FIRM PROFILE - MRB Attorneysmrbattorneys.rw/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/MRB-Firm-Profile-1.pdf · Diploma in legal practice from the Law Development Centre – Kampala. George is a

FIRM PROFILE

www.mrbattorneys.rwCopyright © 2018 MRB Attorneys.

All rights reserved.

www.mrbattorneys.rwCopyright © 2018 MRB Attorneys.All rights reserved.

ABOUT MRB ATTORNEYS

MRB ATTORNEYS (MRB) is one of the Premier and biggest law firms in Rwanda.

Founded in 2013, MRB brought together senior lawyers who were Partners in:

Kigali Allied Advocates, Fountain Law Chambers, MK Law Office and Prolex

Advocates and Legal Consultants. MRB Partners have substantial experience

in legal practice, transactional advisory services and legal academia spanning

many years. MRB Partners have worked as advocates, state attorneys, consul-

tants and advisors for government, intergovernmental agencies, international

organizations, companies, banks and other corporate and individual Clientele

in and outside Rwanda. MRB has since grown to a team of 11 lawyers and a size-

able support staff. The firm intends to keep this growth curve rising.

MRB Attorneys is a General Service Law Firm with a strong focus on Corporate

& Commercial Law, Banking and Investment transactional advisory work. MRB

also provides services in the areas of Dispute Resolution, policy development

as well as legal audits, due diligences, legal and legislative drafting. Since qual-

ifying to practice law and from the inception of the firm, MRB & its partners rep-

resented and continue to advise key corporate clients in Rwanda that include

banks, private and public companies, international organizations and govern-

ment agencies.


ABOUT MRB ATTORNEYS

OUR MISSION

OUR MISSION

Being the Premier Law Firm in Rwanda & Beyond

Providing the best Services to the satisfaction of our clients


EMMANUEL BUTARE

MANAGING PARTNER

Butare is the Managing Partner and one of the founding Partners of MRB Attorneys. He holds an LLB (Hons) of the National University of Rwanda (NUR), LLM Ottawa University, a Postgraduate Diploma in legal Practice of the Institute of Legal Practice & Development, and a Certificate in Global Arbitration from Hamline University School of Law, Minnesota, USA in conjunction with International School of Business Studies, Queen Mary University, London.

He has worked as a Principal State Attorney at the Rwandan Ministry of Justice. Butare has handled big cases through litigation, mediation and or Arbitration. He also served as a Secretary to the Commission on out-of-court settlement of disputes against the government of Rwanda. He was part of the team that negotiated the Declaration for the launch of the Tripartite Free Trade Area negotiations between the EAC, COMESA and SADC.

Butare has been involved in different high profile advisory work including insolvency as receiver for SOPROTEL Ltd. Emmanuel has got vast experience in research, training management and academia having worked as a Lecturer and consultant with the National University of Rwanda; and as a trainer for the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD). He is a member of the Rwanda Bar Association, the East Africa Law Society where he serves as a council member and Vice President – Strategic Litigation. He is also a member of the Pan African Lawyers Union.


GEORGE MUWANGUZI KALISA

SENIOR PARTNER

Muwanguzi Kalisa is the Senior Partner and one of the founding partners of MRB. He is senior member of the Rwandan bar. He has undertaken a number of consultancy and advisory assignments in Rwanda and has closely worked with the Rwandan Justice Sector Cluster (JRLOS) on Rwanda’s justice sector reforms including working on new legislation, curriculum development and training.

George practiced law in Uganda for more than ten years representing corporate clientele that included companies, banks and government agencies. Having been entered on the roll of advocates of Rwanda for more than five years plus another five years of intensive legal consultancy work for the government of Rwanda as well as other local and international clients.

George has two decades of legal advisory and consultancy experience as well as academia having taught comparative law at the National University of Rwanda as well as legal practice at the Institute of Legal Practice & Development (ILPD). George holds an LLM from Makerere University, a Postgraduate Diploma in legal practice from the Law Development Centre – Kampala. George is a fellow of modern legal and legislative drafting of the University of Sydney law school in Australia as well as a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London. He is a member of the Ugandan bar, the Rwandan Bar and the East African Law Society.


