Accredited with inclusion on both 2015 and 2016 editions of The Legal 500 GC Powerlist: Africa, Fiona Gumede – general manager corporate legal and company secretary for oil and gas company Engen Petroleum – is one of Africa’s most consistently outstanding in-house lawyers.

Appointed to her current role of general manager, corporate legal and company secretariat in 2011, Gumede utilises a huge amount of experience in drafting, negotiating and managing complex contracts, such as the management of large infrastructure and commercial projects, intellectual property related contracts including the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

She has also been involved in due diligences in mergers and acquisition transactions as well as in competition law matters, in addition to the management of several contractual disputes including mediation and arbitration. She also has extensive knowledge of domestic and international regulatory and governance areas acquired over a number of years in her role as corporate counsel and Company Secretariat.

Gumede is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa with over 15 years of experience acquired in both her capacities as a practising attorney and in-house counsel, where she worked across various industries including transport, maritime, energy and Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). She holds BA and LLB degrees and obtained an Executive Management certificate obtained from the Wits Business School in Johannesburg.