There are just a few days left to nominate an outstanding young person from South Africa. Junior Chamber International (JCI) South Africa, a non-profit organisation for socially active citizens age 18 to 40 recently announced the launch of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) Awards. The awards recognise young people who have excelled in their chosen fields and created positive change in South Africa. “By recognising these young people, JCI South Africa hopes to raise the important contribution of socially responsible citizens in our country. The personal stories of discovery, determination and ingenuity will hopefully inspire other young people to be better leaders and create better societies,” says Bridgett Majola, Chairman of JCI South Africa. Young South Africans between the ages of 18 and 40, who have excelled in various categories, may be nominated for a TOYP Award. JCI South Africa will appoint a panel of judges to select the 10 most outstanding young persons from the nominations received. The awards will be presented at an awards ceremony later in the year. Nominations will be also submitted to the global TOYP awards, where they stand a chance of being selected as one of the 10 most outstanding young persons in the world. The international awards will take place at the 2017 JCI World Congress to be held in Netherlands in November. “Since 1985, 11 young South Africans have been honoured as one of the Ten Outstanding Young People at the international awards, including Ms. Bongiwe Mlangeni of KwaZulu Natal (2011) and Mr Luvuyo Rani of Cape Town (2014). They were honoured for their efforts in the Business, Economic and/or Entrepreneurial Accomplishments category. Honourees selected in the past have represented the height of progress in numerous human endeavours. Many have gone on to even greater achievements, and continued to serve humanity in a variety of ways,” notes Majola. The public can nominate a young South African who is excelling in …
JCI SOUTH AFRICA DIALOGUE ON PEACE, EQUALITY & JUSTICE
Johannesburg 24 February 2017 - In a world filled with violence, terrorism and injustice, to many, the idea of peace has become merely just a vision as these unsettling acts continue to affect innocent people in communities around the globe. Violence serves as a reminder of how relevant and necessary peace is in today’s society. The Peace is Possible campaign encourages all individuals and communities to come together to overcome obstacles that stand in the way of peace. Youth-led organisation Junior Chamber International South Africa (JC1) believes that the collective actions of community coalitions will bring humanity closer to establishing an everlasting world peace. For this reason, JCI South Africa, through the Peace is Possible campaign chaired by Mr Tshepo Thlaku, seeks to foster an environment where shared collaboration and open dialogue occur between all sectors of society, making peace more than just a vision — but a possibility. The campaign mobilizes young people worldwide to create awareness, advocate, take action and commit to an everlasting world peace. The worldwide adoption of the Global Goals for Sustainable Development is just one step toward achieving this peace. As JCI, we believe that it will take the collaborative effort of active citizens everywhere, working to advance these 17 goals, to make peace possible. The dialogue – titled Peace, Equality and Justice - will take place at Regiment, 35 Ferguson Road, Sandton on the 28th of February, from 18:00 – 20:00. The dialogue will be moderated by Mr Thlaku, with JCI Secretary General – Mr Arrey Obenson as one of the panel members alongside Betreace Achaleka – Author of Follow me to Africa, JCI SOUTH Africa National President – Bridgett Majola, JCI Tshwane Local Treasurer – Kholisa Ngalo and Founder and CEO of Her Luxury Material - Ms Dorothy Amuah. JCI focuses on developing skills, knowledge and understanding among young South Africans. The purpose of the organisation is to empower youth to be …
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Global IP award for Bowmans in Kenya
World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals has awarded a gold ranking to the Intellectual Property (IP) team at Bowmans in Kenya for the fifth consecutive year. The WTR 1000 is considered the definitive resource for those that seek legal trademark expertise. This year’s publication identifies the trademark industry’s leading lights in 72 jurisdictions around the world. The WTR 1000 recommends whom they consider to be the best of the trademark scene and only those delivering top-quality services make the cut. The WTR 1000 commends John Syekei, a partner in the Bowmans Kenya IP Practice, saying, "Dynamo John Syekei is in charge here. He earns praise for getting things done quickly and to the highest standard, and his results speak for themselves. He draws a great deal of support from senior associate David Opijah, an IP, technology, data privacy and e-commerce expert with impressive contentious and transactional nous.” John Syekei says there has been a rapid increase in the number of major IP disputes finding their way into Kenyan courts in recent times. He adds that while many of these have been trademark