ANITA MUGENI

PARTNER

Anita is the one of the founding partners of MRB. She is a senior member of the Rwandan bar with a great training and experience in the civil law system. Anita possess an LLB degree from the, National University of Rwanda (NUR, 1996), LLM, FUSL- Universite Catholique de Louvain (2005).

Anita is a senior advocate who started her Legal practice as an advocate in 1998 working her way up as one of the most prolific commercial and litigation attorneys in Rwanda. She has worked on many commercial transaction advisory cases including dispute resolution, due diligences and insolvencies.

She has served as acting President of the Rwanda Bar Association (RBA), served as dean and council member of RBA, council member of the East African Law Society, a member of the RBA, the East African Law Society and the International Bar Association. She has a great grounding in Kinyarwanda and French. Anita brings to MRB more than a decade and a half of immense experience in legal practice and academia having taught law at the National University of Rwanda, the Independent University of Kigali (ULK) and at the Institute of Legal Practice & Development (ILPD).


ATHANASE RUTABINGWA

PARTNER

Rutabingwa is one of the founding partners of MRB. He holds an LL.B, National University of Rwanda. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma from the Institute of Legal Practice & development (ILPD) and an advanced Certificate in Arbitration from the London Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

RUTABINGWA joined the Rwanda Bar Association 2000. He enrolled as an advocate working with Rwanga and Company Advocates, later with other lawyers establishing Kigali Allied Advocates in which he served as Managing Partner until he became one of the founding partners of MRB Attorneys. Athanase has got vast experience in commercial law matters and more specifically in commercial advisory services to corporate clients including financial institutions, sponsors, developers and Government institutions.

Athanase is a well-qualified attorney in dispute resolution involving litigation and alternative dispute resolution commercial law, banking, labour law, land law, and transport law. He has over the time in the course of his work and position in the bar association mastered Rwandan institutional work and relations. Rutabingwa served as the President of the Kigali Bar Association for two consecutive terms until 2015. He served as a member as well as a Council member of the East African Law Society. He at the time of his second term in office the sitting President of the Conference International des Barreaux (CIB).


HERBERT RUBASHA

PARTNER

Herbert is one of the founding Partners of MRB. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the National University of Rwanda, a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Pretoria – South Africa; a Certificate in International Commercial Arbitration from the London Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Cert. CIArb.)

Even before joining MRB Attorneys, Herbert had been involved in Commercial and Corporate transactions advisory assignments involving legal research, negotiations, and legal audits; due diligences, drawing and analysis of security instruments as well as creation of securities for Banks and other financial institutions in Rwanda.

Herbert has extensively negotiated businesses involving International Transactions, participated and led the Rwandan Government delegation in the negotiations relating to the harmonization of the East Africa Community (EAC) Commercial laws. He has negotiated Joint Ventures for local and International companies, supply contracts, Labour agreements and many others.

Herbert has also done work on the national, regional and international human rights reporting regimes. Herbert has also taught Law at the National University of Rwanda (NUR) and the Institute of Lay Adventists of Kigali (INILAK). He is a member of the Rwanda Bar Association, the East African Law Society (EALS) and the Pan African Lawyers Union.

CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL LAW

MRB Attorneys has provided and continues to provide services in the areas of Corporate and Commercial Law that among others include:

Drafting and Negotiation of Loan Agreements and

related documentation

Drafting and Negotiation of syndicated Loan Offers

and Agreements

Drafting, Negotiation and Registration of Security

Documents such as Mortgages, Leases, Debentures,

Caveats, Bonds, Equities and other Charges

Advice, Verification and Synchronization of Feasibility

Studies, Valuation Reports & Legal Audits

Negotiation, facilitation & Preparation of trade

documents, Financing and Letters of Credit

Negotiation & Preparation of Performance Bonds,

Guarantees and other Legal Undertakings

Debt Recovery, Negotiation and Debt Restructuring

Arrangements & Documentation

Insurance and insurance Claim Negotiations and

Arrangements

Incorporation, Corporate, Tax & Related Compliance

Services

Capital Markets, Legal Audits & Due DiligenceAt MRB Attorneys, we have provided and continue to provide services in the new Capital Markets Area in Rwanda. We advise companies and other investors in the following areas among others:

Health and general compliance checks on companies

intending to float shares or issue notes and bonds on

the Rwanda Stock Exchange

Undertaking legal audits and providing legal opinions

for companies intending to undertake different

transactions on the Stock Exchanges including initial

public offers

Drafting and filing Resolutions as well as general

updates and revision of corporate capital, governance

structures, statutes and other documents for

companies.

