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Practice Areas
MEMBERSHIPS IN PROFFESIONAL SOCIETIES
Member, Uganda Law Society
Member, East Africa Law Society
Certified Adjudicator, Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
Advocate, High Court of Uganda
Solicitor, Supreme Court of England and Wales
PROFFESIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Law Development Centre, Uganda
- Legal Practice Course, College of Law, Guildford, Surrey, England
- LL.B, University of East Anglia, England
CAREER SUMMARY
- 2005 – DATE Partner, MMAKS Advocates
- 2001 – 2005 Partner, Adriko & Karugaba Advocates
- Associate, Katera & Kagumire Advocates, Uganda
- Trainee Solicitor, Luper Partnership, Camden, England
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
International Criminal Law and Civil Litigation
Intellectual Property
Construction Adjudication
Arbitration
APPOINTMENTS AND ACCOLADES
- Appointed as a member of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA).
- Appointed to the List of Counsel of the International Criminal Court at The Hague.
- Recognised by The Global Leading Lawyers directory as one of the top ranked dispute resolution specialists in Uganda.
TOP MATTERS
- Acted as arbitrator in general ad hoc United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) tribunals on various commercial disputes. • Acted as panel member of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Appeals Tribunal (PPDA) on various complex multi-million-dollar disputes involving public procurement disputes and appeals from the Procurement Authority.
- Successfully defended an international construction company against a claim of US$ 1 million by a subcontractor in arbitration proceedings before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
- Acting for Uganda Breweries Limited in a complex tax dispute with the Uganda Revenue Authority involving the application of the East African Community Customs Management Act.
- Acting for Diageo in a suit obtaining an order against the infringement of the Johnnie Walker Black Label brand.
- Acting against the Attorney General of Uganda to successfully recover compensation in the sum of US$ 2 million on behalf of a client whose property was expropriated.
- Acted as Rule 74 Counsel in various matters before the International Criminal Court at The Hague.
7 Bandali Rise 4th Floor, Redstone House Kampala Uganda
Practice Areas
BACKGROUND
Ernest is a Partner in the Litigation team with over twenty years of experience in advising on employment matters as well as handling employment disputes. He also specialises in corporate debt recovery including handling the related litigation, and in this regard has handled matters for several banks and corporate entities. Ernest also handles general commercial litigation and arbitration.
Ernest completed a secondment to the corporate and commercial department, and the international arbitration department of Stephenson Harwood in London. He also participated in a secondment at Essex Court Chambers, a leading barristers’ set in London.
Ernest is a practicing Advocate of the High Court of Uganda, and a member of the Uganda Law Society and the East African Law Society.
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
- Advocate, High Court of Uganda
- Member, Uganda Law Society
- Member, East Africa Law Society
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Law Development Centre, Uganda
- LL.B (Hons), Makerere University, Uganda
CAREER SUMMARY
- 2009 – DATE Partner, MMAKS Advocates
- 2005 – 2008 Senior Associate, MMAKS Advocates
- 2001 – 2005 Associate, Mugerwa & Masembe Advocate
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- General Commercial Litigation (including Commercial fraud)
- Loan recoveries
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Employment
TOP MATTERS
- Acting in an arbitration involving an association of three Italian road construction supervision companies and a UK-registered recruiter.
- Acting in an international arbitration involving a concessionaire and the Government of Uganda at the LCIA.
- Handling a recovery of US$ 4 million for two banks, which involved various suits both in the Land Division and the Commercial Divisions of the High Court contesting the recovery process.
- Handing a recovery of US$ 7 million for an international bank against a flower growing and exporting company.
- Handling a recovery of US$ 100 million for a bank against a local investor.
- Advising on an employment dispute involving the immigration status of an employee.
- Acting for the Central Bank in a pension dispute involving former employees.
7 Bandali Rise 4th Floor, Redstone House Kampala Uganda
Practice Areas
BACKGROUND
Fiona is a Partner in the MMAKS Corporate team with over 17 years’ experience in multi-jurisdictional commercial transactions cutting across corporate M&A, Private Equity, Energy, Mining and Natural Resources, Projects & Infrastructure, and general corporate commercial, regulatory and investment advisory.
