“Today, an exceptional lawyer must be more than technically sound.” – Lindo Ntuli
Lindo Ntuli is a qualified Attorney of the High Court of South Africa and currently serves as Managing Legal Counsel at TransUnion. With a career spanning top-tier law firms and multinational environments, he brings deep expertise in financial services law, regulatory strategy, data protection, and cross-border transactions.
He previously worked as an Associate in the Banking & Finance team at ENSafrica, one of Africa’s largest law firms, where he advised domestic and international clients on fintech, electronic payments, loan and derivative agreements, insurance, money laundering, and regulatory compliance, including FAIS, FICA, NCA, POPIA, and the CPA.
Lindo holds three degrees across law, private law, and business and economics, from the University of the Free State (LLB), the University of Cape Town (LLM in Private Law), and Tsinghua University in China (Master’s in Global Affairs, with a focus on Business and Economics). He has gained exposure to policy, corporate governance, and leadership across Africa and Asia.
His diverse background includes serving as a legal analyst at Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing, where he contributed to cross-border M&A and investment matters, and as a legal researcher at UCT’s Mineral Law Institute in Africa, where he co-authored work on mining law in South Africa. He completed his articles at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr with rotations across key practice areas, including a year in banking and finance.
Lindo continues to deepen his sectoral expertise through advanced training, including a Payment Course with the Payment Association of South Africa. Fluent in English, Zulu, Xhosa, Sesotho, and conversational in Mandarin; he thrives in multicultural environments and brings a collaborative and commercially attuned approach to legal counselling.
1. The Driving Force for Choosing the Legal Profession.
Interestingly, Lindo’s initial plan was not to study law. He had always imagined himself pursuing business and eventually completing an MBA. But everything changed in Grade 10 during a visit to a local court with a friend whose father worked there as an interpreter. As he sat in the gallery, he listened to the prosecutor present a compelling case that convinced him the accused was guilty beyond question. Then the defence took the floor, and within the same hour, he found his perspective completely shifted. It was the power of reason, persuasion, and the duality of truth in one room that captivated him. That courtroom encounter ignited a fire that never died down.
Though his interest in business never left him, he knew he would always work at the intersection of law and commerce. That is exactly where he is now, in corporate legal practice, solving practical and high-stakes challenges within business contexts.
What keeps him inspired is that the legal profession is no longer static. It is at the centre of some of the most dynamic changes in our world, from the rise of artificial intelligence and data regulation to financial inclusion and digital finance. Being in-house means he does not just interpret the law; he helps shape how businesses innovate responsibly, grow sustainably, and stay accountable. That is a powerful space to be in.
2. Qualities of an Exceptional Lawyer and How Young Professionals Can Cultivate Such Attributes.
Today, an exceptional lawyer must be more than technically sound. They must be adaptable, commercially minded, and curious about the world beyond black-letter law. Legal issues are rarely isolated; they are entangled with technology, economics, social equity, and global regulation.
Lindo has learned that three of the following qualities, amongst others, consistently set great legal professionals apart:
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- Adaptability: The legal environment is shifting rapidly, from how we regulate data and AI to how clients engage with legal services. Adaptable lawyers, who read the moment, anticipate change, and respond constructively, remain relevant and effective.
- Creativity: In a world where AI can now handle much of the technical reasoning, the ability to think beyond precedent, craft innovative solutions, and contextualise the law for new scenarios is what distinguishes human counsel.
- Attention to detail: Whether drafting contracts, analysing regulatory obligations, or reviewing risk, precision matters. Great lawyers catch what others miss and protect their clients through that level of diligence.
For young professionals, cultivating these attributes starts with exposure and curiosity. They must read widely, challenge assumptions, look at how other industries are evolving, and stay in touch with society.
Lindo recalls a professor from his second master’s in business and economics who once said, “If you position a business idea based on where trends are going, you are 90% more likely to succeed. But if you ignore the market signals and go against the trends, you are 90% guaranteed to fail.” That struck a chord, and it applies just as much to law.
