Bowmans, one of Africa’s largest law firms and AF Mpanga Advocates, one of the leading corporate and commercial law firms in Uganda have reached a mutual agreement to terminate their partnership in Uganda, CEO East Africa Magazine can exclusively reveal.
The Kampala office has been trading as Bowmans (AF Mpanga Advocates).
David F.K Mpanga, now the Managing Partner and founder of AF Mpanga Advocates, confirmed the development to CEO East Africa Magazine in a phone interview.
“Yes, we have reached a mutual decision for us to move separately,” David F.K Mpanga said on the phone, adding, “We have been co-branding and working together. However, the one-firm arrangement has ended. We will now trade as A.F Mpanga Advocates,” he added.
He however declined to delve into the reasons for the mutual separation.
“It is a business decision,” he said without going into details.
However, CEO East Africa Magazine understands that the out-of-South Africa law firm has been reviewing its presence on the continent lately and has as a result exited Madagascar, Malawi and Botswana markets. The law firm now remains in 5 countries, namely: Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Mauritius and Tanzania. In South Africa, the firm has offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Mr Mpanga said that the new brand will formally be announced and launched in the market “shortly”.
Energy Ministry Orders UEDCL Board to Investigate Top Management Over Performance GapsHowever, according to a new Twitter account opened for the new firm (https://twitter.com/AFMpangaUG) the new firm will be trading a new “Exceeding the Impossible” brand promise.
Bowmans (AF Mpanga Advocates) has been a top-rated corporate and commercial law firm in Uganda. Over and above David F.K Mpanga, if it retains some or all of its star lawyers such as Daniel Gantungo and William Kasozi, it is less likely that the mutual separation with Bowmans will negatively affect its rating.
The law firm was 2022 rated as Band 1 (General Business) by Chambers & Partners as well as Tier 1 (Project Development) and Tier 2 (Financial & Corporate) by IFLR1000.
The London-based Chambers and Partners is a legal ranking firm that identifies and ranks the most outstanding law firms and lawyers in 70 countries and 200 jurisdictions throughout the world. IFLR1000 on the other hand refers to itself as an “international guide to the world’s leading financial and corporate law firms and lawyers” and ranks close to 5000 law firms and more than 21,000 lawyers across 12 practice areas and 250 jurisdictions.
In their latest rankings, David FK Mpanga is rated as “Highly Regarded” by the IFLR1000, the highest rank for individual lawyers. Chambers and Partners ranked him as a “Band 1” lawyer under General Business Law and “Band 2” for Dispute Resolution.
William Kasozi is also rated “Highly Regarded” by IFLR1000 and “Band 1” (General Business Law) by Chambers & Partners. Daniel Gantungo, is a “Highly Regarded” lawyer by IFLR1000.
