Open to opportunities

Matseko Shirley Smith

@matsekoshirleysmith

Intellectual Property Administrator and qualified attorney applying IP research and licensing clearance to reduce risk and streamline asset tracking.

South Africa

Message

What I'm looking for

I’m looking to apply my Intellectual Property Law training to support 2U’s copyright asset clearance—evaluating third-party content, managing licenses and asset tracking, and ensuring POPIA/GDPR/FAIS compliance while escalating risks quickly.

I’m a qualified attorney with an LLB and a Postgraduate Certificate in Intellectual Property Law, bringing hands-on legal practice, regulatory compliance, and meticulous record-keeping to the Intellectual Property Administrator role. I’m especially strong at evaluating the legal basis of third-party content, drafting and vetting legal agreements, and conducting copyright and IP research under tight deadlines.

In previous roles, I maintained comprehensive documentation and accurate tracking systems, liaised with diverse stakeholders, and escalated IP issues and risk flags to senior management. I’m eager to apply this specialised knowledge within 2U’s copyright asset clearance process, interpreting copyright legislation and licensing frameworks while keeping documentation audit-ready.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Customer Support Specialist

Preply

Sep 2023 - Oct 2024 (1 year 1 month)

Managed high-volume, multi-channel stakeholder interactions remotely and maintained a 0% department abandonment rate through accurate, timely, and compliant communication. Ensured GDPR compliance with sensitive user data and identified, analyzed, and escalated contractual/policy compliance risks.

Customer Support GDPR Compliance Data Privacy Stakeholder Management

Financial Planner

Momentum

Mar 2022 - May 2023 (1 year 2 months)

Evaluated financial agreements and disclosure documents against FAIS, FICA, POPIA, and the Pension Funds Act to support compliant decision-making. Maintained meticulous compliance records and drafted/vetted client investment agreements while communicating regulatory restrictions and escalation requirements to clients and advisers.

FICA

Candidate Attorney

VB Tshabalala Attorneys Inc

Aug 2019 - Dec 2020 (1 year 4 months)

Conducted legal research and drafted, vetted, and negotiated commercial and employment agreements, ensuring legal precision, risk identification, and regulatory compliance. Maintained comprehensive case files under court deadlines and represented clients in District Magistrate Court proceedings while liaising with stakeholders.

Legal Research Regulatory Compliance