Webber Wentzel

Dispute Resolution Practice

Partner

Dario focuses on all aspects of media, communications and information law, free speech and constitutional law, administrative law, data protection, privacy and disinformation law, and corporate and tax litigation and alternative dispute resolution. He has acted for the media in numerous high profile cases, including the defamation case brought by President Zuma against the cartoonist Zapiro. ​​He has been lead attorney in many of the media freedom cases decided by the South African courts including successful Constitutional Court cases for amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism in relation to surveillance laws and transparency of donations to candidates for political office, and for Mail & Guardian in relation to access to information and open justice.  His successes for clients include successfully reviewing the Public Protector's Lifeboat report and succeeding against the South African Revenue Services in one of the Supreme Court of Appeal's leading substance over forms cases. ​Dario acted for Mrs Graça Machel in her complaint before the HPCSA against one of former president Nelson Mandela’s doctors for authoring a book, Mandela’s Last Years, which Mrs Machel alleges violated doctor-patient confidentiality. He litigates in all superior courts in South Africa as well as specialised tribunals and fora such as the International Bar Association Media Law Committee, the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa, the Films and Publications Board, the Press Council, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, the Complaints and Compliance Committee of the ICASA, the Advertising Regulatory Board, and the Tax Court.

PhD, University College London, 2005 LLM (Communications Law), University College London, 2002 LLM (Company Law and Constitutional Law), University of the Witwatersrand, 1997 LLB and M.Comm (Taxation), University of the Witwatersrand B.Com, University of the Witwatersrand, 1995 Admitted solicitor of England and Wales Admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa