Lee Swales
Consultant
LLB (UKZN), LLM (Wits), PhD (UCT)
Dr. Lee Swales is a consultant attorney and senior law lecturer at the School of Law, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (summa cum laude), a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from the University of Cape Town.
After completing articles of clerkship at Webber Wentzel at the end of 2008, Lee was admitted as an attorney of the High Court in 2009.
Lee primarily practices in the Media, Telecommunications and Technology environment, including all aspects of cyber-crime, commercial contract drafting, regulatory advice, defamation disputes, and other related media litigation. In addition, Lee specialises in all aspects of information technology law and electronic evidence.
Before studying and lecturing law, Lee was an information technology systems engineer at Heathrow Airport for British Airports Authority in London.
In addition to lecturing cyber-law, contract law, professional training, and advanced contract law at UKZN, Lee sporadically facilitates lectures for the South African Judicial Education Institute and for the Law Society of South Africa.
Currently, Lee is researching various legal implications attached to the use of artificial intelligence, and assisting the National Prosecuting Authority with development of training material for prosecutors.
Qualifications:
- LLB (UKZN)
- LLM (WITS)
- PhD (UCT)
- Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
Professional Memberships:
- Law Society of KwaZulu-Natal (previously Law Society of the Northern Provinces)
- Former member of the e-law committee of the Law Society of South Africa
- One of the founding members of the Association of Intellectual Property Law and Information Technology Law Teachers and Researchers
Publications:
- L Swales ‘Electronic and Cyber Evidence’ in A Bellengère et al (eds) The Law of Evidence in South Africa Oxford University Press 2 ed (2019) 120 – 156.
- L Swales ‘Electronic instruments – a presumption of reliability, a presumption of regularity, judicial notice, or none of the above?’ South African Journal of Criminal Justice (2018) 189 – 211.
- L Swales ‘An Analysis of the Regulatory Environment Governing Hearsay Electronic Evidence in South Africa: Suggestions for Reform – Part One’ Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal (2018) 2 – 30.
- L Swales ‘An Analysis of the Regulatory Environment Governing Hearsay Electronic Evidence in South Africa: Suggestions for Reform – Part Two’ Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal (2018) 2 – 34.
- L Swales ‘Protection of personal information: South Africa’s answer to the global phenomenon in the context of unsolicited electronic messages (spam)’ (2016) South African Mercantile Law Journal 28 (1) 49.
- A Bellengere & L Swales ‘Can Facebook ever be a substitute for the real thing?
- A review of CMC Woodworking Machinery (Pty) Ltd v Pieter Odendaal Kitchens 2012 (5) SA 604 (KZD)’ (2016) Stellenbosch Law Review 27(3) 454.
- L Swales “The regulation of electronic signatures: time for review and amendment” (2015) 15 (2) South African Law Journal 259.
Contributions to the profession:
- Lecture LEAD courses for candidate attorneys on behalf of the Law Society of South Africa.
- Participated in the integration of IT law into the LLB curriculum.
- Assisted in the pilot project rolling out advanced electronic signatures to attorneys in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
- Provide assistance to the electronic law committee of the law society of KwaZulu-Natal.
- Provide ad hoc lecturing on cyber-crime and electronic commerce to the Judicial Education Institute of South Africa.
Contact:
Ground Floor, Robert House
5 Nollsworth Crescent
Nollsworth Park
La Lucia Office Estate
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Tel: + 27 (0) 31 566-6140
Fax: + 27 (0) 86 775 6144
Email: lee@thomsonwilks.co.za
Skype: leeswales_2