Senior Partner Dr. Wilbert B. Kapinga attending the Golden Jubilee of the Faculty of Law, University of Dar es Salaam
Dr Kapinga standing behind the Guest of Honour on the 22th October 2011 at the Golden Jubilee of the Faculty of Law, University of Dar es Salaam.
From left to right - seated:
Mrs. Tunu Mizengo Pinda, Hon. Joseph Sinde Warioba (Former Prime Minister of the United Republic Tanzania), Right Hon. Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda, The Prime Minister of the United Republic Tanzania, H.E. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, the Vice President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Gharib Bilal, the Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Prof. Palamagamba John Aidan Mwaluko Kabudi, the Dean Faculty of Law, and Prof. Rwekaza Siphonius Mkandala, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam.
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Vodacom World article about Mkono & Co CSR initiative
In their latest edition, the prestigious Vodacom World Magazine has honoured Managing Partner Hon. Nimrod E. Mkono with a featured article about the Musoma Rural Educational Project. The Magazine will be circulated all over Tanzania for three months and 30 000 copies have been printed. The target groups are large and midscale enterprises, the government and regional administrations. Vodacom World Executive Editor, Michel Lanfrey, visited Mara Region and enthusiastically reported about his encounters with students, staff and other project beneficiaries.
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Mkono Open Junior Tennis tournament 2011
Mkono & Co Advocates is proud to announce that it sponsored a tennis tournament for young players between 6 and 18 for the fourth consecutive year. It was held at Gymkhana Club grounds in Dar es Salaam from May 22 - 23, 2011. This annual event is part of the firm's Corporate Social Responsibility structure and gives kids the opportunity to practice their tennis abilities under tournament conditions and motivates them to add a competitive edge to their normal routine.
62 players from the whole Coast region of Tanzania participated and the level of tennis shown was very high, with the kids clearly enjoying themselves.
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50 Computers for Musoma Rural Educational Project
Thanks to a donation from our SNR Denton partner office in Dubai, Mkono & Co Advocates is proud to announce that it has started the distribution of 50 computers to schools and medical facilities in Mara Region, Tanzania.
In general, the computers will be given to government schools and ward dispensaries to enhance their administration and logistical organisation. Further, computer laboratories will be installed in selected schools to train students in information technology and enable them to get easier access to tertiary education with their computer skills. The Development Director of the Region, Dr. Karaine Kunei, commended Mkono & Co's vision and efforts and stated that the educational system of Mara Region, one of Tanzania's poorest regions, will benefit tremendously from the donation.
To see some pictures of Mkono & Co's latest CSR event, Click the link below.
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Mkono & Co Advocates hosts SNR Denton Africa Streering Committee Meeting
Mkono & Co Advocates is very proud to announce that it hosted the Annual SNR Denton Africa Steering Committee Meeting in Dar es Salaam on May 18 & 19, 2011.
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Dr. Wilbert B. Kapinga heads EALS delegation to meet His Excellency, Hon. Jakaya M. Kikwete
The Members of the East African Law Society (EALS) Council met with His Excellency, Hon. Jakaya M. Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania for an official courtesy call at the State House on April 5, 2011. The delegation was headed by Mkono & Co Senior Partner and EALS President Dr. Wilbert B. Kapinga, who gave a speech on that occassion, introducing the latest developments within EALS and inviting the President to join their efforts to harmonize the legal profession in East Africa.
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Mkono & Co Advocates Band 1 Law Firm at Chambers and Partners
In their 2011 edition Chambers and Partners have commended Mkono & Co Advocates again and placed the firm in their Band 1 group of General business law firms in Tanzania.
Among other praise, they point out the firm's highly organised structure and quote sources as saying that the firm delivers "the quality of advice that you would expect from a large international law firm". Clients have further stated that the lawyers are "particularly helpful in advising on regulatory and structuring issues, and in providing practical solutions to deliver the deal." Head of the corporate and commercial department Dr. Wilbert Kapinga is praised for his ability to get the deal done. “We see him on a lot of transactions and he is clearly a very intelligent man,” say peers.
