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20 Rudland Avenue Belvedere Harare Zimbabwe
Suite 21 Alpha House Harare Zimbabwe
3RD Floor Causeway Building Harare Zimbabwe
80 Central Avenue Cnr. 7th Street Harare Zimbabwe
No. 8 Robert Mugabe Road 2nd Floor, Suite 5 Kopje House Harare Zimbabwe
2nd Floor, North Wing Gethsemane Garden Centre Harare Zimbabwe
About Us
No Image AvailablePractice Area:
Corporate and Commercial Law – Employment and Labour Law – Dispute Resolution and Arbitration – Environmental Law
Work Experience :
George is the head of the Labour law, Dispute Resolution and Litigation departments. A graduate of the University of Zimbabwe, George joined the firm in 2000. He has successfully litigated in the High Court and Supreme Court of Zimbabwe on commercial matters representing some of the biggest corporations in the country. He has handled several commercial arbitrations. Over the past few years, he has among other things, handled multimillion dollar claims against commercial banks arising from expropriation of funds by the central bank, he was part of a team advising a client on acquisition of a bank, and developed model contracts for a multi‐million dollar contract farming scheme.
George has a special interest in Environmental law and he is a co‐founder of the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association [ZELA], a public interest organization promoting environmental justice in Zimbabwe. He holds a diploma in International Environmental Law from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). He has been involved in litigation over water pollution by some mining companies in Zimbabwe and resisting illegal developments over wetlands in peri‐urban Harare. He has conducted environmental compliance audits for several industrial and mining companies in the country. George sits on the board of a micro finance institution in Zimbabwe and several other non‐governmental organisations.
CABS Centre 74 Jason Moyo Avenue Harare Zimbabwe
52 Harvey Brown Avenue Milton Park Harare Zimbabwe
4TH Floor Throgmorton House Harare Zimbabwe
12 Colston Hill Monavale Harare Zimbabwe
About Us
Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans is a leading law firm in Zimbabwe and we are ranked Band 1 for general business law by Chambers Global.
The founding partner of the firm, William Erskine Gill, commenced practice in 1912 and the firm became known as Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans in October 1931. We are one of the most well established and largest legal firms in Zimbabwe, serving major international and Zimbabwean corporate clients as well as a wide range of smaller businesses and individuals.
PARTNERS
Peter is the senior partner at Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans and specialises in corporate and commercial law, with particular emphasis on issues in relation to inward investment in Zimbabwe, infrastructure development, compliance with Zimbabwe’s indigenisation legislation, debt securitization, corporate restructuring and compliance with Zimbabwe Stock Exchange requirements. He also has acted for a number of large corporates in pursuing tax appeals on their behalf.
He holds the degrees of BL and LLB (Hons) from the University of Zimbabwe, and an LLM degree in company law from the University of Birmingham.
He is recognised as a Leading Lawyer (Band 1) by Chambers Global.
He acts for a number of major national and international financial institutions, mining houses and tobacco companies, including Delta Corporation, Caledonia Mining, African Import-Export Bank, African Century, Brands Africa, Essar, Innscor, Takura Ventures, Masawara Group, Mashonaland Tobacco Company, Nampak Zimbabwe, NMB Bank, Progroup, Standard Chartered Bank. Wilmar, Tradekings, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (Africa Albida), Willowton Group.
Peter is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and has acted as an arbitrator in a number of commercial disputes, including significant arbitrations in the building sector.
Admissions
Legal Practitioner of High Court of Zimbabwe
Relevant experience
- 15MW Pungwe IPP Hydro Electric Power Project (Zimbabwe) – acting for the promotors in relation to a credit facility and related IPP 15MW hydro-electric power project in Zimbabwe.
- Border Posts Project (Zimbabwe) – advising the lenders in relation to the proposed ECIC supported project financing of the Beitbridge border post.
- Bond Issuance (Zimbabwe) – acting for Masawara Holdings in connection with its debt restructuring.
- Zimbabwe Iron & Steel Co Joint Venture (ZISCO) – acting for Essar in connection with its US$750,000,000 joint ventures with the Government of Zimbabwe in relation to the acquisition and rehabilitation of the assets of Zimbabwe Iron & Steel Company and joint iron ore mining project in Zimbabwe.
- Acting for Innscor (a ZSE listed company) in connection with the unbundling and listing of two operating divisions.
