Unpacking the legal issues around Tourism Investment: A conversation with Safiyaa Akoojee

My Guest today is Safiyaa Akoojee, Founder and CEO of Fortunatus Advisory. Safiyya is a Dubai based South African Attorney & advisory professional, with more than thirteen years of law practice experience. In this conversation, she highlights the critical role of attorneys in the business of tourism and the right framework to attract the right investments to destinations. Safiyya will be speaking at the upcoming Tourism Investments Forum Africa scheduled for 10-12 April in Cape Town, South Africa.

Safiyya is a dynamic, performance-driven professional who has held leadership posts in multiple businesses and provides global expertise with legal insights to advise businesses and executives alike. Safiyya has an acute business acumen and foresight allowing her to advise her clients on the intricacies of cross border transactions and offshore establishment.

Having gained a significant amount of experience representing various businesses & industry sectors. Fortunatus Advisory has mandates representing clients in multiple diverse sectors of the economy including oil, gas & energy; travel, tourism & hospitality; food manufacturing; real estate & construction sectors. Representing high net worth clients through Africa & the Middle East, securing foreign direct investment, and advising on offshore strategy providing a complete suite of services, Safiyya is an astute legal & private advisor.

Safiyya previously had success in completing foreign direct investment transactions, and practicing in commercial and corporate law matters, both litigious and non-litigious. Having successfully advised and represented international trade, company formation specialty, and offshore company strategy. Safiyya worked as Director of Thomson Wilks Inc. in association with DWF for thirteen years as the sole international attorney, focused on Middle East strategy & legal consulting. She speaks regularly at conferences on international investments and the international legal environment & regulations supporting business opportunities, whilst overcoming cross-border and governmental challenges, in an ever-increasing multicultural society.

She has also served as President of the South African Business Council, Dubai U.A.E, and represented South Africa in procuring foreign direct investment.

Safiyya holds multiple degrees in Bachelor of Arts (Law, International Relations, English), the University of Witwatersrand; Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of South Africa; Post Graduate Certificate, Commercial & Corporate Law, University of London (awarded merit*); Post Graduate Diploma, Banking & Finance Law, University of London (awarded merit*); Masters of Law (LLM), Banking, Finance & Corporate Law, University of London