To read the full review, please see:
http://www.chambersandpartners.com/Global/Editorial/40559
Senior Partner Dr. Wilbert B. Kapinga attends the formal Launch of the joint project between PALU and ALSF
From February 11 - 12, 2011, Mkono & Co Senior Partner Dr. Wilbert B. Kapinga represented the East African Law Society (EALS) at the formal Launch of the joint project between the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) and the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) in Kigali, Rwanda.
The PALU is the umbrella association of African lawyers and law societies. It brings together the continent's five regional and fifty-three national lawyers' associations, as well as individual lawyer-members.
The ALSF is an international organization, established by Treaty, based in Tunis, Tunisia which aims at providing African countries with access to sound legal advise and technical assistance to strengthen their negotiating capacity in complex commercial transactions and for the resolution of commercial creditor litigation and debt management.
Through the partnership with the ALSF, PALU will organize a series of Regional Seminars to offer the unique opportunity to enhance the skills set of legal practitioners.
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Senior Partner Dr. Wilbert B. Kapinga elected President of the East Africa Law Society
Mkono & Co Advocates are very proud to announce that our Senior Partner, Dr. Wilbert B. Kapinga, has been elected President of the East Africa Law Society in their Annual Conference and General Meeting 2010 in Bujumbura.
Please click here for the picture of the new EALS Council.
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Filip Tack joins Mkono & Co as a Cross-Border Counsel
Mkono & Co is delighted to inform you that the legal team of Mkono & Co. Tanzania has recently been reinforced by Filip Tack.
In his current position Filip advises foreign investors on a number of investment, corporate and commercial law matters. He also assists in contract negotiations in a wide variety of sectors.
Before joining Mkono & Co’s team, he was a member of the Brussels bar and, connected to the international law firms Vermulst Verhaeghe Graafsma & Bronckers and Crowell & Moring. During that period his practice focused on EU and WTO Trade Law and EU Regulatory Law. He assisted DG TAXUD (EU) in WTO proceedings regarding the tariff treatment of information technology products and advised clients on a number of trade and EU regulatory law matters, including anti-dumping, customs and export controls. Filip was also an Attaché in the Belgian Foreign Office DG for European Affairs and a legal intern in two programs. The first one was in the European Patent Office in Munich where he was involved in EPO activities with respect to the protection of industrial property for Africa. Subsequently, he was assigned to the Office of the Prosecutor in the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda where he supported the activities of the Military I Trial Team.
Filip holds a Masters of Laws degree from the University of Leuven (Belgium, 2003) as well as a Master of Arts in European Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies at the College of Europe (Poland, 2005).
Filip’s native language is Dutch and additionally, he is fluent in English and French.
Dr. Gastorn Kennedy rejoin Mkono & Co Advocates
Dr. Kennedy Gastorn has rejoined Mkono and Co. Advocates in association with SNR Denton after his return from his studies in Germany. Kennedy Gastorn is specialised in natural resources law; investment law; East African Community Law; and corporate law. He has researched and published various publications in international legal journals on these areas. While in Germany for his doctorate, he also worked in the German Parliament, Berlin, as Officer in the Office of Hon. Hartwig Fischer, MdB who is expert on Africa from CDU/CSU coalition party, and a member of Parliamentary Committees on investment, human rights and humanitarian aid. He teaches law at the University of Dar es Salaam and has also been involved in a wide range of regulatory matters for water utilities as the Legal Consultant for the GTZ in Tanzania in the Clustering of Water Utilities Projects in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation of the government of Tanzania.
Mkono & Co Advocates ranked Tier One in IFLR 2011
Once again, Mkono & Co Advocates has been ranked on the top by IFLR 2011, the guide to the world's leading financial law firms. It states that "Mkono & Co is still known as the biggest and one of the best firms and neither competitors nor clients dispute its tier one ranking". Further, the article cites some of the most important clients and legal services during the last 12 months, naming HSBC Bank, Hilton Hotels and Eaton Telecoms as some examples. Dr. Wilbert Kapinga, Senior Partner of Mkono & Co Advocates, is considered the driving force of the firm and earns praise from peers and clients alike.
