Dar es Salaam, 22nd April 2012: East African Law Chambers (EALC), one of
the fastest growing medium sized law firms in Tanzania has repositioned
itself to tap into the wider African market by becoming a member of one of
the oldest, biggest and most credible law firm in South Africa- Bowman
Gilfillan.
Speaking at a cocktail attended by a diverse audience of Dar’s elite held
at the Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel on Wednesday night (18/04 2012) to
celebrate the new association, Mr. Juvenalis Ngowi, EALC founding partner,
said the move increases the capacity of the law firm to offer superior,
high quality cross-border legal services in and out of Tanzania.
“EALC becoming a member of Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group is a strategic
move in the wake of new regional economic realities. Tanzanian grown
companies as well as international firms in the country are increasingly
having a presence in different countries in the East Africa Community (EAC)
and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). It is also a fact
that Tanzania is increasingly becoming a focal point for investment for
multi-national and international companies. This affiliation puts EALC in
the best position to serve such clientele,” said Mr George Fernandes, EALC
partner.
Speaking at the function, Mr Jonathan Lang head of the Bowman Gilfillan
Africa Group, said it was exciting for Bowman Gilfillan to join hands with
EALC to bring top of the ladder cross-border legal services in upping
existing cross-border corporate entities and also emerging ones in diverse
fields ranging from oil and gas to telecoms.
“You can be sure that EALC, which is led by a young, dynamic and visionary
team, is able to offer the highly needed international quality legal
services whenever needed. We have a lot of confidence in the team,” he
said.
The President of Tanganyika Law Society, Mr Francis Stolla commended EALC
saying that the provision of international quality legal services was
necessary as multinational firms continue investing in Tanzania, and
developing world class competencies was paramount.
On his side, Kenya’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Mr. Mutinda Mutiso
hailed EALC, saying this kind of partnership, with the leading South
African law firm was necessary for enhanced economic growth in different
sectors.
“Developing global competencies in the legal sector is a must. This is
crucial for international contract negotiations,” he said.
About EALC
EALC is a medium size law firm and remarkably one of the fastest growing
in Tanzania. It is regarded as the premier law firm in terms of the quality
of work, local and international clients and transactions served. The Firm
comprises of lawyers with brilliant breadth and depth of corporate and
commercial law and litigation experience. The firm specialises in corporate
and commercial law, employment and labour law, telecommunications law,
conveyances, mining laws, oil and gas, banking and financial laws, tax
advisory, legal consultancy and commercial litigation.
Stella Ndikimi, partner at EALC noted that by joining the Bowman Gilfillan
African Group, EALC will elevate its platform in providing seamless legal
services to its clientele not just within the country but also across
Africa. EALC currently advises corporations, financial institutions,
governments, state and private owned enterprises.
About Bowman Gilfillan
Bowman Gilfillan is one of the premier South African corporate and
commercial law firms and has over 350 lawyers (including partners). In
2008, the Group opened its office in Nairobi, through Coulson Harney. In
Kampala, Uganda it has association with A.F. Mpanga.
The Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group has a presence in in Southern and Eastern
Africa – Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda, and it also works
closely with one of Nigeria’s leading law firms Udo Udoma & Belo Osagie.
The core practice areas of the Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group are: mergers
and acquisitions, banking and finance, infrastructure, energy and power
resources and mining, capital markets, competition and anti-trust, private
equity, employment, litigation, tax, maritime and transport
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