The legal profession – long the world’s most prestigious preservation society for Victorian-era paperwork and the “but we’ve always done it this way” defence – has suddenly discovered the 21st century. It’s been a jarring transition.
One minute we were lovingly hand-stamping physical files in a mahogany-scented haze, and the next, we were strapped to a digital workhorse, galloping full throttle into a future that doesn’t care about our leather-bound collections. This transformation has been less “gentle evolution” and more “technological ambush”, moving from the slow, deliberate pace of a glacier to a high-speed pursuit where “manual” is a dirty word.
It’s powerful, it’s inevitable, and for anyone still clutching a fax machine, it’s probably terrifying.
The Lawyer’s Dilemma – Clarity Amidst the Chaos
This year, Legal Talk Africa tackles The Lawyer’s Dilemma in a Digital Ecosystem. This isn’t just a catchy title. It’s an intervention for the professionally overwhelmed. The dilemma isn’t just whether to embrace change, it’s knowing which shiny new tool actually helps and which is just a very expensive way to generate more emails.
We’re offering a safe space to commiserate with others who are also trying to figure out if their AI is hallucinating or just being “creative”.
A Grateful Salute to Our Enablers (The Sponsors)
Events of this magnitude don’t just appear out of thin air – they’re powered by visionaries who believe that lawyers deserve better than ancient filing cabinets. We’d like to take a moment to thank our sponsors, the brave souls providing the fuel for this digital workhorse. Without them, we’d just be a group of people standing in a room talking to ourselves. And that happens only every other Tuesday.
Our sincerest thanks to:
AJS, LexisNexis, XpressDox, Currency Partners, nCino, LegalServe, Nashua, Smart Business Accountants, IDToday, nQzebraworks, Shackleton Risk and our 2 partners African Law & Tech Network (Rwanda) and Northern Freestate Attorneys Association.
They provide the tech, the insights, and most importantly, the coffee that keeps our collective legal brain from flatlining.
Meet the Architects of the Future
Our 2026 tour features experts who have successfully negotiated with the digital workhorse. They are here to provide the antidote to tech fatigue across the continent –
- Andre van Jaarsveldt (Legal Serve) – presenting in Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, and across the South African roadshow, he explores The Era of the Legal Orchestrator – the shift from reactive documentation to proactive digital orchestration.
- George Findlay (LexisNexis) – presenting in Windhoek, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban & Cape Town, he dives into The Next Frontier of Legal AI, focusing on agentic models – intelligent systems that plan and reason autonomously.
- Candice Dawkshas (Schindlers Digital Assets) – presenting in Botswana, Namibia, Polokwane, Pretoria, Johannesburg, George, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, and Welkom, she navigates The Tokenised Law Firm, exploring how blockchain and smart contracts are redefining property.
- Tertia Barrett or Kelsey Read (nCino) – presenting in Durban, Pretoria, Johannesburg, George, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein, and Cape Town, they address AI & Financial Crime – how to fight fire with fire as fraud becomes increasingly sophisticated.
- Mark Pillai (AJS) – presenting in Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda and throughout South Africa, he moves From FinTech to RegTech, simplifying real-time compliance and VAT modernisation through technology.
- Leah Molatseli – presenting in Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa (Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban), she addresses Data Ownership, Digital Identity, and Regulatory Tension – she discusses the differencebetween innovation and individual privacy in a globalised data economy.
- Risef Coetzee (Law Business Support) – presenting in Durban only, he explores The Expectation Gap – where Law Firms Lose Clients at Every Stage.
- Jacques van der Smit (ID Today) – presenting in Botswana and Namibia, he addresses AI & Financial Crime – evolving trends on how criminals leverage AI for financial crime, identity theft, and money laundering and the emerging technology that can help you to fight back.
- Lauren Marsh and Gary Hogan (Currency Partners) – presenting across the South African roadshow, they address Security & Risk Mitigation in Digital Cross-Border Payments – as law firms digitise workflows, international payments are often executed faster but are they safer?
Our Illustrious Speakers Are Supported by Our Sponsors.