MKONO & Co Advocates now part of the SNR DENTON family
SNR Denton officially launched yesterday. The combination of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP and Denton Wilde Sapte LLP creates an international legal practice with 48 locations in 32 countries across four continents. SNR Denton launches as a top 25 firm by lawyers and professionals worldwide, spanning the US, UK, Europe, the Middle East, Russia and the CIS, South-East Asia, and Africa.
SNR Denton has recognized eminence in eight core industry sectors:
Energy, Transport and Infrastructure
Financial Institutions and Funds
Government
Health and Life Sciences
Insurance
Manufacturing
Real Estate, Retail and Hotels
Technology, Media and Telecommunications
The partners unanimously approved the combination on June 9. Since then, lawyers and professionals have worked together to advance the integration. Clients have contributed to the refinement of the new firm’s sector-driven focus.
“Our lawyers and professionals worldwide are already working together on many client matters – we have made a great start,” said SNR Denton Chief Executives Elliott Portnoy and Howard Morris.
“Our driving motivation remains simple: to better serve the needs of our clients – whether in the world’s financial centers, business hubs or emerging markets – and to deliver the highest-quality service,” Messrs. Portnoy and Morris added. “We want to be the first choice of clients for whom quality and value make a difference.”
Joseph Andrew and Martin Kitchen serve as Chairmen of the new firm.
In the past 100 days, lawyers and professionals across the new SNR Denton have teamed up on dozens of key client projects. For example, large cross-border licensing deals, a complex international records retention engagement, and several structured finance transactions, including creating a legal structure for the issuance of residential mortgage-backed securitizations in Europe.
Since the announcement of SNR Denton, top-flight lateral partners have joined with established reputations in energy, infrastructure, telecommunications, capital markets, corporate, intellectual property, international tax, health care, litigation, competition and trade regulation, and real estate.
SNR Denton has a distinguished pedigree, reflecting Denton’s roots as a City of London firm dating to the late 1700s and SNR’s founding in 1906. “The continuity of our firm across old and new world economies gives us an exceptional foundation from which to begin anew as SNR Denton,” said Messrs. Portnoy and Morris. “In helping our clients achieve their business goals, we have a history of success on which we launch SNR Denton today.”
Mkono & Co Partner Karel Daele Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK)
Mkono & Co Partner Karel Daele has been upgraded by The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) to the Member grade.
CIArb exists for the global promotion, facilitation and development of all forms of private dispute resolution to maximise the contribution that dispute resolution practitioners make. In addition to providing education and training for arbitrators, mediators and adjudicators, the Institute acts as an international centre for practitioners, policy makers, academics and those in business concerned with the cost-effective and early settlement of disputes. This gives users confidence that the very best people are helping to resolve their dispute.
The Institute's wholly owned subsidiary company, IDRS Limited, administers schemes for the resolution of business and consumer disputes, providing a cost-effective and timely alternative to the courts. IDRS also manages CIArb's nominating and appointing services for ad-hoc arbitrations, adjudications and mediations.
Mkono & Co Partner Karel Daele addresses the 2010 “Contemporary Topics in Investment Arbitration” Conference of the AIA Association
The conference will focus on the effect of Most Favored Nation (MFN) clauses on parties' substantive rights and investment arbitration in China. In addition, the conference will consider various contemporary issues in investment arbitration.
Other speakers are:
• Diego Brian Gosis, Of Counsel at the International Affairs Directorate, Procuración del Tesoro de la Nación, Government of the Republic of Argentina;
• Professor Tony Cole, Assistant Professor of Law, Warwick Law School, University of Warwick, England;
• Dr. Stephen Schill, LL.M (NYU) Rechtsanwalt, Attorney-At-Law, New York, Senior Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law;
• Thomas Henquet, Senior Jurist/Legal Counsel, International Law Division, Legal Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands;
• Minister-Councilor Mme. Hong Zhao, Chinese mission to the WTO (Geneva);
• Domenico di Pietro, Avvocato (Italy) and Solicitor (England & Wales); International Law and Arbitration Department at Chiomenti Studio Legale (Rome); Lecturer, International Arbitration, University of Rome, "Roma Tre.";
• Sylvia Noury, Counsel, International Arbitration Group, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (London);
• Christian Leathley, LL.M. (NYU), Attorney-at-Law (New York), Solicitor (England and Wales); and
• Alexandra Koutoglidou, legal adviser to the Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Greek Embassy in Brussels and trade negotiator for the Services and Investment Unit of European Commission’s DG Trade (Brussels).