She holds a LLM in commercial law from the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom), has previously worked with a top tier law firm in Johannesburg South Africa, and served placements at a former FTSE 100 mining company in Johannesburg, and also with Slaughter and May, a magic circle law firm in London.
Fiona is consistently ranked by leading global law firm directories as a highly regarded lawyer (IFLR1000), a recommended lawyer (Chambers Global), and leading lawyer (Legal500). Fiona has been described by Chambers and Partners as highly efficient, effective and customer oriented. She was nominated in 2019 for Best Female Lawyer Private Practice Uganda Law Society, Women in Law Awards. She provides legal and strategic commercial advice on cutting edge transactional work across sectors like telecom, broadcasting, insurance, education, banking, healthcare, manufacturing, gaming, mining and energy.
She also routinely handles legal due diligences, advises on corporate transactional structuring, negotiates local and cross border transactional agreements, commercial operational agreements. Fiona has an impressive knowledge of the local regulatory framework and is commended for her advice on an array of regulatory and licensing frameworks, and issues affecting local and foreign investors. She has advised on deals such as Bujagali Hydro Power Project (the largest hydro power project in Uganda), Kampala Jinja Expressway (a public private partnership), the acquisition of leading financial institutions including but not limited to Orient Bank. Some of her clients include Scatec, Africa Rivers Fund and SN54.
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
- Advocate, High Court of Uganda
- Member, Uganda Law Society
- Member, East Africa Law Society (EALS)
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- LL.M (Commercial Law), Birmingham University, England
- Diploma in Legal Practice (Bar Course), Law Development Centre, Uganda
- LL.B (Hons.), Makerere University, Uganda
CAREER SUMMARY
- 2017 – DATE Partner, MMAKS Advocates
- 2012 – 2016 Senior Associate, MMAKS Advocates
- 2008 – 2012 Senior Associate, Bowman Gilfillan Attorneys, Johannesburg
- 2004 – 2007 Associate, A F Mpanga Advocates (Bowmans Uganda)
- 2003 – 2004 Clerkship, Kasirye Byaruhanga & Co Advocates
AWARDS & ACCOLADES & MENTIONS
- Fiona is endorsed by IFLR 1000 as a highly regarded corporate M&A lawyer in Uganda.
- IFLR1000 Women Leaders has consistently recognized her since 2020
- Fiona is also ranked by Chambers Global as a leading lawyer and described as highly efficient, effective and client oriented.
- She is recognised as a leading individual by Legal 500.
- She was nominated for Best Female Lawyer Private Practice Uganda Law Society, Women in Law Awards 2019
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Private Equity
- Energy and Natural resources
- Projects and Infrastructure
- Banking
- Corporate and Project Finance
TOP MATTERS
- Advising SN Power Invest Netherlands BV, a subsidiary of SN Power AS, a Norwegian company that invests in clean renewable energy on a commercial basis on its acquisition of a 49.75% stake in Bujagali Energy Limited.
- Acting for ResponsAbility Renewable Energy Holding (rAREH), a Mauritius based investment company with a focus on small-scale renewable energy projects in East Africa. We conducted a comprehensive due-diligence on two hydropower projects which among others included a review of the respective Power Purchase Agreements, construction contracts, Operations & Maintenance agreements, land leases, governmental support agreements, financing documents, shareholder and shareholder loan agreements, and other relevant material contracts, regulatory licences, employment contracts, insurance arrangements etc.; to produce a red-flag due-diligence report. The transaction also involved legal advisory on the hydro power and energy regulatory landscape, consulting regulators on a no-names basis for confirmation of policies and practices.
- Advising Prudential PLC, a British multinational life insurance and financial services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom in connection with a proposed acquisition of a 73% stake in GenAfrica Asset Managers Ltd, a pension fund manager in Kenya, with a branch in Uganda. We were required to conduct a due diligence on the Ugandan branch and advise on the regulatory landscape for pension funds in Uganda, including approvals required for the transaction, the process, documents, timing and cost involved.
