The firm’s vast area of expertise cuts across various fields covering specialist knowledge in corporate, commercial, labour, public law including administrative law, procurement law and local government law. Such also covers a good understanding of the regulatory regime governing organs of state in the national, provincial and municipal spheres of government and other public entities.
As stated hereinabove the firm is carving its expertise in niche markets. These include among others Intellectual Property (Broadcasting and Entertainment Law) specifically music and management of royalty rights related thereto. Associated therewith is the Commissioning, and Licensing of these rights for ensuring a constant income stream for music and other content creators
Mr. Mathibe has in recent times spent a considerable period of time as an employee of the South African Public Broadcaster, the SABC, serving in various capacities within the legal department the most penultimate being the Head of the Legal Division. In that capacity he would oversee all contractual, litigation and other legal related matters to protect and maximize the rights for the organization. He would where required serve as part of the negotiation team for content acquisition or licensing or if needs be, attend to legal matters in foreign countries. Some of his attendant duties would involve settlement
of disputes or referring same for litigation and oversee and manage their progress in judicial tribunals.
The firm has also developed a keen interest in the Constitutional Law field through its involvement in a matter that was eventually settled in the Constitutional Court to wit McBride v Minister of Police. Insights gained in this matter specifically as it relates to independent statutory entities established to protect and defend the rights of citizens places the firm in a unique position to ably deal with public interest matters.
One of the firm’s major achievements was to successfully prosecute a litigation matter relating to registration of an entity as a music collecting rights association i.e. Independent Music Performance Rights Association (IMPRA). The registration and certification of the organization enables the entity to collect royalties from local and foreign broadcasters for repertoire played on those broadcaster’s platforms on behalf of their members. Such royalties are a constant income stream for such members and include video royalty rights and those relating to needletime (Music played on radio stations).
The firm also from time to time assists both IMPRA and AIRCO (Association of Independent Recording Companies) with their legal matters especially those relating to Copyright. As is to be expected the greater part of the work would revolve around negotiating with Broadcasters for the licensing of repertoire.