Fiona is a coach and assessor on the Conflict Dynamics mediator skills training course. She was accredited as a commercial mediator by both Conflict Dynamics and the UK-based Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) in 2015.

Fiona is a practicing advocate specialising in intellectual property law disputes. She is a member of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates and the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law. She was called to the Bar in 2003. She graduated from the University of Stellenbosch with BA (Law) (1992) and LLB (1994) degrees and obtained the Trade Mark Practitioner’s qualification from the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (2003). Before being called to the Bar in 2003, she practised as an attorney in the trademark litigation department of Adams and Adams.

Fiona’s practice includes tax law, general commercial disputes, and administrative law disputes. Her mediation practice areas include intellectual property law, income tax, administrative law, commercial disputes, and medico-legal disputes. She has advised parties in commercial mediations and has attended a Conflict Dynamics medico-legal mediation workshop in 2017. She regards mediation as a creative and powerful process to resolve disputes which may favour all parties to the dispute. Usually, solutions that suit all the parties are not available to the courts or arbitrators Adv. Southwood is available to act as a mediator throughout South Africa. She is fluent in English and Afrikaans.

Fiona is able to conduct training in English and Afrikaans.