- Advising a leading communications company in Uganda, on the proposed acquisition of a majority stake by Dentsu Aegis Network, a multinational media and digital marketing communications company headquartered in London. The transaction involved advising on the structure of the transaction, negotiating the Letter of Intent, assisting with a comprehensive legal due diligence on the target’s operations, and reviewing and negotiating the transaction agreements.
- Advising a leading gaming company in Europe, on its proposed acquisition (through an SPV) of majority shares in an entity holding the national lottery business in Uganda. The transaction involved conducting a comprehensive legal due diligence on the operations and existing contractual status of the target company, advising on the regulatory environment for lottery, gaming and betting services in Uganda, and drafting and negotiating the transaction agreements.
- Advising a Swiss mining company on the acquisition of a majority stake in a mining company in Uganda valued at approx. USD 100,000,000.
- Advising on the acquisition of a telecommunications operator in Uganda valued at USD 100,000,000.
- Acting as local counsel in the verification of an acquisition of a stake in a Ugandan hotel by an SPV in Uganda wholly owned by a private equity fund based in the Isle of Man.
- Advising a Private Equity fund based in the UK, on its proposed acquisition (through an SPV incorporated by it) of shares in Bujagali Holding Power Company Limited (BHPCL), which is a shareholder in Bujagali Energy Limited (BEL). The transaction involved conducting a comprehensive legal due diligence on the operations and existing contractual status of both BHPCL and BEL with the Government of Uganda, completing detailed regulatory questionnaires on foreign investment and hydro power regulation in Uganda, and reviewing and commenting on the transaction agreements from a Ugandan law perspective.
- Advising Leapfrog Strategic African Investments, LP, a private equity fund on its proposed acquisition of part of the majority stake in ICEA Lion Group, a leading East African insurance, asset management and investment services group. It included conducting legal due diligences on three companies ICEA Lion Asset Management (U) Limited, ICEA Life Asset Company Limited (Uganda), and ICEA General Insurance Company Limited (Uganda), the Ugandan subsidiaries of the ICEA Lion Group and advising on the regulatory landscape for insurance and asset management in Uganda including all applicable statutory, and contractual consents, permit and approvals required for the transaction.
- Advising TPG Growth III LP, a private equity firm that specialises in small to middle-market growth equity in connection with its proposed acquisition of a 45% stake in Azam Television Group, a satellite, Direct-To-Home (DTH), pay television provider with a Ugandan subsidiary called Azam Media (U) Limited. The transaction involved an internal restructuring through the transfer of shares in Azam Media (U) Limited to an offshore holding company that would have a majority stake in Azam Media (U) Limited. TPG Growth III LP would then acquire 45% of the shares in the Holdco.
- Currently advising a government agency on the regulatory framework applicable to a proposed Public Private Partnership for the construction of a highway in Kampala, funded by the IFC. Our advice covers a cross section of regulatory issues including but not limited to procurement of contracts with the government, environment matters, employment and immigration matters, finance and tax, etc.
- Advising (as local counsel), a Middle Eastern Private Equity investor on a potential acquisition of a stake in a prominent hydro power project in Uganda. The advice involves corporate governance and compliance issues, regulatory permits, environmental compliance, employment laws, property laws, insurance, etc.
- Advising a foreign based aerospace defence company on setting up business in Uganda, as a government defence contractor in the aviation and aerospace activity sector. This involved advice on the best suited corporate structure, the regulatory environment relevant to the activities proposed by client (including but not limited to entering into contracts with government, employment laws, property laws, aviation laws, immigration, tax, etc.).
- Conducting a financial regulatory due diligence on the compliance and licenses in respect of the activities of Flutterwave in Uganda, and providing financial regulatory and licensing requirements, a summary of any penalties or consequences of non-compliance with the regulatory requirements, privacy and data protection rules and restrictions on foreign ownership.