He further stated that if lawyers do not evolve with the society they serve, they risk becoming irrelevant. But if they stay alert, creative, and precise, they will always be part of shaping the future.
3. Significant Ongoing Project or Initiatives and Possible Impacts.
True leaders are always thinking ahead. What is the next ground-breaking project or initiative that you are or would be working on, and what impact do you hope it will make?
One of the most exciting initiatives Lindo is working on involves integrating responsible AI principles into commercial contracts, especially as businesses embrace automation and data-driven services. There is a gap between innovation and governance, and legal counselling must bridge that.
He is also deeply invested in projects that advance financial inclusion in Africa. Whether it is supporting fintech partnerships, digital ID verification, or ensuring that data sharing happens within the bounds of privacy law. He believes that these are areas where the law can enable progress rather than hinder it.
The impact he hopes to make is this: to be part of legal frameworks that are enabling, not obstructive. To help businesses move fast, but do so with integrity. And to ensure that, as technology evolves, people’s rights and dignity evolve with it.
4. Role Models and Impactful Books
The legal mind that most profoundly influenced Lindo’s journey was his father, who, due to the oppressive laws of his time, was never allowed to pursue a university education. Yet he carried within him a strong conviction that his children must live a life filled with dignity, possibility, and access to opportunity. That resolve became the foundation of Lindo’s own decision to study law. He wanted to honour his father’s story, own his reality, and shape a different future for his children.
Among formal legal influences, Lindo was mentored at university by the late Justice Ronnie Bosielo of the Supreme Court of Appeal. His journey and mentorship left a lasting impression. Another legal figure Lindo continues to admire is former Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, whose sound reasoning, moral clarity, and leadership at the helm of the judiciary shaped much of his thinking.
In terms of books, a few that continue to guide and challenge him include:
- My Own Liberator by Justice Dikgang Moseneke
- How Can Man Die Better by Benjamin Pogrund
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
5. Advice or Guiding Principles for Young Legal Professionals and Advocates Trying to Find their Place and Purpose in the Legal Terrain.
Lindo believes that the legal profession is a great space to be in. It offers real possibilities and opportunities for those who are willing to commit to it. While the journey can feel daunting and the work can be demanding, it is achievable. With discipline and consistency, the hard work pays off in more ways than one. One of the greatest rewards is how the law stretches one mentally and intellectually and ultimately shapes them as a person.
What Lindo has come to appreciate deeply is that the study and practice of law does more than prepare one for a career. It prepares one for the world, both as it is and as it is becoming. The training it gives sharpens one’s thinking, broadens their understanding of people and systems, and challenges them to reason with clarity and empathy.
What worked for Lindo was staying interested in the law, even during the tough moments. Finding mentors to guide him made a big difference. Reading books that spoke to the purpose behind the profession helped him stay grounded. He believes that the pursuit of a legal career is like a fire, and one has to keep feeding that fire. That might look like joining moot court competitions, taking up leadership roles in the faculty, participating in legal clinics or summer programs, or just being in spaces where the law is discussed and lived.
His final advice is to keep one’s curiosity alive, to keep learning, and most importantly, to be surrounded by people and experiences that serve as a reminder of why this path was chosen in the first place.
Click here to read our previous Millennial, Tumo Koboyatau
Editorial Team
Silver Obioha
Clinton Nyamongo
Kazeem Afolabi
Dikeledi Matlhagare
Tolulope Olasunkanmi
Sulaimon Badmus
Aya Hamdy
Princess Maake
Jemilat Akerele
Vera Enubianozor
Brandon Otieno
Oluwabusayo Awodele
Kyenpiya Wonang
Gift Nwoke
Jessica Odoh
Tracy Karumba
Mary-Jones Ossi
Halimah Oladunni
Mary Linus
Peter Momoh
Jessica Omoruyi
