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Samantha Whitaker

Samantha Whitaker

Associate
Baker & McKenzie

Biography

Samantha Whitaker is an associate in Baker McKenzie's IPTech Practice Group in Johannesburg.

Samantha has routinely assisted in advising clients on various legislative and regulatory initiatives directly impacting the telecommunications sector, including legislation pertaining to consumer protection, interception and monitoring, data privacy and cyber security.

She also has experience assisting on a number of matters involving public and private mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions across multiple industry sectors.

Her experience includes assisting clients in the drafting and negotiation of a wide range of telecommunications contracts, advising on due diligence investigations, as well as drafting and negotiating various commercial agreements/documents.

Representative Legal Matters

  • Advised Smile Telecoms Holdings Limited and Smile Telecoms IP Limited in respect of a sale agreement to dispose of all its shares in Smile Communications Tanzania Limited (a Tanzania telecommunications entity) to Vodacom Tanzania Public Limited company.
  • Advised Smile Telecoms Holdings Limited in respect of the sale and ultimately the relinquishment and assignment of Smile Communications DRC SA’s Frequencies and Concession Licence to Vodacom Congo (RDC) SA.
  • Advised Infinite Partners on its investment in a group of companies that operate within the telecommunications sector in South Africa, which following implementation of the transaction will result in our client acquiring a 40% stake in the group.
  • Advised Marubeni Corporation, a major Japanese integrated trading and investment business conglomerate, on its investment in Phillips Pharma Group, one of the largest importers, marketeers and distributors of pharmaceuticals, medical and surgical devices in sub-Saharan Africa with offices and warehouses in 9 African jurisdictions being Zambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, UAE and Uganda.
  • Advised The Bidvest Group Limited in relation to its acquisition of the WearCheck Group from private equity sellers.

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Law Society of South Africa

Admissions

  • South Africa (2025)

Languages

  • English