Thandeka Nene (Southern Africa Region)

Built Environmental Legal Specialist, Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Thandeka is an expert Construction, Engineering, PPP’s and Infrastructure law attorney, currently employed at the Development Bank of Southern Africa.

Thandeka’s expertise and practice primarily focus on contentious and non-contentious construction and engineering matters. She is known for her unrivalled legal expertise in construction and her leadership skills. This is evidenced by, inter alia, her instrumental role in the implementation of several key infrastructure projects across the SADC region. She is highly regarded in the drafting of bespoke construction agreements such as engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM), engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), design and build (D&B), and operation and maintenance (O&M) contracts.

Thandeka also has extensive experience in providing legal opinions on various aspects of construction and engineering. She has advised both private and public sector clients on international standard form contracts such as FIDIC and NEC. As well as South African based standard form contracts such as JBCC, GCC, and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Professional Service Contract.

Thandeka has represented various role players in the construction industry including employers/developers, state owned entities, government, contractors, subcontractors, banks, project managers, professional service providers and mining companies.

Thandeka is also experienced in alternative dispute resolution and court trails and/or application proceedings arising from various construction and engineering contracts.

Thandeka has acquired in-depth knowledge of the public infrastructure, energy, water and sanitation, petrochemical and mining industries.

In 2023, Thandeka was shortlisted in the African Legal Awards under the category of in-house rising star and nominated for the Lex Falcon Global Awards under the category of construction/infrastructure in-house lawyer of the year 2024. 

In 2019, Thandeka was part of legal team that won the Energy & Natural Resources Team of the Year in the African Legal Awards. In 2018 and 2017, she was part of the legal teams which won Litigation and Dispute Resolution Team of the Year as well as Transportation and Infrastructure team of the year awards.