The conference is held in Brussels (Belgium) on 22 October 2010.
Mkono & Co Advocates successfully advises Ophir Energy Plc on biggest single investment in the history of Tanzania.
On 26 May 2010 Ophir Energy plc (Ophir) and the Government of Tanzania signed a number of Gas Commercialization Project (GCP) Agreements in relation to three blocks offshore southern Tanzania. Under the Agreements, Ophir will drill at least three exploration wells and will develop a Gas Export Project pursuant to which commercial quantities of Natural Gas discovered in the area will be gathered, treated, separated, converted, compressed, transported, processed and sold to international and domestic markets. The Gas Export Project involves an investment of USD 7 billion, the biggest single investment in the history of the United Republic Tanzania.
Hon. Nimrod E. Mkono, Dr. Wilbert Kapinga and Mr. Karel Daele of Mkono & Co Advocates acted alongside Linklaters London and advised Ophir Energy plc throughout the negotiations with the Government and the closing of the transaction. Ophir Energy plc is a UK incorporated holding company with interest in 16 oil and gas exploration projects in 8 different African jurisdictions.
Mkono & Co Advocates also assisted Ophir Energy plc in relation to the completion of a farm out agreement with BG International (BG), a subsidiary of BG Group plc. BG Group plc is a world leader in natural gas and is active in more than 25 countries on 5 continents.
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Mkono & Co Partner Karel Daele admitted to the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK)
Mkono & Co Partner Karel Daele has been admitted by The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) to the Associate grade.
CIArb exists for the global promotion, facilitation and development of all forms of private dispute resolution to maximise the contribution that dispute resolution practitioners make. In addition to providing education and training for arbitrators, mediators and adjudicators, the Institute acts as an international centre for practitioners, policy makers, academics and those in business concerned with the cost-effective and early settlement of disputes. This gives users confidence that the very best people are helping to resolve their dispute.
The Institute's wholly owned subsidiary company, IDRS Limited, administers schemes for the resolution of business and consumer disputes, providing a cost-effective and timely alternative to the courts. IDRS also manages CIArb's nominating and appointing services for ad-hoc arbitrations, adjudications and mediations.
Mkono & Co Partner Karel Daele appointed as YIAG Regional Representative for Africa
Mkono & Co Partner Karel Daele has been appointed by the Young International Arbitration Group (YIAG) as Regional Representative for Africa. This is an important leadership role in the region in relation to international commercial and investment arbitration.
YIAG is an association of arbitration lawyers, arbitrators and students of arbitration sponsored by the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), one of the world’s leading arbitration institutions. Membership of YIAG is open to arbitration practitioners aged 40 and under. There are now over 1,900 members from more than 80 countries including: Australia, Bulgaria, Cameroon, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, India, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia and Singapore.
With this appointment, YIAG hopes to increase the number of YIAG members from the African region significantly and to encourage its African members to become more involved in the activities of the group. These activities include the organisation of symposia and training seminars on international commercial arbitration, reporting on the latest developments in arbitration law and practice around the world and exchanging views on, and debating, topical issues in international commercial arbitration.
This appointment was announced on 26 March 2010 and is for a period of three years.
Managing Partner Nimrod E. Mkono (MP) is commended for his efforts in developing education
The Citizen, Tanzania's leading daily newspaper, ran a feature about Nimrod E. Mkono, the Managing Partner of Mkono & Co Advocates, in it's February 9th issue. It commended his fight for education without discrimination in the rural areas on the shores of Lake Victoria.