7 Bandali Rise 4th Floor, Redstone House Kampala Uganda
Practice Areas
BACKGROUND
Apollo is one of the founding partners of MMAKS Advocates. He heads the Commercial Transactions team. With 26 years in legal practice, he specialises in corporate and commercial transactions including company incorporation, governance and restructuring, mergers and acquisitions in various fields such as banking, insurance and oil and gas.
Apollo is a graduate of Cambridge University, UK and holds a first-class honours Bachelor’s law degree from Makerere University and a Diploma in Legal Practice. He is a Senior Advocate qualified to practice law in all courts of Judicature in Uganda. He has handled several high-profile commercial transactions in real estate, energy and mining sectors. These include deals on the National Oil Refinery, the Kampala Storage Terminal, Kilembe Mines, Bujagali Power Station, Kampala Flyover Project and the Namanve industrial park. Additionally, he routinely advises on regulatory aspects in the banking, telecommunications, and insurance sectors. Apollo is a former Chairman of Equity Bank Uganda and is the current chair of Prudential Assurance Uganda Ltd. He has previously worked as a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Law Makerere University and with a private commercial bank and Uganda’s Central Bank. He is the Senior Palace Advisor to Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II and has served in many senior capacities in the Kingdom of Buganda including as Deputy Katikkiro, Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Apollo is the Vice Diocesan Chancellor of Luweero Diocese church of Uganda and a member of the Uganda National Covid Fund.
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFFESIONAL SOCIETIES
- Advocate, High Court of Uganda
- Member, Uganda Law Society
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- LL.M, Cambridge University, England
- LL.B (Hons), Makerere University
CAREER SUMMARY
- 2005 – DATE Partner, MMAKS Advocates
- 1999 – 2005 Partner, Central Law Offices, Uganda
- 1995 – 1999 Company Secretary, Cotton Development Organisation
- 1993 – 1995 Company Secretary and Manager, Legal Department, Sembu Uganda (now Allied Bank)
- 1991 – 1993 Legal Assistant, Katende, Sempebwa & Co. Advocates
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- Corporate M&A
- Energy, Mining and Natural Resources
- Arbitration
- Tax & Revenue Law
- Constitutional Law
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
Apollo is endorsed by Who’s Who Legal 2011 as a leading mining lawyer
TOP MATTERS
- Advising a Private Equity fund based in the UK, on its proposed acquisition (through an SPV incorporated by it) of shares in Bujagali Holding Power Company Limited (BHPCL), which is a shareholder in Bujagali Energy Limited (BEL). The transaction involved conducting a comprehensive legal due diligence on the operations and existing contractual status of both BHPCL and BEL with the Government of Uganda, completing detailed regulatory questionnaires on foreign investment and hydro power regulation in Uganda, and reviewing and commenting on the transaction agreements from a Ugandan law perspective.
- Acting for Sanlam Limited, the holding company of the Sanlam group of companies, in connection with its proposed joint venture with the Allianz group of companies. We are advising Sanlam on the financial, competition, tax and corporate related matters.
- Advising Gateway Delta Development Holdings, a Mauritian real estate development company, in connection with its acquisition of Metroplex Shopping Mall, including conducting a due diligence on the shopping mall, drafting and negotiating the business and asset purchase agreement, drafting and filing relevant statutory forms for transfer of property as well as obtaining necessary consents from government authorities.
- Acting for Mandela Auto Spares (t/a Café Javas) in connection with the acquisition of three property leases from Good African Coffee and Good African Café, including drafting and negotiating of the sale agreement of the property leases.
- Acting for Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) in sourcing a strategic partner to undertake and implement the Kampala Storage Terminal (KST) Project. We are involvedin the commercial and financial structuring of the KST project, specialist legal advisory services, advisory on the selection of UNOC’s strategic partner including preparation of Terms of References (TORs), Information Memoranda, and term-sheets for key financing and commercial agreements, documentation of UNOC’s equity contribution to the project and advisory during commercial negotiations.
