Adv. Ayesha Tiry

 Ubuntu. Dignity. Inclusive dispute resolution. Vuk’uzenzele.

Advocate Ayesha Tiry is an experienced dispute resolution specialist, mediator, arbitrator, Acting Judge, legal educator, and mediation trainer whose career spans more than twenty-five years in legal practice.

Admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa in 2000, she has developed extensive expertise in litigation, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and judicial decision-making across a broad spectrum of disputes, from commercial and constitutional matters to complex multiparty and public-interest litigation.

As a referral advocate, mediator, and dispute resolution professional, Adv. Tiry brings a unique combination of strategic legal insight, practical problem-solving, and people-centred facilitation to the mediation process. Her extensive experience appearing before the High Courts, Full Benches, Labour Appeal Court, Supreme Court of Appeal, tribunals, and disciplinary forums enables her to assist parties and their legal representatives in realistically evaluating disputes, managing risk, and exploring sustainable solutions.

Adv. Tiry is increasingly recognised for her work in mediation and alternative dispute resolution. She has successfully conducted numerous court-annexed mediations, including Road Accident Fund, defamation, and multiparty disputes, and is currently mediating commercial matters involving complex stakeholder interests. Her reputation is built on preparation, impartiality, strategic thinking, and the ability to facilitate productive dialogue even where parties initially appear far apart.

In 2026, the Honourable Judge President of the Land Court appointed Adv. Tiry to the Court’s approved panel of mediators in recognition of her qualifications, expertise, and experience in mediation and dispute resolution. This appointment reflects judicial confidence in her ability to assist parties in resolving disputes efficiently, fairly, and constructively.

SPECIALISATION FOCUS: COMMERCIAL, PROPERTY, MEDICAL, PRIVACY, TECHNOLOGY, IP AND COMPLEX CIVIL DISPUTES

Advocate Tiry is particularly suited to disputes requiring legal sophistication, stakeholder management, commercial insight, and practical resolution, including:

• Commercial and contractual disputes
• Property and land-related disputes
• PRASA, Road Accident Fund and personal injury disputes
• Defamation and reputation-related disputes
• Privacy, information governance, POPIA and PAIA-related disputes
• Intellectual property and technology-related disputes
• Public law and constitutional matters
• Labour and workplace disputes
• Professional negligence disputes
• Medical-legal disputes
• Multi-party and stakeholder disputes
• Civil litigation and complex claims

Her mediation approach combines legal precision, strategic insight, and effective communication, assisting parties to explore resolution pathways that often preserve relationships, reduce cost, and avoid the uncertainty of litigation.

WHAT CLIENTS CAN EXPECT

Clients and attorneys briefing Advocate Tiry as mediator can expect a mediator who is:

• Calm, constructive, and solutions-focused
• Experienced in complex dispute resolution
• Strategic and commercially aware
• Skilled at facilitating difficult conversations
• Respectful, impartial, and process-driven
• Experienced in court-annexed mediation
• Strong in stakeholder and relationship management
• Highly attuned to privacy and confidentiality considerations
• Technology literate and comfortable with modern business environments
• Focused on practical, durable, and future-orientated outcomes

Adv. Tiry is particularly effective in disputes where parties require a mediator who can understand intricate legal issues while helping participants move beyond entrenched positions toward workable agreement.

CREDENTIALS & QUALIFICATIONS

Academic

• Bachelor of Commerce (Law and Economics), Nelson Mandela University, 1997
• Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Nelson Mandela University, 1999
• National Certificate in Information Technology, 1996
• Certificate in Bioethics (Law, Medicine and Ethics of Reproductive Technology), Harvard-accredited programme, 2018

Professional Standing

• Advocate of the High Court of South Africa, admitted 28 March 2000
• Practising Referral Advocate
• Member of the Legal Practice Council
• Acting Judge, Gauteng Division, Johannesburg
• Legal Practice Council-Appointed Competency-Based Examiner for Pupil Advocates (2026–2027)

Mediation, Arbitration Credentials

• Accredited Mediator, University of Cape Town and Mediation in Motion, 2018
• Arbitration Foundation of South Africa (AFSA) Panel Arbitrator since 2006
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Certificate, 2025

