TMT is undoubtedly shaping global economies and defining how our world will look like in the next decades. It is inevitably changing the way leading global companies are making investment decisions and creating the products of tomorrow.
The team at AF Mpanga are distinguished leaders in TMT legal practice and have deep expertise in advising clients in this field. The team provides you with a myriad of skills and unsurpassed domestic experience of advising on complex international projects and global 100 innovators. They have an in depth understanding of the law surrounding the metaverse as an emerging online world, blockchain and smart contracts, wearable tech, robotics, augmented and virtual reality with a focus on the legal framework that surrounds the virtual world. They also offer a full service offering with focus in areas such as software acquisition, e commerce services, product building, big data, artificial intelligence, regulation for telecommunications, data protection and advisory, cyber security and privacy and mobile virtual network operators.
Our clients include global 100 innovators, data centers, e- commerce giant companies, gaming streaming, and institutions focusing on data protection.
- Advised Orange SA (formerly France Telecom) in the disposal to Africell, of its majority shareholding held by Atlas Services Belgium in its Ugandan subsidiary, Orange Uganda Limited.
- The firm advised Bharti Airtel in its acquisition of the operations of Warid Telecom in Uganda
- The firm advised Eaton Towers, a leading independent towers company in Uganda, in the acquisition of the tower infrastructure segment of Bharti Airtel in Uganda.
- The firm advised BCS Group, a major internet services provider, to acquisition of the operations of a wholesale and back haul data services provider with operations across East Africa.
- The firm advised Helios Towers Africa in respect of a proposed buy and lease back of tower assets of a telecom operator in Uganda.
- The firm advised Eaton Towers on the acquisition of the tower assets of Warid Telecom and Orange Telecom in Uganda.
- Litigation in Ezee Money vs. MTN Uganda where we recorded Uganda’s first win in Competition/Antitrust law in Uganda’s Telecom sector.
LICENSING AND REGULATORY ADVISORY
- The firm advised Ericsson AB on the negotiation and application of the Vendors Block Wiring License for its operations in Uganda.
- The firm advised Samsung Electronics Africa on competition and communication law regime applicable to the introduction of certain products in Uganda
- The firm advised Google Inc and YouTube LLC on the YouTube Partner Expansion program in Uganda.
- Advised GOTV Uganda Limited, a satellite television service provider on establishing operations in Uganda.
- Advised Simbanet Uganda Limited, an Internet Service Provider on establishing operations in Uganda.
DATA PROTECTION AS OUR RELEVANT AREA OF SPECIALISATION
Our data protection team includes specialists in technology, media and telecommunications, employment and benefits and governance, compliance and investigations. Our clients include international financial institutions and banks, telecommunications companies and equipment manufacturers, mining companies, pharmaceutical companies, and retailers.
SIGNATURE DATA PROTECTION ADVISORY TRANSACTIONS
- Retained by Google (Uganda) Limited, Google Inc, C- Squared Limited to advise on a varied range of matters including data protection and privacy, regulatory approvals and filings, transactional matters and general business law.
- Rendered data breach notification advice to Save the Children International.
- Rendered data breach notification advice to a world leading airline company after breach of passenger’s data.
- Developed a Data Protection and Privacy tool kit for Financial Technology Services Providers Association (FITSPA), an independent, non-profit, membership-based association representing Uganda’s local and global Fintech community.
- Retained by leading international social media platforms to advise on data protection and privacy, regulatory matters, online defamation and legal compliance including take down orders from the regulator.
- Advised Citibank Uganda Limited on the implementation of the Data Privacy and Protection Act, 2019.
- Advised several international organisations with operations in Uganda such as the United States Agency for International Development on the implementation of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019.
- Company secretary to Uber Technologies Systems Uganda Limited whom we have advised on several matters including data privacy.
- Advised a leading on-line video sharing platform on intellectual property matters in Uganda.
- Our David Mpanga is retained as director on the boards of C- Squared Limited and C- Squared (Uganda) Holdings Limited.
- We have and continue to maintain good relations with the Uganda Communications Commission and the National Information Technology Authority and the Personal Data Protection Office which are enforcers of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019.
- Mastercard on product review; advised on privacy, consumer protection and cyber security in a product offering.
- Branch International Limited on the impact of the newly enacted Data Protection Act 2019 on Branch’s digital lending business.
- CupClub Limited (a reusable packaging service offering) on service arrangements with customers and product developers on service arrangements with customers and product developers.
High-profile law firm respected for its prowess in transactions related to the telecommunications sector. Well regarded for its track record of advising clients on the implementation and modernisation of telecoms infrastructure, such as fibre-optic networks, peer-to-peer lending platforms, technology licensing and the due diligence associated with acquisitions. Possesses noteworthy expertise advising on the regulatory aspects of contentious and non-contentious mandates. Highlighted for its familiarity with a broad range of regulations in the broadcasting sector. Notably active on matters involving the national regulatory bodies, offering support on contentious mandates including complaints, public hearings and litigation. Has experience acting for an array of both public and private clients, with an increasingly active practice acting for over-the-top service providers.
Chambers and Partners, 2022
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