disputes, there is an increasing number of complex trade secrets, unfair competition, passing off and design disputes being filed by local and foreign corporates. Mr Syekei explains, "The growth in IP litigation matters can be attributed to the fact that local and foreign IP owners are now confident that they can get well-reasoned judgments from local courts. In addition, the increase in investment by local and foreign corporates, as well as the increase in competition driven by a strong economic growth in the East African region, means that owners of IP assets are taking all the necessary measures to prevent infringement and enforce their IP assets. Enforcement briefs, which are contentious matters where the owner of an IP asset goes to court, for instance, to obtain injunctive orders against an infringer, are keeping us …
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Bowmans opens new office in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Pan-African law firm Bowmans has announced the opening of a new office in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with effect from January 2017. It will bring the number of Bowmans’ offices in East Africa to three and will be its seventh office on the African continent – the firm already has offices in Kenya and Uganda as well as in Madagascar and South Africa. "The launch of our office in Tanzania is another step in the fulfilment of our African growth strategy and is critical to our success on the continent. This move will enable us to serve our clients in Tanzania and in East Africa more effectively. Having an expert local team will ensure that we meet the increasing demands of our clients and better support the needs of international investors," said Bowmans Chairman and Senior Partner Robert Legh. The new office will focus on serving corporates, financial institutions and the public sector, both domestic and international, which are investing in or have operations in Tanzania – areas in which Bowmans is a leading African legal adviser. The office has a founding team of three partners: leading local legal practitioners Wilbert Kapinga and Audax Kameja, and Chris Green, a South African partner who relocates from Johannesburg. The new office will be led by Wilbert Kapinga. Kapinga and Kameja are both leading lawyers in Tanzania. According to Chambers and Partners, Kapinga is ranked Tier 1 in General Business Law and “is highly praised by market commentators for his breadth of experience and strength in the market”. Kameja “is valued for his expertise advising on dispute resolution proceedings, in respect of both commercial and intellectual property matters”. Green is a South African corporate partner who specialises in mergers and acquisitions and equity capital markets. His relocation will promote the seamless integration of the new office into the Bowmans fold and demonstrates commitment to its pan-African strategy. "Dar es Salaam is increasingly …
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Bowmans wins three legal awards – African Law Firm of the Year, M&A Team of the Year and Law Professional of the Year
Pan-African law firm Bowmans has won the Law Firm of the Year and the M&A Team of the Year awards at the 2nd Annual Law Digest Africa Awards held in Lagos Nigeria on 4 November 2016. In addition, the firm's managing partner, Alan Keep, has won the Law Professional of the Year at the South African Professional Services Awards, held in Johannesburg on 3 November. The Law Digest Africa Awards recognise and honour excellence in the African legal services market. The awards are based on the opinions of peers and on in-depth research conducted by the Law Digest. The awards concentrate on growth, innovation, capacity building, community engagement and customer care. The combination of the award criteria, particularly the significance placed on client feedback, ensures that both large and small firms have equal opportunity to win. The South African Professional Services Awards conduct a rigorous process of determining the winners through strict criteria. According to KC Rottok, founder and project manager of the Awards, the recipients are judged based on a host of attributes including the demonstration of leadership skills, changing of paradigms and innovation within the bounds of available resources. Says Bowmans Chairman Rob Legh, "To receive three awards within the space of two days, recognising our firm's innovation, community engagement, customer care, and specialist skills in M&A in Africa is quite something. In addition, the acknowledgment of Alan Keep’s leadership skills, while unsurprising for those of us who work with him, is a great honour.” “We will never grow tired of being recognised for delivering an excellent service to our clients in Africa. These awards serve as proof that our strategy to be the leading pan-African law firm in Africa, is not only working, it is also being endorsed by our clients." CLICK HERE to submit your press …
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Bowmans is honoured for advising SABMiller on its acquisition by AB InBev
