Aalia Manie

Aalia Manie is a Director at Webber Wentzel and Head of Fusion, the firm's innovation and legal technology team, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) governance, legal technology, innovation, and managed legal solutions.

She leads a cross‑functional team of 'NewLaw' lawyers, technologists, project managers, engineers and data analysts, driving the firm's innovation strategy and delivering alternative legal solutions including AI governance, legal tech advisory, eDiscovery and fractional resourcing. She also runs the firm's client‑facing Digital Innovation Lab and oversaw Webber Wentzel's first start‑up incubator. Under her leadership, her team has received the Innovation Award from the Africa Legal Awards for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025).

Aalia holds an LL.B from the University of Cape Town (2010) and a B.Bus.Sci (First Class Honours) from the University of Cape Town (2008). She has completed executive programmes in AI Strategy & Governance at The Wharton School and AI & Law at Lund University. She is an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa.

She has been named by the International Legal Technology Association as an Influential Woman in Legal Technology (2024) and by the Mail & Guardian as one of South Africa's Top 200 Young South Africans in Justice & Law (2017).