Dario Milo is a partner in the Dispute Resolution Practice at Webber Wentzel, where he leads a team that focuses on media, communications and information law, as well as constitutional and administrative law (especially in free speech cases).

Dario obtained the degrees of BComm, LLB,  LLM and MComm from the University of the Witwatersrand. After working as an associate in the Media Law Department, Dario studied for an LLM degree in Communications Law at University College London.

Thereafter, he read for a PhD degree at University College London. His thesis examined privacy, reputation and freedom of the media in the context of the law of defamation and privacy, with particular emphasis on South African, English and US law.

Whilst in London, Dario also qualified as a solicitor of the High Court of England and Wales, and taught Media and Entertainment Law.

Dario teaches media law, access to information law, and privacy law at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he is an adjunct professor. He has taught media law at Wits since 2006.

He is the author of Defamation and Freedom of Speech, published by Oxford University Press, and co-author of the book, A Practical Guide to Media Law.

Dario is a global freedom of expression expert at Columbia University and is an editorial board member of the Journal of Media Law.  He is a panel member on the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom set up by the UK and Canadian governments, and chaired by Lord David Neuberger and Amal Clooney.  He is also an expert adviser to the European Commission on its anti-SLAPP initiative.

As a practitioner, Dario has been rated in the first band of Chambers & Partners (a leading law directory) for a number of years, with clients commenting (in the most recent edition): “definitely the pre-eminent practitioner in media,”  “highly knowledgeable, calm and very insightful.”

Highlights from Dario’s career include :

• representing the world-renowned cartoonist Zapiro and various media groups in defamation litigation brought by the President of the African National Congress, Jacob Zuma;
• representing the Goodman Gallery in the claim by the African National Congress and President Zuma in relation to The Spear;
• representing public and private bodies in media litigation and various Promotion of Access to Information Act disputes before the High Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court;
• acting for broadcasters in the successful applications to broadcast the Oscar Pistorius trial, the Pamodzi section 417 enquiry and the Glynnis Breytenbach NPA disciplinary enquiry;
• acting for the media in the successful applications to attend and report on the Judicial Service Commission enquiries into judge John Hlophe and the criminal trial of a minor and an adult for the murder of Eugene Terre’blanche;
• acting in various Constitutional Court media freedom and access to information cases including Le Roux v Dey; McBride v Citizen; Independent Newspapers v Minister for Intelligence; Mail & Guardian v Refugee Appeal Board; Mail & Guardian v Office of the Presidency; Brummer v Minister for Social Development;  Print Media South Africa v Minister for Home Affairs; amaBhungane v Minister of Justice and more;
• appearing for clients before various regulatory bodies, including the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa, the Press Ombudsman, the Advertising Regulatory Board, ICASA and the Films and Publications Board.