Conflict and disputes are unavoidable outcome of any commercial relationship. It is crucial for commercial parties and investors to be able to have their disputes resolved efficiently in a timely and in a cost-effective manner.
AF Mpanga is renown for handling complex litigation and arbitration proceedings ranging from commercial disputes, banking disputes, competition litigation, intellectual property litigation, land dispute to fraud and investigations and related criminal matters.
Each matter is evaluated on its merits and strategies agreed with the client. We are recognized amongst our peers for having a strong litigation team with a track record of success in all courts of judicature.
Our clients include financial institutions, Non-Government Organizations, Multilateral Organizations, regulators, Public entities and high profile individuals.
We have a specific interest in human rights, governance and public interest litigation.
- Successfully represented Africa Export Import Bank in garnishee proceedings brought against it to attach monies belonging to the Government of South Sudan held in its accounts.
- Acted for Equity Bank Uganda Limited and Equity Bank Kenya Limited in a suit to recover from Simbamanyo Estates Limited. The matter was especially important as it confirmed the legality of cross border lending under Ugandan financial institutions law.
- Acted for I&M Bank Uganda Limited in a suit to recover from Fontana Auto Parts (U) Limited.
- Successfully represented dfcu Bank Limited in an employment matter pertaining to an allegation by a senior staff of unlawful dismissal. The matter originated in the Industrial Court and went all the way to the Supreme Court where it was clarified that employment matters do not have a right of appeal to the Supreme Court.
- We acted for the Uganda Bankers’ Association and the 25 commercial banks operating in Uganda in a constitutional petition filed with the Constitutional Court against the Attorney General and the Uganda Revenue Authority to challenge certain provisions of the Tax Procedures Code Act that required banks to share their customers’ private information with the Uganda Revenue Authority. The matter was particularly important as it affirmed the right to privacy of bank customers.
- Represented Citibank Uganda Limited in an appeal before the Court of Appeal of Uganda for the recovery of money lost due to fraud of bank employee and a customer. This matter was important as it clarified the law pertaining to guarantors under Ugandan financial institutions law.
- Successfully represented Ubuntu Towers Limited in an anti-competition complaint against American Towers Company and Airtel Uganda Limited before the Uganda Communications Commission. This decision essentially ended a monopoly in the telecom masts business in Uganda and as such is a key decision in Uganda’s nascent competition law regime.
- On the instructions of Winston Strawn LLP, coordinated advice regarding litigation and compensation to families of passengers that died in an Ethiopian Airlines 302 accident involving a Boeing 737 MAX that occurred on March 10, 2019. We were Africa counsel in the matter coordinating advice across eight African jurisdictions.
- Successfully represented Ezee Money Limited against MTN Uganda Limited the leading mobile telecommunication operators in Uganda under the anti-competitive practices in the telecom industry in Uganda. This was the first competition law case in Uganda’s telecom sector.
- Successfully represented the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) and the Uganda National NGO Forum in a matter where their bank accounts were frozen on the orders of the Financial Intelligence Authority on suspicion of terrorism financing.
- Acted for and represented Mayfair Uganda Insurance Company Limited, Marsh Insurance Company Limited, AIG, Sanlam Insurance Uganda Limited in various insurance claims of both a contentious and non- contentious nature.
- Represented Agro Consortium (U) Limited before the Insurance Regulatory Authority in a dispute pertaining to non-payment of premium subsidies under the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme.
- Represented dfcu Bank Limited in a workers compensation matter where one of its employees was injured in the course of employment; Jubilee Insurance Company Uganda Limited was added as a third party in this matter to indemnify the injured employee.
- Represented Sanlam General Insurance Company Limited in a compensation claim against it’s insured “UMEME Limited” by Pearl View Meical Centre “PVMC”.
- Successfully Sanlam General Insurance Uganda Limited in an appeal before the Commercial division of the High Court relating to a decision of the Insurance Appeals Tribunal; the counter party in this matter is Finance Trust Bank.
- Successfully defended the then Lion Insurance Uganda Limited in a claim against it based on a performance bond.
- Represented Citibank Uganda Limited in an application filed by Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited against the Bank and one of its customers Electromaxx Uganda Limited to challenge a call on a performance guarantee.
- Represented Shimuzu- Konoike Joint Venture in a construction dispute with one of its sub-contractors (Roko Construction Limited) seeking to encash a performance guarantee.
- Advised Axis Capital/ Axis Insurance of Lloyd’s of London on its obligations under Uganda law arising out of a cyber incident.
A well-regarded team and a rounded contentious practice. Enlisted as counsel by a multitude of clients for its advice on IP, tax, and insolvency litigation matters, drawing further respect for its involvement in international arbitration. Leverages its African network to adeptly provide representation to clients on multi-jurisdictional matters. Long-standing experience in a broad spectrum of commercial disputes, with the team showing notable expertise in medical negligence claims, public procurement disputes, issues relating to the South African Revenue Service and construction disputes. Maintains excellent standing for its ADR practice, with notable experience in arbitrations across Africa. Excellent reach and high visibility in such cross-border disputes, which include matters in the natural resources sector.
Chambers and Partners, 2022
Client feedback includes: The team is multi-disciplinary in that each member brings in his/her specialty. Have a unique ability to work as a team while making in-house legal advisors an integral part of the team. Very firm in protecting the interests of the client, even where it risked their own popularity as a law firm.
Legal 500, 2021
Notable Contact