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Daily News: UK magazine awards Mkono & Co Advocates
Mkono & Co Advocates was featured in an article by the Daily News on January 20th, 2010. The newspaper honored the fact that our law firm was one of only three companies in Africa that had been awarded. Mkono & Co Advocates have been recognized as the leading law firm in the country and in the region.
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Mkono & Co Advocates appointed to the World Finance 100 List
Mkono & Co Advocates have been appointed to become a member of the World Finance 100 List by the Editor of the World Finance Magazine. Please click link below to see the Member Certificate.
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Mkono & Co. Advocates receive The International Star Award for Quality in the Diamond Category
On October 26, Mkono & Co. Advocates received The International Star Award for Quality in the Diamond Category in Geneva.
The award was given in recognition of commitment to Quality, Leadership, Technology and Innovation in accordance with the QC100 Criteria, at the 13th International star for leadership quality convention.
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President Kikwete acknowledges Mkono & Co Corporate Social Responsibility
On October 13th, Oswald Mang'ombe High School for Boys in Butuguri (Mara Region) was officially handed over to President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete by Hon. Nimrod E. Mkono during a cheerful ceremony. The school was build through a development association, supported by Mkono & Co Advocates, and the community of the nearby villages. Currently over 200 boys receive their A-level education at Oswald Mang'ombe. The main focus of the school is natural sciences and languages.
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Mkono Open Youth Tennis Tournament gets TTA recognition
In its quarterly magazine, the Tanzania Tennis Association (TTA) commends Hon. Nimrod E. Mkono for his commitment to the sport.
The Managing Partner of Mkono & Co Advocates supports an annual youth event, where kids from all over Tanzania can practice their skills under competitive conditions.
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Mkono & Co Junior Associates participate in the First African Energy Conference 2009
Ms. Rehema Khalid and Ms. Lotus Menezes, both Junior Associates at Mkono & Co Advocates, attended a three day conference on Energy at the Movenpick Hotel in Dar es Salaam. Energy is seen as a viable business in the East-African region and the information provided at the conference will enable the two lawyers to advise clients on that matter with in-debth knowledge and competence.
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Mkono & Co Advocates praised in the May 2009 TIME issue of their annual edition "The TIME 100 - The World
Mkono & Co Advocates made an appearance in the May 2009 issue of TIME Magazine, amidst the famous annual edition of "The TIME 100 - The World's Most Influential People". The article stressed the growing importance of the firm in the East-African legal market and their striving to open global possibilities to their clients.
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Second Mkono Open Youth Tennis Tournament to be held in Dar es Salaam
For the second consecutive year, the Mkono Open Youth Tennis Tournament will be held in Dar es Salaam's Gymkhana Club on February 21 and 22, 2009.
A total of 80 young players between the age of 8 and 18 will be competing in 13 different categories. Both boys and girls will get the chance to play singles as well as doubles and it is expected that most of the participants will make good use of this opportunity.
Target group for the tournament are those youngsters who could usually not afford to participate in competitions because of the high entrance fees. The Mkono Open will be completely free and offers kids a good way to practice their skills under tournament conditions which is crucial for the development of their game.
Spectators are very welcome at the venue and are guaranteed some entertaining and exciting matches!
Mkono Partner bids at Tanganyika Law Society Fund-raising dinner
Dr. Wilbert Kapinga and his wife, Saida, purchased a painting of the German Boma at Bagamoyo at a Fund-raising dinner organized by the Tangayika Law Society. Among the honoraries of the night were president Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and Chief Justice Mr Augustino Rhamadani.
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A Partner with Mkono & Co. Advocates to serve as an Election Observer in upcoming US Presidential elections
Mkono & Co Advocates has sent Clark Arrington, a Partner in its Banking & Finance division, to Ohio, USA, to serve as an Election Observer for the Barak Obama Presidential Campaign For Change. Clark Arrington is a citizen of the USA.
The Obama Campaign has recruited a cadre of attorneys to serve as Election Observers on Election Day, 4 November 2008. Clark Arrington has been assigned to Cincinnati Ohio and will join the Ohio Voter Protection Team.