- Advising Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) that was approached by Yaatra together with its partners: Saipem, Lion Works and Baker Hughes – a General Electric Company – (the “Consortium”), with respect to contributing to the financing of the development of the 60,000 barrels per day refinery, a 211 km pipeline to transport the refined crude, an on-site storage facility and separate receiving storage terminal in Buloba on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda.
- Acting as lead local counsel to a Middle Eastern Private Equity investor in a potential acquisition of a stake in a prominent hydro power project in Uganda. The advice involves corporate governance and compliance issues, regulatory permits, environmental compliance, employment laws, property laws, insurance, etc.
- Advising the Uganda Investment Authority on the set up and development of an industrial park under a 30 year concession.
- Lead advisor to several mining companies in Uganda on the legal and regulatory framework governing all aspects of investment, licensing and extraction of minerals in Uganda.
- Lead advisor to private equity and other strategic investors on acquisitions and sales of majority and minority stakes in companies in the industry.
- Lead local counsel to a Swiss mining company under an acquisition of a majority stake in a mining company in Uganda valued at approx. USD 100,000,000.
- Lead local counsel to LAP GreenN on the proposed acquisition of a leading mobile telecommunications operator in Uganda.
- Advised on joint venture (farm-in) agreement between Ugandan mining company and UK publicly registered company.
- Lead advisor to National Housing and Construction Company Limited, on real Estate, Financing and Conveyancing matters.
- Advising on a Credit Facility Agreement between PROPARCO and a local financial institution in the sum of USD 10 million.
- Lead advisor to several private equity and other strategic investors on acquisitions and sales of majority and minority stakes in companies in the mining and energy industry.
7 Bandali Rise 4th Floor, Redstone House Kampala Uganda
Practice Areas
BACKGROUND
Masembe is the managing partner of MMAKS and the head of the firm’s Litigation team. His practice focuses mainly on commercial litigation and arbitration, as well as corporate and commercial law.
He is a Barrister-at-law and a Member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, UK. He holds an LL.B (Hons.) degree and was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1992. In addition, he obtained a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre in Uganda.
Masembe is one of the leading litigators in Uganda and has appeared in many ground-breaking cases involving banks. He was recently granted a special license to appear in the Tanzania Courts. Timothy is an external lead counsel for the Bank of Uganda and has thus been at the centre of the reconstruction and improvement of Uganda’s entire banking sector.
In addition, Masembe has served as a member of the Capital Markets Authority Board.
Chambers Global 2022 described Timothy as being “widely recognised as one of the country’s foremost litigators. He routinely features on some of the jurisdiction’s largest corporate and commercial cases, with further proficiency in public law disputes. Practising out of Kampala, he is also noted for his counsel in arbitration proceedings”.
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
- Advocate, High Court of Uganda
- Barrister-at-law, England & Wales
- Member, Honourable Society of Inner Temple, England
- Member, Uganda Law Society
- Member, East African Law Society
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Law Development Centre, Uganda
- LL.B (Hons), University of London, England
CAREER SUMMARY
- 2005 – DATE Partner, MMAKS Advocates
- 1993 – 2005 Advocate and Partner, Mugerwa & Masembe Advocates
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
- Masembe is consistently ranked as a leading lawyer in his field by Chambers Global.
- Chambers Global, 2022 recognises Masembe’s excellent reputation for his litigation prowess.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- Corporate and Commercial Law
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
TOP MATTERS
- Acting in an arbitration dispute against a multi-national beverage company for one of its shareholders in a claim to recover close to UGX17B (US$ 4.8 million) being an estimate of the lost value of the shareholding because of a failure to recognise the shareholder’s pre-emption rights on various share transfers and discrimination in various share allotments contrary to the provisions of the allotting resolutions.
- Acting for the Bank of Uganda in a suit involving a fraudulent acquisition and conveyance of securities encumbered by the plaintiffs to secure a debt facility of US$ 20 million.
- Acting for Barclays Bank and ABSA to defend a suit seeking nullification of a structured agricultural finance facility worth US$ 29.4 million advanced by the defendants.
- Acting successfully for a Kenyan and Tanzanian company in connection with a complex arbitration dispute referred to the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) arising out of a consortium agreement.
