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.
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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.
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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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