Advising on acquisitions, mergers, demergers and

competition in Rwanda

Drafting shareholders’ and share transfer agreements,

promissory notes and share pledges.

Representation, negotiations and dispute settlement

in relation to different Stock Exchange transactions.

Insolvency & ReceivershipsMRB Attorneys has well qualified and licenced Insolvency lawyers. Our lawyers have handled some of the biggest insolvency matters in Rwanda and our services in this area include among others the following:

Re-organization and restructuring of failing companies

Debt negotiations, collection and restructuring

Arrangement and negotiations of take overs and

acquisitions of failing companies and debts

Tracing, reclaiming and repossession of assets

Assets sale, distribution transactions and transfers

Representation in all matters involving insolvency

transactions and cases.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

At MRB Attorneys we excel in the area of dispute resolution. Our lawyers have many years of handling disputes; particularly in the area of commercial transactions. MRB represents many corporate clients in Rwandan and regional jurisdictions in different matters. Apart from being licenced advocates, our lawyers are also members of reputable dispute resolutions forums such as the Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC) and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). Our services in this area among other include:

Negotiations of out of court settlements, compromises

and consents aimed at scaling down costs to our

clients

Mediation & Conciliation

Arbitration

Adjudication

Expert determination

Litigation

Judgement registration, authentication & enforcement

Debt collection


Remy holds a Bachelor of laws (LLB) from the National University of Rwanda (2009), a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Institute of Legal Practice & Development (ILPD) and currently pursuing a Master of Laws (LLM). Remy is a member of the Rwanda Bar Association & the East African Law Society.

Remy is passionate about voluntarism having worked at the legal aid clinic of the National University of Rwanda and has continued to provide probono services to indigent clients since he was called to the bar. Remy is a native speaker of Kinyarwanda, fluent in French and in English and has a good command of Swahili.

Claudine holds a Bachelors of Laws (LL.B – Hons) from the Kigali Independent University (ULK), a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice of the Institute of Legal Practice & Development (ILPD)

Claudine is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree (LLM) in International Business Law at the Kigali Independent University. She is a member the East African Law Society (EALS). She is a native speaker of Kinyarwanda, with an excellent command of French and commands a good working knowledge of English.

MUNYANEZA REMYSENIOR ASSOCIATE

UMUGWANEZA CLAUDINESENIOR ASSOCIATE



Augustin holds a Bachelor’s degree in law (LLB) from the Independent Institute of Lay Adventists of Kigali (INILAK) and pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the Institute of legal Practice & Development.

Augustin is a member the Rwanda Bar Association and has vast experience in conducting clerical duties, especially in Rwandan courts since 2009.

Specioza holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B, Hons) from the University of Rwanda. She is pursuing her Postgraduate Diploma in legal practice at the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD).

Specioza did her internship with MRB Attorneys getting daily exposure and working on different assignments including legal research, drafting legal opinions and other legal assignments within the firm.

NDOBA AUGUSTIN LEGAL ASSOCIATE

MUKANJISHI SPECIOZALEGAL ASSOCIATE



Mucyo Daniel holds a Bachelor of laws (LLB) from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa Nairobi, Kenya, a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Institute of Legal Practice & Development (ILPD). Daniel is a native speaker of Kinyarwanda, English and has a good command of Swahili.

Blandine holds a Bachelor of laws (LLB) from the National University of Rwanda (2013), a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Institute of Legal Practice & Development (ILPD) .