- Acting for Aggreko Uganda Limited (a thermal power distributor) contesting a VAT assessment levied it by the Uganda Revenue Authority of Ug. Shs. 145 billion (US$ 58 million). The matter was successfully defended by a judgment dated 12th September 2012.
- Acting for Google Uganda Limited in a suit seeking a declaration to the effect that the exclusive supply of marketing and sales support services to Google Ireland Limited was an exported service and is, as such, zero-rated.
- Acting for the Bank of Uganda and Standard Chartered Bank to recover US$ 34 million from guarantors of a company indebted to the latter under various facilities assigned to the Bank of Uganda.
- Currently acting for an international development bank to recover a sum in excess of US$ 118 million against a defaulting hotel group in Uganda. The instruction involves defending the bank against a suit by the borrower claiming that the bank breached its financing obligations to the borrower and seeking special damages in excess of US$ 200 million. The matter involves an application for arbitration referral to South Africa and a contentious hybrid dispute resolution clause.
- Successfully acting for Absa Uganda Limited in an appeal in the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the decision of the High Court and Court of Appeal, which dismissed an application to set aside a consent judgment where the appellant had consented to repayment of a loan debt sum. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and confirmed that the appellant was indebted to Barclays Bank of Uganda Limited in the sum of about US$ 20 million by the date of judgment.
- Acting for Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) in a tax dispute against Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) where URA takes the view that the export by UBL through a foreign related entity (which was a Ugandan resident for that purpose before export), amounted to a sale between UBL and the foreign related entity and these transactions attracted VAT of over US$ 70 million. UBL contends that there was no sale between itself and the related entity and that the related entity was simply its agent for the export, which under the law is zero-rated for VAT.
- Acted successfully for the Bank of Uganda in a constitutional petition where the main issue was whether the takeover, liquidation, revocation of licence, and sale of the National Bank of Commerce by the Bank of Uganda was unconstitutional. The court by majority decision of 4:1 found that the acts of the Bank of Uganda were constitutional and dismissed the petition with each party bearing its own costs. This decision vindicates the Bank of Uganda in its role as regulator when it comes to supervision, and the closing and selling of financial institutions where their decline poses a systemic risk to the industry and economy.
- Acting for the Uganda Bankers Association and all commercial banks in Uganda in a constitutional petition challenging the exercise of the Uganda Revenue Authority’s powers under sections 41 and 42 of the Tax Procedures Code Act, 2014 and declaring the said provisions unconstitutional following the issuance by the Uganda Revenue Authority of notices pursuant to those provisions, on all commercial banks requiring them to provide the bank account details for all their customers
7 Bandali Rise 4th Floor, Redstone House Kampala Uganda
Practice Areas
MMAKS Advocates is a highly specialized firm based in Kampala Uganda. We specialize in the fields of corporate and commercial law with particular expertise in banking and finance, real estate, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, employment and intellectual property. MMAKS Advocates has been consistently ranked as a leading commercial law practice in Uganda and Africa by Chambers Global Guide. We are also ranked as a Tier One law firm by IFLR 1000, The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law firms.
The Firm has 8 Partners supported by 14 Associates. With a total staff compliment of 54, MMAKS Advocates is one of the largest firms in Uganda
7 Bandali Rise 4th Floor, Redstone House Kampala Uganda
Practice Areas
BACKGROUND
Mathias has a wealth of experience in intellectual property, litigation, conveyancing and criminal law. He specializes in trademark filings, renewals, assignments, anti-counterfeiting and intellectual property litigation matters.
Mathias holds an LL.M from the University of London and an LL.B (Hons) from Makerere University in Uganda. He is a prominent member of a number of professional bodies, including The Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in London and The International Trademarks Association (INTA), where he has recently been appointed onto the Anti-Counterfeiting sub-committee. Mathias is a member of the Intellectual Property Registry User’s committee, set up to improve service delivery in the Registry of Intellectual Property, and also chaired the Uganda Law Society committee set up to advise on the revision of the Trademarks Law in Uganda, leading to the New Trademarks Act of 2010.