The 16-City Tour – Gaborone, Windhoek, and Beyond
The 2026 series is an expansive journey across 16 cities, divided into four strategic legs. We kick off Leg 1 with a focus on Botswana and Namibia before expanding into the innovation hub of Rwanda.
Gaborone & Windhoek Agendas:
- 21 April 2026: Gaborone – The Grand Palm Resort
- 23 April 2026: Windhoek – Hilton Hotel
| Time | Session Title | Speaker(s) |
| 09:00 – 11:00 | Set-Up | — |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | Registration, Networking & Coffee | — |
| 12:00 – 12:10 | Welcome & Opening Remarks | Tertia Barrett / Kelsey Read (nCino) |
| 12:10 – 12:30 | The Era of the Legal Orchestrator | Andre van Jaarsveldt (Legal Serve) |
| 12:30 – 12:50 | Synthetic Intelligence vs AI: Beyond Automation | George Findlay (LexisNexis) |
| 12:50 – 13:10 | AI & Financial Crime: Fraud Detection & Compliance | Tertia Barrett / Kelsey Read (nCino) |
| 13:10 – 13:30 | From FinTech to RegTech: Algorithmic Finance | Mark Pillai (AJS) |
| 13:30 – 14:15 | Networking & Light Lunch | — |
| 14:15 – 14:25 | Start of Second Session | Tertia Barrett / Kelsey Read (nCino) |
| 14:25 – 14:55 | The Tokenized Law Firm: Blockchain & Smart Contracts | Candice Dawkshas (Schindlers) |
| 14:55 – 15:15 | Cyber Law, Data Sovereignty & Privacy Challenges | Leah Molatseli |
| 15:15 – 15:35 | Security & Risk in Digital Cross-Border Payments | Lauren Marsh (Currency Partners) |
| 15:35 – 16:05 | Panel Discussion and Q&A | Leah Molatseli & Guest Speakers |
| 16:05 – 16:25 | 3-Minute Product & Services Overview | Various |
| 16:25 – 16:30 | Reflection / Closing | — |
| 16:30 onwards | Networking & Drinks | — |
The Kigali Extension (12–13 May)
Following our Southern African start, the tour heads to the Digital Transformation Centre in Kigali. This leg places a unique emphasis on Cross-Border AI Regulation and Data Sovereignty, addressing how African legal systems can lead in an AI-enabled world.
The Full South African Roadshow
The conversation continues through the year with stops at prestigious venues across South Africa –
- Durban: 21 May at the Riverside Hotel
- Polokwane: 3 June at the Fusion Boutique Hotel
- Pretoria: 4 June at the Pretoria Country Club
- Johannesburg: 5 June at The Venue, Melrose Arch
- Eastern & Southern Route: George (19 Aug), Gqeberha (20 Aug), East London (21 Aug), and Bloemfontein (9 Sept).
- Final Stops: Kimberley (10 Sept), Cape Town at D’Aria (16 Sept), Rustenburg (13 Oct), Mbombela (15 Oct), and Welkom (5 Nov).
RSVP & Registration
Don’t be the one left behind in the archives clutching a fax machine. It’s way too heavy for that. Join us for hot breakfasts, high-level networking, and the tools to future-proof your practice.
- Cost: Attendance is complimentary, but registration is mandatory.
- Booking: Secure your place for Gaborone, Windhoek, or any of our 16 stops via the Official Legal Talk Africa Website.
- Gaborone Exclusive: For those joining us in Botswana, you can jump straight to the Gaborone Registration Form Here.
Stop Thinking, Start Syncing
The horse has left the stable, and it’s currently running a 128-bit encryption algorithm. You can either grab the reins or continue trying to draft your subpoenas on a typewriter. Space is limited, and our venues – unlike the infinite cloud – have actual physical walls. Register now at Legal Talk Africa before the algorithm realises we’re giving these insights away for free!
Of course, you’re welcome to skip it. You could always stay behind and curate your collection of highlighter pens, comforted by the soothing hum of a photocopier that still jams twice a day. There’s a certain tragic nobility in being the last person on earth to use a physical stamp. It’s basically Performance Art at this point and kind of romantic in a deeply sad way.
We look forward to seeing you there – unless, of course, your calendar hasn’t finished syncing since 2014.