Blandine is a member of the Rwanda Bar Association & the East African Law Society. Blandine holds a certificate of General course on Intellectual Property from WIPO Academy. Blandine is a native speaker of Kinyarwanda, fluent in French and in English and has a good command of Swahili..

DANIEL MUCYOLEGAL ASSOCIATE

BLANDINE NTABWOBALEGAL ASSOCIATE



MUNYANA JOANAADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT &RECEPTIONIST

LOUIS DE GONZAGUEMANAGER FINANCE &ADMINISTRATION



Louis de Gonzague holds a Bachelor’s Degree majored in management from Independent University of Kigali- Gisenyi Branch. He worked with Ministry of Education as a Teacher 2000, worked as a District accountant Local in KAYOVE District from 2001-2005. He also worked for a coffee processing company SOCR from 2006-2013 as an Accountant. From 2014-2016 he worked as an Assistant accountant of KZNOIR ( R) ltd and its company portfolios ( SOCOR ltd, KARENGERA COFFEE ltd and CAFERWA ltd ) and later as a Finance Manager.

Today, He is a consultant in charge of finance and administration in MRB Attorneys. He is a native speaker of Kinyarwanda, Fluent in English with a good command of English and Swahili.

BLANDINE NTAMBOBWALEGAL ASSOCIATE

DANIEL MUCYOLEGAL ASSOCIATE



Mucyo Daniel holds a Bachelor of laws (LLB) from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa Nairobi, Kenya, a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Institute of Legal Practice & Development (ILPD).

Daniel is a native speaker of Kinyarwanda, English and has a good command of Swahili.

Blandine holds a Bachelor of laws (LLB) from the National University of Rwanda (2013), a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Institute of Legal Practice & Development (ILPD) .

Blandine is a member of the Rwanda Bar Association & the East African Law Society. Blandine holds a certificate of General course on Intellectual Property from WIPO Academy.

Blandine is a native speaker of Kinyarwanda, fluent in French and in English and has a good command of Swahili..

ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE

Negotiations and applications for gas concessions and licences.

Advice on the upstream and downstream oil transactions.

Negotiations and applications for hydro and thermal generation concessions

and licences.

Advising on investor financing including local, international and syndicated loan

transactions.

Negotiating and drafting Public – Private Partnership arrangements, including

applications for and procurement of investment concessions, licences and

incentives.

Drafting, reviewing and negotiation of Power Purchase and Supply

Agreements.

Negotiations and applications for licences for water production and treatment

plants.

Provision of advisory services to different regulated utilities business operators

Our practice covers the full spectrum of the

energy industry including off grid and on grid

energy. To this end we have represented and

continue to represent clients in the following

areas among others:


TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Telecommunications mergers and acquisitions

Telecoms privatizations and licensing

Applications for and auctions of licenses

Telecoms re-organization, capitalization and demergers

Exploitation and protection vested and reserved rights

Telecommunications services agencies and outsourcing

Information Communication Technology(ICT) lines passage easements, leases

and land acquisitions

Incorporation, registration and protection of new and innovative IT startups and

applications

Intellectual Property Registration

MRB Partners and lawyers have undertaken

and continue to undertake advisory

transactions for different clients in the

telecommunications sector. These services

include among others:


CONSTRUCTION

General advice on construction law in Rwanda, particularly city and country

planning

Advising and assisting clients in the area of housing finance including creation

and registration of security over construction projects and anticipated income.

Applications for and obtaining construction and occupation permits as well as

other related authorizations

Drafting and advising on constructions contracts including joint ventures, PPPs,

supervision and material supply contracts

Advising on safety and health compliance issues including insurance and third

party rights

Advising and assisting on employment contracts including expatriate staff,

immigration, social security and taxes

Negotiations and drafting agreements for access to roads and other easements

Negotiating and drafting of land acquisition, purchase and sales agreements

including leases and short term tenancies

Procurement and assurance of titles including registration of condominiums

Short and long term management of estates and commercial properties.