Dealmaking history was made last week when the third largest M&A deal in the world and the largest by far in South African corporate history closed on Monday (10 October 2016). Valued at approximately USD 108 billion, AB InBev’s acquisition of SABMiller has created the largest brewer in the world. Ezra Davids, chairman of Bowmans Corporate/ M&A Department, says "We are proud of the work done by our multi-disciplinary team to assist SABMiller in this ground-breaking transaction with AB InBev. The fact that we were able to advise on both South African and African legal aspects confirms that our integrated approach to serving clients as one firm across the continent is delivering top-class results.” The transaction was recently named Global M&A Deal of the Year by The American Lawyer. The Global Legal Awards honours law firms that played a substantial role in the most distinguished international work performed between 1 January 2015 and 15 April 2016. Charles Douglas, head of Bowmans M&A Practice, says "Our team of M&A specialists working with our competition/ anti-trust, tax, employment and regulatory law (including BEE, exchange control and financial regulation) experts across our various offices in Africa is privileged to have advised on such a unique transaction.” The news follows closely on the announcement of Bowmans new brand as well as three African Legal Award wins - Banking, Finance and Restructuring Team of the Year, Employment Team of the Year, and Property Team of the Year. The firm was also ‘highly commended’ in two other African Legal Award categories - African Law Firm of the Year and IP Team of the Year and has been named Africa Legal Adviser by DealMakers for the last two consecutive years (2014 and 2015) and South African Law Firm of the Year for 2016 by the Who’s Who Legal. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …
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Bowmans to hold seminar focusing on unlocking potential on ports and logistics sector in Africa
The Ports, Terminals & Logistics Sector Group at Bowmans law firm in South Africa will hold an event entitled, “Having your stake and eating it too: Exploring Opportunities in the Ports and Logistics Sector", at the firm's Sandton offices in South Africa, in October this year. Interested parties are welcome to attend this event. A team of experts in ports, project finance, oil and gas, infrastructure, and shipping and logistics will guide the audience on how to unlock potential in the ports and logistics sector. The keynote address will be delivered by Gary Mocke, Hatch Port and Marine Terminals Director, who will speak about market opportunities and maritime infrastructure challenges for port and marine terminal development in Africa. Andrew Pike, the Head of Ports, Terminals and Logistics Corridors Sector Group at Bowmans will advise the audience on how to manage stakeholder relationships in the ports and logistics environments. Njau Mukuha, a partner at Bowmans in Kenya will talk on public procurement challenges for port projects in Kenya. Luke Havermann, a senior associate at Bowmans will discuss LNG developments in Southern Africa; and Anton Barnes Webb, a partner in the Project Finance Department at Bowmans will present on the topic – “How bankable is your concession agreement?" According to Andrew Pike, "The ports and logistics sector in Southern Africa offers vast potential and complex regulatory, procurement and business challenges. Whether you are a manufacturer, mining house or logistics operator, a port, rail, depot or terminal operator or user, an exporter or importer or an investor, engineer, or financier, this seminar will offer some thought-provoking and take-home practical thinking on sector participation." If you would like to attend this seminar, to be held at the Sandton offices of Bowmans South Africa (165 West Street), on October 13 at 8 am until 12 pm, please contact buhle.nhlangulela@bowmanslaw.com or call her on +27 11 669 …
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Bowmans commits to ‘one firm’ strategy and announces new brand
Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group today announced that from 1 September 2016 it will operate across Africa under one brand name: Bowmans. Chairman and Senior Partner, Rob Legh, says, “This is a natural step forward for us. For some time, we have seen an increasing level of corporate and public sector activity across the continent. The model we chose to address this has involved establishing offices in key jurisdictions and working in a fully integrated way to deliver a one-stop service to our clients. However, while our offices are integrated, our brand has not reflected this until now.” The firm’s vision is to be the leading Pan-African law firm for corporate and institutional clients working on the most complex legal matters on the continent. Legh says, “We believe this ‘one firm’ approach is superior to networks and alliances because it fosters exceptionally close working relationships among our lawyers and service departments and reassures our clients that they will receive service of a consistently high quality.” Along with the new brand name and logo, the firm is highlighting what it believes to be its differentiator: legal knowledge, plus real experience of local complexities on-the-ground. This is encapsulated in the phrase ‘The value of knowing’, which has obvious benefits for clients. John Ffooks, managing partner in Madagascar says, “We are the only legal practice in francophone Africa with a combination of Napoleonic and English law expertise – making us the obvious choice when it comes to international transactions. As Bowmans, this cross-border ability is supported by access to invaluable information and legal resources.” Richard Harney, managing partner in Kenya says, “As Bowmans we are able to expand our ambitions beyond Kenya’s borders – to the East African region and the continent beyond. We have worked on projects in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.” William Kasozi, managing partner in …