Statement from Clark Arrington
“The Republicans have made ‘voter suppression’ an integral part of their electoral strategy. The State of Ohio has been particularly targeted as it is considered a critical battle ground state that current opinion polls show Senator Barack Obama with approximately a 6% lead. However, George Bush won the State of Ohio in 2004 with less than an 119,000 vote margin. In 2000 George Bush won the presidential election by winning the State of Florida with a mere 537 vote margin out of a total of 5.8 million votes cast .
As a member of the Ohio Voter Protection Team, I will serve as both a trouble shooter and as the eyes and ears of the Obama Campaign. I will assist election officials and help voters vote while also reporting concerns to the Obama Ohio Boiler Room. Election Observers are the Obama Campaign’s early warning system, preventing delay, ballot shortages and systematic problems with the election. My goal for the Precincts I will observe and monitor will be to ensure that every eligible voter can vote and every valid vote is counted.”
Mkono & Co still the most successful firm operating in the Tanzanian legal market (IFLR 1000, 2009 edition)
Mkono & Co still the most successful firm operating in the Tanzanian legal market (IFLR 1000, 2009 edition)
Mkono & Co is proud to announce that its dominant market position in Tanzania has been highlighted by the 2009 edition of the IFLR1000, the world's leading guide of financial law firms.
Mkono & Co is ranked as the only financial and corporate law firm in Tier one for Tanzania and three partners are featured as “Leaders lawyers” and received a number of noteworthy recognitions.
Senior Partner Dr. Wilbert Kapinga is mentioned as a very good lawyer whose clients appreciate his cleverness and style in dealing with their cases. Global Development Partner Steven De Backer is referred to as a commercially-minded young lawyer who internationalised the firm by opening an office in Burundi. The Founder and Managing Partner of the firm, Nimrod E. Mkono is further recognized for the active role he still plays in key transactions.
According to the directory, the firm’s clients are impressed with the standard of work they receive. "They have a competitive edge and a close association with international law firms. We continue to instruct them because of the quality of their work."
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Hon. Nimrod E. Mkono meets US presidential nominee of the Democratic Party, Barack Obama
During a visit to the United States, Hon. Nimrod E. Mkono and Financial Partner Clark Arrington had the chance to meet with US presidential nominee Barack Obama for a brief discussion of the american market and the global financial crisis.
Click the Link below to view the Photo.
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Clark R. Arrington joins Mkono & Co as the new partner in charge of Banking & Finance
Mkono & Co is proud to introduce Clark R. Arrington as the new partner responsible for the Banking & Finance Practice. He has a JD from the University of Notre Dame (USA) and a BA from the Pennsylvania State University (USA). He is admitted to practice law in the states of Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. His career started as an Attorney with the US Securities & Exchange Commission, and he then became General Counsel of, consecutively, ICA Group & ICA Revolving Loan Fund and Equal Exchange Inc.; he was also Partner at Arrington & Dicker and Professor and Director of the Open University of Tanzania, CED Program. For the two years prior to joining Mkono & Co. he served as a Legal Consultant with the African Development Bank in the Operation Affairs Division of the Legal Services Department where he primarily worked on large private sector extractive industries projects.
Clark Arrington has extensive expertise in corporate law, finance law, project finance, contracts and capital markets. He also has a specialization in employee ownership schemes such as employee stock ownership trusts and employee owned corporations.
The hiring of Clark Arrington as Partner in the Banking & Finance department is part of a move by Mkono & Co. to further develop and strengthen its departments; by enhancing the specialized focus of its lawyers and taking the quality of its legal services to new heights.
Mkono & Co signs Memorandum of Understanding with Hunton & Williams LLP
In a significant expansion move, Mkono & Co. has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hunton & Williams LLP of the USA. The two firms, which have for more than a decade collaborated as co-counsel on energy-related matters in Tanzania, will now work together to further develop their law practices in energy projects, extractive industries and other infrastructure projects in East Africa with a goal of enhancing the flow of commerce between Africa and Asia and between Africa and the United States.
Mkono & Co receives international award in Paris
On April 21, Mkono & Co. Advocates received the International Star for leadership in quality award in the Diamond category for outstanding business achievements, for perseverance and leadership in excellence, and quality in accordance with the QC100 Criteria.