The Construction Industry is one of the key

drivers of the Rwandan economy and is likely to

be for a long time. At MRB Attorneys, we have

advised and continue to advise different clients in

the construction sector. Our services include but

not limited to the following:


MINING

General advice on legal, regulatory and related compliance requirements to

undertake extractive business in Rwanda including prospecting for & mining

of minerals, quarrying, clay, sand and other related material extractions on a

commercial scale.

Applications for and Acquisition of concessions and licences

Negotiating and drafting Public Private – Partnerships including Revenue

sharing agreements

Applications for and facilitation in the procurement of investment Licences and

incentives

Negotiations and drafting of Joint Venture Agreements and floatation of special

purpose vehicles

Acquisition of land rights including leases, transfers and access rights

Negotiation and drafting of artisanal and agency agreements including with

existing cooperatives and new communities

Advising on environmental and health compliance issues including the

conception and implementation of corporate social responsibility programs and

undertakings.

Our practice offers you services on transactional,

regulatory and contentious matters in the domain

of mining and the extractive industry in Rwanda

as a whole. To this end, our services include but

not limited to the following:


AVIATION

General advice on Aviation Law including the Rwandan, Regional and

international regulatory framework and compliance matters

Representing and advising aviation companies and operators on aviation

related compliance requirements such as Licencing, Insurance, third party

rights and domestic contracting and supply chains

Commercial leasing, Purchasing, funding and Registration of Aircraft

Multi-jurisdictional aircraft repossession

Dispute resolution and contract management

Labour matters and multi-jurisdictional claims

Rwanda has one of the fastest growing Aviation

Industry in Africa. At MRB Attorneys, we have

positioned ourselves as the premier providers of

legal services to the aviation industry. We collaborate

with the best international practitioners in the field

of aviation and thus our target is not only to serve

Rwanda Civil Aviation operators but also serve the

whole region in the sector with among others the

following services:


GOVERNMENT BUSINESS & POLICY

Our lawyers have served as independent consultants for government and government agencies

including inter-governmental and international organizations on various justice sector, governance

and other public sector reforms. MRB Attorneys has also partnered with different international

firms and consultants to deliver on new policies, institutional reforms and capacity development

programmes in the public sector.


Policy review, formulation and institutional development in the justice sector by

way of;

o Legal reform and drafting of new legislation

o Curriculum development & Institutional reform

o Training systems development

o Capacity development through training, training of trainers and attachments

o Recruitment and induction of personnel

Policy review, formulation and institutional development in the governance

sector by way of;

o Institutional & Legal audit

o Legal reform and drafting of new legislation

o Policy review and formulation

o Institutional reform and development

o Training and capacity development

o Adapting and incorporation of international best practices

Regional Integration & trade – Our firm supports East African Community

(EAC) states, institutions and civil society in the areas of deepening regional

integration particularly in the justice and commercial sectors by:

o Undertaking Legal and Institutional Audits for compliance with the EAC

Treaty and other supporting Instruments

o Legal reform and drafting of new legislation that complies with the treaty

o Undertaking Capacity Needs assessment in the relevant sectors and

developing appropriate capacity development initiatives

o Undertaking capacity assessment studies for professional and other EAC

organization with a view to support them prepare better for cross boarder

business

o Offering specialized trainings on the functioning of the EAC institutions

– the Secretariat, the Summit, the Assembly, the Court of Justice and other

Institutions.

Our firm therefore is well positioned to provide among others, the following

services to Governments of countries in transition:

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS & POLICY


MRB TRAINING & CONFERENCE CENTRE

Law Firm organization and Management

Basic and advanced advocacy & Pleading skills

Basic & Advanced Legal Research Methods

Civil & Criminal Procedure for Rwandan lawyers

Modern Legal & Legislative drafting

Company & Board Secretaries skills training

Arbitration, Mediation & Adjudication

Procedures & Pleading in the East African Court of Justice

Preparing National Human Rights Treaty Reports

Conferences & Workshops on topical issues in the Justice and other sectors

At MRB Attorneys, we provide different specialized

training to our own staff, lawyers and other clients in

the Public and corporate Sector. We develop, organize

and deliver specialized and tailor – made courses for

groups of 5 to 30 people in the following areas:
