What inspired the decision to rebrand from Shonubi, Musoke & Co.Advocates to SM & Co. Advocates?
The firm was founded 38 years ago by two then youthful and vibrant lawyers, Alan Shonubi and Peters Musoke (and later joined by Augustine Kibuka Musoke), with what was at the time a novel way of rendering legal services in Uganda. We have registered tremendous growth and made significant contributions to the legal services sector in the corporate and commercial law space, producing some of the best legal practitioners in Uganda and globally. From a partnership of two, the firm currently boasts 8 partners, of whom only one is a founding partner, with a professional staff complement of close to 30 lawyers. Over the period and in normal parlance, we have been referred to as SM & Co., recognising the initials of the partnership.
The partners decided to change the name to SM & Co. Advocates remain faithful to the firm’s roots while providing flexibility for the increased number of partners. In a word, posterity inspired the rebrand.
How do you envision the new brand identity impacting the firm’s relationship with existing clients and potential clients?
Our new brand is simple and captivating. It is a result of what the market called upon us to do. It will provide a rebirth to a 40-year-old brand
We are always looking to improve our service delivery. The rebrand gives us a fresh outlook and an opportunity to engage further with our clients. The rebrand also helps us stay in touch with the changing world, providing a welcoming refresh. Over the years, the firm has been a pioneer in many innovations in the legal space, and this refresh simply lends itself to a well-charted course. We see the new brand propelling our practice to new horizons in terms of service offering, client base and changing times. The values and ethos that define the firm have not changed, but the new futuristic brand looks to exploit and benefit from the changing global landscape. In the words of one of our key alliance partners today;
“This is stunning new branding, reflecting the quality of the partners who make up an Alliance, whoweareextremelyproudtobeassociated.MayitbringgreatsuccesstoaFirmthatdeserves only the best “
What specific aspects of the firm’s services or values are you aiming to emphasise with the new identity?
SM & Co. Advocates is a full-service law firm with a bias towards commercial practice. We have established ourselves as a leading law practice in Uganda with a present emphasis on emerging areas such the impact of AI and leveraging it to enhance our service delivery. We also aim to grow our entertainment law practice, as well as an increased focus on practical and legal tax solutions.
How do you anticipate the rebranding will strengthen the firm’s competitive position in Uganda’s legal landscape?
We are re-introducing and re-inventing ourselves to existing and prospective clients. We feel that the brand SM & Co. Advocates speaks more to the times and to what we are at present, and provides a refresh to this nearly 40-year-old practice. The present number of partners with extensive qualifications and experience are committed to our values and ethos and will ensure that the firm maintains its competitive edge in the provision of legal services. The brand seeks to leave a simple but indelible print in our client’s minds, manifested by cutting-edge, practical solutions to legal problems.
Will this rebranding also bring about changes in the firm’s operations or its approach to serving clients?
The firm and its partners remain largely the same, as do the values and ethos. As indicated, we always strive to improve our client offering. The rebrand provides us with an opportunity to refresh and reintroduce ourselves to the market and improve our services to present and prospective clients even more.
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The firm will continue to provide top practical and business-oriented solutions that our clients have grown accustomed to over the last several years.
In October, the firm announced that Mr. Peters Musoke had stepped down from his role at Shonubi, Musoke & Co. Advocates, a firm he co-founded whose name was deeply ingrained in its brand. Given the circumstances surrounding his departure, particularly the controversy involving a gold scam, the firm likely faces significant reputational challenges. Does the recent rebranding to SM & Co. Advocates serve as a strategic move to distance the firm from Mr. Musoke’s involvement and the associated reputational concerns?
The move to rebrand has been in the works for a long time, given the changes that have happened in the composition of the partnership over time. Mr. Musoke laid a significant stone to the foundation of the firm over the years, and it is unfortunate that the said incident happened in the later years of his practice. It was a personal issue that he stepped away to deal with. We continue to wish him the very best in his current pursuits. There is a present legal requirement that the firm must indicate the names of its current partners, and where this is not possible or impractical, to use generic names. It is impractical to write all Partners’ names for the firm name.
Does Mr. Peters Musoke remain a shareholder in SM & Co. Advocates following the rebranding, or has his involvement in the firm been completely severed, including any ownership stake in the new entity?
As indicated in the notice you alluded to, Mr. Musoke retired from the firm. We celebrate him as a founding partner, but he has no present connection to the firm.
Given the significant roles both Mr. Peters Musoke and Dr. Alan Shonubi played in shaping the legacy and reputation of Shonubi, Musoke & Co. Advocates, how has their exit and Dr.Shonubi’s decision to “take a backseat” impacted the firm? What steps is the firm taking to address this leadership transition, and are you actively recruiting new talent or partners to strengthen the firm moving forward?
Mr. Alan Shonubi continues his association with the firm as an active Senior Partner. He brings his immense experience, technical and institutional knowledge to the team, having been around from the inception of the firm. Mr Shonubi always had a vision for the firm’s future beyond its founding Partners and, at an early stage, allowed the transition in leadership to occur.
The other Partners, namely Noah E. Mwesigwa, Andrew Kibaya, Innocent Kihika, Brigitte Kusiima, Nicholas Mwasame, Alex Kabayo and Ian Mutibwa, have a combined practice experience of close to 140 years. The partnership combines an impressive blend of experience, age and dynamism. We salute the foresightedness of the founding Partners and the leadership and backbone required to run an efficient team which has been passed on to capable hands over the years.
Recently, the partnership is proud to have been joined in its ranks by Ian Mutibwa, who has been the Managing Partner of the law firm of Signum Advocates. Ian joins the firm together with Senior Associate Racheal Kembabazi from the same firm, where she was a principal managing associate. The joining of some of the two top legal brains of their generation will enhance the firm’s offering and broaden the scope of legal services available to our clients. Ian and Racheal will strengthen our tax, finance and entertainment law practices. The Firm continues to actively recruit and develop organically the best talent, energetic, dynamic and “out of the box” thinkers for inclusion in its pool of lawyers and future leaders. Transition is something that we do not shun away from.
We remain committed to exceeding our clients and affiliate firms’ expectations.
