Refilwe Motsoeneng worked at Michalsons until August 2025. She commits to making use of technology to shatter traditional barriers within the legal landscape. Her expertise is in intellectual property, particularly in brand enforcement and protection. She ensures that clients understand their IP rights to compete and trade more effectively in their sectors and protect themselves against infringements and unfair competition. She also excels in legal drafting for IT contracts, as well as navigating the complexities of data protection and compliance. Refilwe embraces the ethos of venturing into the unknown and confronting one’s fears. For example, within a week of moving to Muizenberg, she took up surfing and has managed to catch her first waves.
She aspires to leverage her skills to make the law and technology more approachable for clients and organisations alike. She aims to empower those who find the intersection of law and technology daunting, ensuring accessibility and comprehension for all.
Read her insights.
Refilwe Motsoeneng is an associate who has expanded her practice by incorporating artificial intelligence and cyber law into her existing knowledge of intellectual property and IT law.
Before joining Michalsons, Refilwe spent over 6 years in Big Law where she gained experience in intellectual property, specifically in trade mark litigation. She assisted local and international clients in brand protection and enforcement. She later moved in-house as a Group Legal Advisor for a software company, where she handled various legal matters relating to IT contracts, licenses, compliance, and disputes. She worked with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the protection of the company’s intellectual property rights and interests and assisted to mitigate any legal risks.