She advises on operational compliance, cross-border data transfers, the use of AI and analytics in cybersecurity solutions and large-scale cyber and data breach incidents. Her approach combines technical regulatory knowledge with practical risk mitigation strategies, enabling clients to build robust compliance frameworks in complex environments.

Her employment practice spans all aspects of employment law, with particular expertise in strategic guidance on people-related matters, large-scale corporate reorganisations and post-transfer integration. She also advises on executive terminations, alternative staffing models, compliance frameworks, redundancies and sensitive workplace investigations, including those with Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and UK Bribery Act implications.

Experience

Jurisdictions worked in: South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Ghana, Nigeria, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Eritrea, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Canada, United States, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Languages fluent in: English

Nikita’s sector-specific expertise includes:

  • Energy: Advising on contentious and regulatory matters impacting wind and solar developments, including regulatory issues regarding energy curtailment, carbon credits and compliance with the Equator Principles’ social obligations.
  • Mining: Acting on cross-border shareholder disputes, whistleblowing investigations and contractual disputes in the context of mining operations and power purchase agreements.
  • Construction: Managing domestic and international arbitrations, business rescue proceedings and disputes arising from major infrastructure projects, including project delays, collusive tendering and contractual breaches.
  • Financial Institutions: Representing financial institutions in regulatory investigations, data breaches, director liability claims and market conduct disputes, particularly in multi-jurisdictional contexts.
  • Technology: Advising on disputes involving data privacy breaches, cyber threats, regulatory compliance and technology solution contracts.

Awards

  • Nikita has previously been recognised as a Next Generation Lawyer by Legal 500 EMEA in the field of Employment Law. 

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Flight and Transfer Information

Departing flight to King Shaka Airport
SAA SA539 26 March 2026 09:20-10:30 OR Tambo to Durban
Transfer details: A shuttle has been arranged to transport you to the hotel, look out for the Bowmans welcome upon arrival.

Return flight
SAA SA546 28 March 2026 11:00-12:10 Durban to OR Tambo
Transfer details: A shuttle has been arranged to transport you to the airport from the hotel reception.