Mathias has been appointed a board member of Uganda’s National Examinations Board (UNEB) and is an external Examiner at the Law Development Centre in Uganda. He is a practicing Advocate of the High Court of Uganda a member of the Uganda Law Society and the East African Law Society.
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
- Advocate, High Court of Uganda
- Member, Uganda Law Society
- Member, East African Law Society
- Member, URSB IP Directorate Users’ Forum
- Member, Uganda Law Society Intellectual Property Law Cluster
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Law Development Centre, Uganda
- LL.M (Corporate and Commercial Law), University of London, England
- LL.B (Hons), Makerere University, Uganda
CAREER SUMMARY
- 2005 – DATE Partner, MMAKS Advocates
- 2001 – 2005 Partner, Mugerwa & Masembe Advocates
- 1996 – 2001 Associate, Mugerwa & Masembe Advocates
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- Intellectual Property
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Real Estate, Property and Construction
- Succession and Wills
TOP MATTERS
- Acted for Marvel Characters, Inc., a renowned entertainment company in a trademark opposition matter regarding their well-known X-MEN brand.
- Acted for Cipla Quality Chemical Industries Ltd, a multinational pharmaceutical company in a trademark opposition matter, regarding their EFAVIR trademark.
- Acted for Total SA, a multinational oil and gas company in a trademark opposition matter, regarding their Effimax trademark.
- Acted for World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., a media and entertainment company in a trademark opposition matter regarding their well-known WWE trademark.
- Acted for NBA Properties Inc. in a trademark opposition regarding their Chicago Bulls trademark.
- Acted for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., a multinational retail corporation, in a trademark infringement and passing off suit regarding their Wal-Mart brand.
- Acted for the Chevron Corporation, a multinational energy company, in a trademark cancellation regarding their Delo and Havoline engine oil trademarks.
- Acted for Colgate Palmolive a consumer products company, in a trademark infringement and passing off matter regarding their well-known COLGATE brand.
- Acting for Beiersdorf Ag, a multinational personal care company in trademark opposition, infringement and passing off matters regarding their well-known NIVEA brand.
- Acting for Weetabix Ltd, a multinational food processing company in trademark infringement and passing off matter regarding their well-known WEETABIX brand.
- Acting for Nintendo Co. Ltd, a multinational consumer electronics and video game company in a trademark opposition matter regarding their well-known POKÉMON trademark.
- Acting for DC Comics Inc., a renowned comic book publishing company in a trademark cancellation and removal matter regarding their famous comics and well-known SUPERMAN brand.
- Acting for Liberty Group Limited, a multinational insurance, property and financial services company in a trademark opposition matter regarding their primary and well-known LIBERTY trademark.
- Acting for Monster Energy Company, a multinational non-alcoholic beverages company in a trademark opposition matter regarding their renowned M Claw trademark.
- Acting for WM Wrigley Jr. Company, a chewing gum company in a trademark cancellation and removal matter regarding their well-known Big G trademark.
- Acting for Centenary Rural Development Bank in a copyright infringement suit regarding their corporate logo and registered trademark.
- Acting for Africa FM Ltd in a trademark opposition matter regarding their renowned Ekigunda Kyo’Mwaka trademark.
- Acting for Uganda National Bureau of Standards as retained external Counsel in various suits involving importation of counterfeit and substandard goods into Uganda.
- Acting for Uganda National Examinations Board as retained external Counsel in various suits involving examination malpractice, falsification of results and defending actions of Judicial Review.
7 Bandali Rise 4th Floor, Redstone House Kampala Uganda
Practice Areas
BACKGROUND
Isaac is a Partner in the Litigation team. He focuses on areas of general commercial litigation with emphasis in debt recovery, employment, tax, insurance, and commodity disputes. Isaac also has considerable experience of civil fraud and criminal matters, and he has been involved in some of the leading cases in this area.
Isaac completed a secondment to the corporate and commercial department, and the international arbitration department of Stephenson Harwood in London. He also participated in secondments at 3 Verulam Buildings and Essex Court Chambers, both of which are leading barristers’ sets in London.