Click the Link below to view the Photo.
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Mkono & Co continues expansion of Burundi office
As a valued contact of the firm, you will know that we opened our offices in Bujumbura, Burundi, over a year ago, working with a wide variety of international and local clients.
We are now delighted to inform you that the legal team of Mkono & Co. Burundi has recently been reinforced by Olivier Binyingo and Patrick Ache.
Olivier Binyingo specializes in corporate, financial and commercial law and has a wide-ranging experience in commercial litigation. Before joining Mkono & Co, he was a member of the Brussels bar and connected to the Belgian law firm De Broeck – Van Laere – Van Camp – Coopman. He holds a Masters of Laws degree (KU Leuven - Belgium) as well as a Masters in International Security and Defense (UPMF – Grenoble - France). Olivier is fluent in French, English and Dutch.
Olivier is a well trained, dynamic business attorney with a broad experience, who will undoubtedly bolster the already strong corporate and commercial capabilities of our office in Burundi.
Patrick Ache was seconded to Bujumbura by the Dar es Salaam head office. His practice focuses on corporate transactions, investment law and regulatory advice. He holds a LL.B (Hons) of the University of Kent at Canterbury and a LL.M of Warwick University. Patrick speaks French, English and Swahili and holds a certificate of proficiency in Mandarin Chinese from the Nanjing University.
Patrick’s arrival adds to our capacity to deliver day-to-day regulatory advice under Burundian law to our domestic and international clients. His secondment from the Dar es Salaam office is also evidence of the growing interaction between the firm’s offices and our ability to provide comprehensive services to our clients in the region.
The office in Bujumbura continues to be led by the firm’s Global Development Partner, Steven De Backer and further consists of Gilbert Nyatanyi (Special Counsel), Didace Ndikumana (Advocate) and a team of three legal officers qualified under Burundian law.
Mkono & Co hosts dinner for Harvard Black Law Students Association (HBLSA)
HBLSA's visit was organised by GoodWorks International East Africa, Ltd to discuss the Tanzanian Legal System and varying legal perspectives between the U.S. Government and the Government of Tanzania.
Mkono & Co was proud to host a formal dinner for the participating students. In attendance were Senior Partner Dr. W.B. Kapinga, Partner Prof. Jwani Mwaikusa as well as Joy Alliy, August Mrema & Brooke Lee Montgomery.
The event was considered a success by all sides.
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Mkono Open Youth Tennis Tournament held in Dar es Salaam
The first Mkono Open Youth Tennis Tournament was held at Gymkhana Club on 9th and 10th February 2008.
Almost 60 players from Dar es Salaam and Arusha attended and the tournament was well received both by spectators and the present media representatives from Tanzanian newspapers, TV and radio stations.
All in all the players competed in 13 different categories, depending on age and gender. Each age group got the chance to play singles as well as doubles and almost all participants took the opportunity to play both, so that a big number of matches could be enjoyed.
Target group for the tournament were those young players who could usually not afford to participate in competitions because of the high entrance fees. The Mkono Open Youth was completely free and offered kids a good opportunity to practice their skills under tournament conditions which is crucial for the development of their game.
"I enjoy the many opponents and testing out my abilities", said one contestant, 12-year old Mohamed from Arusha, who won the tournament in the class of 12 to 14 year-olds. Everybody involved agreed that the Mkono Open should be an annual event in the Dar es Salaam sports calendar!
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DAWASA wins against Biwater - Mkono & Co successfully defends Tanzanian Government
The government organism has just won one of the arbitration procedures in the dispute that has pitted it against the British company for many years.
The arbitration tribunal of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) found in favour of the Dar-es-Salaam Water and Sewerage Authority (Dawasa) in its long-standing conflict with City Water Services Ltd (CWS), a joint venture between the British company Biwater International and its German colleague Gauff Ingenieure. These two companies had won the contract to operate the Dawasa and its infrastructure in 2003 (ION 1032), but the Tanzanian authorities suspended its contract unilaterally two years later. A lenghty arbitration procedure before several international bodies then ensued (ION 1172).
