Kirsty Simpson

Kirsty Simpson is a Director at DLA Piper in Johannesburg and Co‑Head of International Arbitration Africa, specialising in arbitration and mediation. She is a specialist in all aspects of commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution, including expert determination, mediation, and both domestic and international arbitration. She provides practical advice and strategic insight into litigious or potentially litigious matters, with a view to effective management, resolution, or avoidance of disputes.

She has appeared in various courts and arbitral forums nationally and internationally, with experience in cross‑border litigation and arbitration proceedings pertaining to projects implemented across multiple jurisdictions. She has successfully advised a Mauritian company in a R470 million dispute with a private equity fund arising from a sale and purchase agreement, and has acted in shareholder disputes, breach of contract proceedings, and construction disputes stemming from allegations of delays and defects.

Kirsty holds a BA (2000), LL.B (cum laude, 2002), and LL.M (cum laude, 2003) from Rhodes University, as well as Certificates of Competence in Advanced Company Law from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa and is a member of the International Bar Association and the AFSA International Committee.