Isaac was a former senior lecturer at the Law Development Centre of the Ugandan Bar School, where he conducted lectures in civil proceedings and commercial transactions.
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
- Advocate, High Court of Uganda
- Member, International Bar Association
- Member, Commonwealth Lawyers Association
- Member, East Africa Law Society
- Member, Uganda Law Society
- Alumnus, International Law Institute
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- LL.B, Makerere University, Uganda
- Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Law Development Centre, Uganda
- Postgraduate Diploma in Tax Practice, East African School of Taxation
CAREER SUMMARY
- 2013 – DATE Partner, MMAKS Advocates
- 2010 – 2012 Senior Associate, MMAKS Advocates
- 2006 – 2010 Associate, MMAKS Advocates
- 2005 – 2011 Senior Assistant, MMAKS Advocates
- 2003 – 2005 Assistant, Mugerwa & Masembe Advocates
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- General Commercial Litigation (including Commercial fraud)
- Commodity disputes
- Construction and Engineering
- Commercial Arbitration
- Insurance and Reinsurance
- Shipping and Commodities
- General Criminal Law
- Employment
- Tax
TOP MATTERS
- Representing a respondent in the Supreme Court of Uganda in a commercial dispute involving supply of drugs on credit, the value of the subject matter being in the excess of US$ 30,000.
- Representing a statutory body in a construction dispute in the High Court of Uganda, the total value of the subject matter in excess of US$ 20,000.
- Representing a road construction company in a stone pitching dispute at the High Court of Uganda, the value of the subject matter being in excess of US$ 20,000.
- Representing a Ugandan company against the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority in the COMESA Court of Justice.
- Representing a leading Ugandan businessman at the High Court of Uganda in a prosecution involving a sum in the region of US$ 6 million.
- Representing a former Government employee at the High Court of Uganda in a prosecution involving a sum in the excess of US$ 9 million.
7 Bandali Rise 4th Floor, Redstone House Kampala Uganda
Practice Areas
BACKGROUND
Stephen is a Partner in the firm’s Litigation Team. He holds an LL.B (Hons) Degree from Makerere University, a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre and a Diploma in Trial Advocacy from the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.
Stephen was admitted to the Uganda Bar in January 2006. He specializes in Commercial Litigation, Debt Recovery, Real Estate, Property, and Tax Law.
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
- Advocate, High Court of Uganda
- Member, Uganda Law Society
- Member, East Africa Law Society
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Diploma in Trial Advocacy, National Institute of Trial Advocacy
- Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Law Development Centre, Uganda
- LL.B (Hons.), Makerere University, Uganda
CAREER SUMMARY
- 2015 – DATE Partner, MMAKS Advocates
- 2010 – 2015 Senior Associate, MMAKS Advocates
- 2006 – 2010 Associate, MMAKS Advocates
- 2005 – 2006 Legal Assistant, Adriko & Karugaba Advocates
- 2005 Clerkship, Mugerwa & Masembe Advocates
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- Commercial Litigation
- Debt Recovery
- Real Estate
- Property, Tax Law and NGOs
TOP MATTERS
- Acting for Absa Bank, Diamond Trust Bank (U) Limited and Stanbic Bank in a number of corporate recovery matters.
- Acting for various entities in Africa in the recovery of both secured and unsecured debts.
- Representing clients in various tax disputes, at different levels including the Tax Appeals Tribunal.
- Acting for the Central Bank in a suit involving fraudulent acquisition and conveyance of securities encumbered by the plaintiff to secure a debt facility of U$ 20million.
- Advising clients on various aspects of the Condominium Law and setting up several condominium projects in Uganda.
- Acting for a seed company in the acquisition of various properties worth U$3,000,000 in Uganda.
- Advising several clients on various aspects of the Land Tenure system in the country.
- Advising several NGOs on various aspects of Ugandan Law, with specific reference to setting up in Uganda, country agreements and employment contracts.
7 Bandali Rise 4th Floor, Redstone House Kampala Uganda