One of these procedures was before the UNCITRAL in London. The court gave its decision on 31st December, but it was only communicated to the two sides at the beginning of this year. In its findings, UNCITRAL considered that CWS had not fulfilled the clauses in its contract to run the water authority, getting results which were even worse than those when the water supply was run by Dawasa. The judges therefore considered that the unilateral breaking of the CWS contract was justified and condemned the company to pay Dawasa damages of up to 13.7 billion shillings (€7.9 million). At the same time, UNCITRAL decided to cancel part of the payment of this sum, awarding Dawasa an effective payment of only 7 billion shillings (€4 million). Moreover, CWS was condemned to pay Dawasa's legal costs amounting to 2.1 billion shillings (€1.2 million).
Dawasa was represented by a team consisting of Nimrod Mkono, Wilbert Kapinga, Karel Daele and Bart Wilms of Mkono & Co Advocates. Another arbitration procedure is under way before the Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). CWS is presented by Allen & Overy, while the firms Mkono & Co Advocates and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer are representing Dawasa.
(The Indian Ocean Newsletter, January 19, 2008)
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Hon. Mkono appointed Honorary Legal Adviser
Mkono & Co is proud to announce that Hon. Nimrod E. Mkono was appointed Honorary Legal Adviser for the British High Commissioner as well as the Embassy of Denmark in Dar es Salaam.
Mkono & Co Partner attends International Arbitration Program of American University
Dr. Wilbert B. Kapinga attended a one week seminar on "International Commercial Arbitration: How to handle oil and gas industry cases" in Washington, DC, USA.
Mkono & Co Advocates ranked highest among financial law firms in Tanzania
Mkono & Co. Advocates has underlined its strength and experience with an excellent performance in the 2007 edition of the IFLR1000, the world's leading guide of financial law firms.
Mkono & Co is ranked as the only financial and corporate law firm in Tier one for Tanzania and three partners are featured as “Leaders in their Field” and received a number of noteworthy recognitions.
The firm’s renowned corporate and commercial team iss recognized for the standard of its work, professionalism and responsiveness.
Global Development Partner Steven De Backer is highlighted as a star lawyer with a European legal acumen and a personable and business minded style. Senior Partner Dr. Kapinga is cited as a well respected practitioner and praised for his exposure and quality of his work. The Founder and Managing Partner of the firm is further recognized for the active role he plays in key transactions for government entities.
According to the directory, the firm’s clients are impressed with the standard of work they receive. "They are extremely professional in the sense that you really get what you want for any service, on both timeframe – sometimes things are urgent and their responsiveness is very, very good – and in terms of content."
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Global Development Partner, Steven De Backer has been appointed by H.M. King Albert of Belgium as a Foreign Trade Adviser to the Belgian Government.
Such Advisers, who are appointed by Royal Decree, are selected from among people who, over the years, have acquired extensive experience in foreign trade, economic affairs and international finance, and are therefore deemed capable of helping to develop economic and trade relations between Belgium and its foreign partners. Foreign Trade Advisers are appointed for a potentially renewable four-year period.
Together with Belgium's honorary consuls and the Belgian-Luxembourg Chambers of Commerce, Foreign Trade Advisers located abroad comprise what is referred to as Belgium's 'informal network', which complements the country's official network of Embassies and Consulates and regional economic and trade attachés.
Mkono & Co Advocates opens Burundi office
On April 23, we opened our new office in Bujumbura, Burundi. Currently three advocates are available for our Burundian clients with Mr. Steven de Backer as the Partner in charge. Please see our “Contact Us” page to get more details.
Hon. Nimrod E. Mkono hands over vehicles to the government
In a handing-over ceremony, held on Wednesday, 9th May 2007, at the Ministry of Education, Hon. Mkono presented two mini-busses as well as ten new computers to the Minister of Education, Mrs. Margareth Sitta. This donation is to be used at Oswald Mang’ombe High School and Chief Ihunyo Secondary School for Girls, which belong to our school project in the Musoma rural region.
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