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Two exemplary young South Africans on the brink of a law career share their thoughts on the real importance of a law degree
Two outstanding young South Africans, law student and Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group bursary recipient Kamogelo Sono and school pupil and future law student, Lesedi Nkwe have commented on the importance of pro bono work in their law careers and what they would say to others aspiring to be lawyers who might feel that this is unattainable for them. Kamogelo Sono is studying towards his LLB qualification at the University of Pretoria (UP). He has a bursary from the Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group and will join the firm as a candidate attorney at the beginning of 2017, once he has completed his final year of his LLB. Lesedi Nkwe is currently the deputy head boy at Redhill High School. Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group sponsor Lesedi through an organisation called Student Sponsorship Programme (SSP). Lesedi has applied to study towards an LLB qualification next year, and has already been accepted by the Universities of Cape Town, Witwatersrand and Stellenbosch. Sono, says, "Pro bono work is one of the reasons why I wanted to be a lawyer in the first place. My attraction to the law was not what it could do for me but what it can help me do for my community. I come from a relatively poverty stricken community where there is limited access to resources and quality education. I saw the law as a way I could help people who cannot afford access to the courts and essentially access to justice as a result. Leadership is not about positions and titles, it’s about service to people and being accountable to the people. And pro bono work for me is a sign of good leadership." Nkwe agrees, "I believe that pro bono work is very important, especially as a future lawyer. I believe that the law industry has the capacity to make a positive social difference and being part of the Bowman Gilfillan team for this initiative has proven to me that even in a professional space, I will still be able to be an agent for change in my community. Sono says that he would tell young students hoping …
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Two outstanding young South Africans will join Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group’s Managing Partner and Head of Banking & Finance on the CEO Sleepout
Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group's Managing Partner Alan Keep, and Head of Banking & Finance Francisco Khoza will be joined at the CEO Sleepout, taking place in Johannesburg on 28 July this year, by two outstanding young South Africans, law student and the firm's bursary recipient Kamogelo Sono and school pupil and future law student, Lesedi Nkwe. Kamogelo Sono is studying towards his LLB qualification at the University of Pretoria (UP). He is the Deputy Chairperson of Seispro Society and a member of Golden Key International Honour Society. He was on the Deans Merit list in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and received a UP Achievement Award. Kamogelo has a bursary from the Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group and will join the firm as a candidate attorney at the beginning of 2017, once he has completed his final year of his LLB. Kamogelo said of his participation in the CEO Sleepout campaign, "I think it’s a really worthy cause. South Africa has one of the highest income inequality ratios in the world. We still have a lot of work to do to fix this, but I think the CEO Sleep Out is one of those campaigns that not only recognises this fact but also tries to educate and make people aware of the social responsibilities in this regard. "Experience is the best teacher and so I think it is a great idea that people who are regarded as the "game-changers" and the "shot-callers" get to spend time in the shoes of homeless people. The campaign has shown me a different side of the corporate world, it is heartwarming to know that we have so many business people that want to give their time and money to worthy causes." Lesedi Nkwe is currently the deputy head boy at Redhill High School. Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group sponsors Lesedi through an organisation called Student Sponsorship Programme (SSP). This organisation identifies star individuals at a primary school level from disadvantaged backgrounds and sponsors them throughout their high school career. Lesedi has been the chairperson of the …