Bongani Mdakane is an admitted attorney with over 12 years of experience in the legal fraternity. He holds an LLB from the University of South Africa (UNISA), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Drafting and Interpretation of Contracts from the University of Johannesburg (UJ). He started his legal career at Spoor & Fisher, a leading, Intellectual Property law firm where he served articles and specialised in Trademark and Copyright Law. An ardent music lover, it was Bongani’s long-held wish to merge his legal experience with his love for music. This opportunity came in the form of the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) where Bongani served as a Legal Advisor. At SAMRO, Bongani obtained invaluable experience in the music industry, particularly in the context of collective management. Notably, Bongani was part of the team which made written submissions to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on the Copyright Amendment Bill. Eager to continue his work in the music industry, Bongani joined one of the leading independent record labels, Ambitiouz Entertainment as a Legal and Business Affairs Manager.  Driven by a need to continue to hone his legal experience in an all-encompassing manner, Bongani founded Mdakane Attorneys in January 2023. Bongani joins Lerato Mbele for the conversation.