The firm will be known as Moira Mukuka Legal Practitioners with offices in Longacres, Lusaka with the two lawyers as co-managing partners. Brenda was previously head of corporate and finance at AB & David Zambia and Sharon was previously head of banking finance and M&A at Corpus Legal Practitioners.
“We have known each other for decades and are excited to bring together our unique strengths and talents to create a modern and progressive law firm,” said Brenda.
“We both have experience advising at all levels – local, regional and international and both have strong backgrounds advising clients on high-value and significant transactions.
“We also understand that law has to constantly adapt to the ever dynamic business environment which is largely influenced by technological advancements and the democratization of access to information, and only those who can keep up with the trends have a chance at succeeding.
“Many businesses are operating in fast-changing environments and are exposed to new risks everyday and need lawyers who are commercially astute, creative and proactive. That’s where we come in,” she said.
Sharon said they shared a vision of changing the practise of business law to be more innovative and attuned to 21st Century business.
“The legal profession is changing rapidly, more so post Covid, and rather than riding in the backseat, we have decided to shape our own future.
“We both strongly believe it’s not enough to just be a great lawyer anymore, businesses need lawyers with a business mindset that deliver impactful solutions to their problems. “There’s a lot of work ahead of us as we pour all our energies in taking up our position as Zambia’s go-to business-focused business law firm and we look forward to working with our clients on this journey.”
Despite the negative impact of the pandemic and sovereign risk concerns, there is a positive outlook for Zambia. In the last few months, copper prices have risen to a ten-year high, signaling a boost in local production.
The country’s private sector has also demonstrated resilience by posting positive results in spite of a strained economic environment. Zambia, which is an attractive investment destination due to its wealth of natural resources, also boasts an increasingly conducive business environment. It also has a strategic geographic position as a land-linked country with the membership of both COMESA and SADC.
The launch of Moira Mukuka Legal Practitioners recognises the need in the Zambian market for a business law firm that is positioned at the intersection of law, business and innovation to deliver new thinking in a new world and real value.
With a strong team of transactional lawyers who have worked on some of Zambia’s most complex matters, the firm will support clients across three main areas – corporate, finance and projects. Its sector focus will include energy, green finance, impact finance, telecoms, financial services, agribusiness, infrastructure and mining.
Brenda has worked in the corporate, finance, commercial dispute resolution and infrastructure sectors for 17 years. She has experience advising both local and international businesses and is a member of the Lusaka Securities Exchange Membership and Rules Committee and Board Chairperson of the Altus Financial Services. Brenda has a law degree from the University of Zambia and a master of laws degree in Banking and Finance from the University of London. She has also been ranked by IFLR1000 as a ‘Rising Star’ and, in 2020, was named by the Institute For African Women in Law as a ‘Woman to Watch’.
Sharon is a corporate lawyer who has been ranked by Chambers and Partners several times as one of Zambia’s top corporate finance lawyers. She is cited as a Highly Regarded Lawyer for Mergers and Acquisitions by IFLR 1000 and as a ‘Leading Individual’ by Legal 500. For 16 years she has advised Zambian, regional and international clients on M&A, capital markets transactions, financing, mining, private equity and projects.
The two partners will be supported by Muchinda Muma (Senior Associate (previously of Corpus Legal Practitioners)) a Fullbright scholar with a breadth of expertise in energy, mining and projects.
The new firm has also shared that it will take a proactive approach to grow business in Zambia by forming real and long-term partnerships with other players in the ecosystem like academic institutions, think-tanks, incubation hubs and industry associations.
Moira Mukuka Legal Practitioners is an independent Zambian business law firm at the intersection of law, business and innovation. We protect, enable and advance business in the midst of uncertainty. Our lawyers are business-savvy with strong experience working on some of Zambia’s major deals. We advice businesses in the following areas: corporate, finance and projects.
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