Tumelo Mashabela

What does your company do?

Tshaya Mashabela Attorneys Inc. is a South African based boutique law firm rendering specialised services to private companies, state owned entities and small businesses, located both locally and internationally. With our offices located in Pretoria, Gauteng, we provide legal services in Intellectual Property (IP) Law, Commercial and Corporate Law, Labour Law, Environmental Law, Entertainment Law, and Civil and Commercial Litigation. We ensure that creations of human intellect are legally protected and commercialised effectively. The establishment of the FIRM was motivated by a desire to be an agent for change, transfer skills and build a successful and proudly black owned and managed corporate, commercial and IP law firm.

What is your biggest success?

Tumelo Mashabela's biggest success is multifaceted, but the most prominent achievement is her groundbreaking role as the first black female patent attorney in South Africa, which she qualified for in 2009. This milestone not only highlights her personal excellence but also represents a significant step toward diversity and inclusion in the field of intellectual property (IP) law in South Africa. Additionally, her other major successes include: • Receiving the 2018 Professional Excellence in Innovation Management Award from the Department of Science and Innovation, recognising her contributions to bridging innovation and business success. • Extensive mentorship and advocacy, and her work mentoring startups through programs facilitated by various incubation hubs. • Thought leadership, such as her guest lectures at WIPO Summer School, media appearances, and publications, further cementing her reputation as a leader in her field. These accomplishments collectively underscore her impact on IP law, entrepreneurship, and mentorship in South Africa and beyond.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

Navigating and overcoming systemic barriers as the first black female patent attorney in South Africa—a field historically dominated by non-black and male professionals. Her career trajectory, from overcoming these entry barriers to founding her own IP law firm and mentoring others, underscores the challenges she faced in establishing herself in a niche, technically demanding, and traditionally exclusionary legal domain.