Judicial, Regulatory & Professional Appointments

• Appointed by the Honourable Judge President Z. Carelse of the Land Court to the Land Court Panel of Approved Mediators
• Appointed by Honourable Justice N. Davis, acting as Umpire in terms of the Gauteng Mediation Directive and Protocol, to mediate a dispute where the parties were unable to agree upon the appointment of a mediator
• Independent Member, Enforcement Committee of the Information Regulator of South Africa
• Legal Practice Council-Appointed Competency-Based Examiner for Pupil Advocates (2026–2027)

LEADERSHIP, SERVICE & PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTION

Advocate Tiry has made a significant contribution to the advancement of dispute resolution in South Africa. Beyond her own mediation practice, she actively trains, mentors, and develops mediators through observation programmes, co-mediations, structured training, and the design and curation of professional mediation programmes.

As CEO of SABWiL Chambers – Mediation, she has led the development of mediation panels, curated mediation training programmes, and contributed to the professional development of advocate-mediators through practical and experiential learning initiatives. Her work includes training mediators in court-annexed mediation processes, facilitating practical exposure opportunities, and supporting the growth of future dispute resolution practitioners.

Her commitment to legal education extends beyond mediation. The Legal Practice Council appointed Adv. Tiry as a Competency-Based Examiner for Pupil Advocates for the 2026 and 2027 terms, entrusting her with the assessment of aspiring referral advocates entering the profession. This appointment reflects confidence in her experience, professional judgement, and understanding of advocacy standards. Referral Advocates are statutorily prohibited from accepting instructions, including those to mediate, directly from the clients.

Adv. Tiry also serves as an Independent Member of the Enforcement Committee of the Information Regulator of South Africa. Through this work she contributes to the adjudication of matters concerning constitutional rights to privacy and access to information, including questions arising under POPIA and PAIA. This experience provides a valuable perspective on modern disputes involving confidentiality, information governance, data protection, privacy rights, regulatory compliance, and organisational accountability.

A longstanding advocate for transformation and legal education, Adv. Tiry founded South African Black Women in Law (SABWiL) to combat gender-based violence and foster youth empowerment, and has led extensive programmes focused on mentorship, professional development, advocacy training, human rights education, and access to justice. These efforts were formally recognised by Chief Justice Maya, who commended her work in empowering young women in the legal profession.

She also convenes and leads the SABWiL Human Rights Court, a constitutional and human rights training court held at the Constitutional Court of South Africa. Through this initiative, law students and aspiring legal practitioners develop practical advocacy, constitutional literacy, and dispute resolution skills in a real-world learning environment.

A NOTE ON HER APPROACH

Advocate Tiry approaches mediation from the perspective that sustainable outcomes arise when parties understand both risk and opportunity. Her role is not to impose solutions, but to create the conditions in which constructive dialogue, informed decision-making, and practical settlement become possible.

Ayesha’s combined experience as a litigator, negotiator, mediator, arbitrator, Acting Judge, trainer, and educator enables her to understand disputes from multiple perspectives. She appreciates the realities faced by attorneys and clients alike and is adept at managing both legal complexity and human dynamics.

Adv. Ayesha Tiry’s work in privacy, information governance, technology, and intellectual property further distinguishes her from many traditional mediators. She understands that modern disputes often involve digital assets, information rights, data governance, innovation, technology systems, intellectual property, reputation, and regulatory compliance. This enables her to facilitate disputes arising in both conventional legal environments and increasingly technology-driven sectors.

Adv. Tiry has also developed intellectual property governance and protection frameworks, including intellectual property asset strategies and trademark protection initiatives. Her practical understanding of innovation, brand value, technology, and information management enhances her ability to engage meaningfully with contemporary commercial disputes.

BEYOND PRACTICE

Beyond her professional work, Adv. Tiry is deeply committed to education, mentorship, human rights, and institution-building. She has spent many years creating opportunities for aspiring legal practitioners, developing educational initiatives, and helping others access the tools necessary for professional success.

Adv. Ayesha Tiry maintains a longstanding interest in technology, innovation, constitutional development, and the future of dispute resolution. Her curiosity about how legal systems, technology, and human behaviour interact continues to inform both her professional work and her community initiatives.

Known for her creativity, resilience, strategic thinking, and commitment to service, Ayesha Tiry is driven by a belief that meaningful change occurs when people are empowered with knowledge, opportunity, and the confidence to shape their own future.

These values continue to underpin Adv. Tiry’s work as a mediator, educator, mentor, and dispute resolution professional.