- Acting for NMB Bank in connection with a US$ 10 000 000 investment by Proparco and Africinvest.
Sue is one of the senior partners at Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans and has been a partner in the firm for over 30 years. She holds an BL and LLB (Hons) from the University of Zimbabwe and LLM from Cambridge University.
Sue has a wealth of experience relating to a wide range of transactions particularly in relation to infrastructure projects, inward investments, structuring and securitisation.
Sue is recognised as a Leading Lawyer (Band 2) by Chambers Global.
She has acted for a wide range of corporate clients including Nedbank Stanbic, Standard Bank of South Africa, Standard Chartered Bank, Zimbabwe Power Corporation (ZPC), RioZim, Murowa, MBCA, Arup, Total, CABS, Tobacco Processors, Intercontinental Leaf Tobacco, Afreximbank, Manica, Unilever, Zimasco, Payserv, Trojan Nickel, Tongaat Hulett, African Distillers.
Admissions
Legal Practitioner of High Court of Zimbabwe
Relevant experience
- 300MW Kariba South Hydro Electric Power Project (Zimbabwe) – acting for ZPC (the state electricity generating company of Zimbabwe) in connection with the high profile 300MW Kariba South Hydro Power Extension Project and transmission system upgrade with Sino-Hydro in Zimbabwe. The total project size is in excess of USD500,000,000 and funded by China Eximbank and Standard Bank. The project is supported by PPAs from NamPower and ZETDC.
- 670MW Hwange Thermal Power Project (Zimbabwe) – acting for ZPC (the state electricity generating company of Zimbabwe) as international legal counsel in connection with the high profile project financing of the 2 x 335MW Hwange Thermal Power Expansion Project and joint venture with Sinohydro. The total project size is in excess of USD2,000,000,000.
- 15MW Pungwe IPP Hydro Electric Power Project (Zimbabwe) – acting for Standard Bank of South Africa in relation to a complex ECIC backed export credit facility and related IPP 15MW hydro-electric power project in Zimbabwe.
- 22MW Waste to Energy Project (Zimbabwe) – acting for Sesani in connection with a proposed 22MW Harare waste-to-energy project with the City of Harare, Zimbabwe.
- 20MW Solar Rooftop Project (Zimbabwe) – acting for Oxygen in connection with a proposed 20MW rooftop solar power project with a major financial institution and European DFI participation.
Mordecai has been a partner at Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans since 1991 and specialises in corporate and commercial law, as well as labour law and commercial litigation. He is often called upon to act as an Arbitrator in labour and commercial disputes. Mordecai is recognised as a Leading Lawyer (Band 3) by Chambers Global.
Prior to joining Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans he had been in a partnership in the Bulawayo Law Firm, Lazarus and Sarif.
Mordecai holds BL and LLB (Hons) degrees from the University of Zimbabwe and is a member of the Law Society of Zimbabwe as well as the International Bar Association.
Mordecai also sits on the Board of various companies in Zimbabwe, both listed and unlisted and until recently sat on the Board of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
In 1995 Mordecai was fortunate to be accepted as International Counsel by a large Syracuse, New York Law Firm of Mckenzie. He spent most of his time giving advice on international investment generally and in relation to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Admissions
Legal Practitioner of the High Court of Zimbabwe
Related Services
- Representing Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe the Publishers of a local daily newspaper in an effort to get them back on the streets. After many years of trials and tribulations this was eventually achieved.
- Giving advice to Bloomberg U.K LLP on the setting up of a local representative office in Harare.
- Assisting a Dutch Bank recover from defaulting State corporations in Zimbabwe.
Kay is a partner at Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans and specialises in commercial litigation, labour law, criminal law and shop & liquor licensing. His legal career started as a legal practitioner with the firm in 1989, becoming a partner in 1995 and has served the firm in that capacity ever since.
Kay holds the degrees of BL (Hons) LLB from the University of Zimbabwe.
He also sits as an examiner in the Council for Legal Education. He is a director of a leading insurance broker and has also served on the governing board of private schools.
Admissions
Legal Practitioner of High Court of Zimbabwe
Related Services
Kay has represented corporates in employment disputes, analysing their Codes of Conduct and Collective Bargaining Agreements. He acts for a number of financial institutions, listed companies and international NGOs.
More specifically,
- Kay has represented a large corporate in taking disciplinary action against a number of managers.
- He currently represents a significant corporate player in the dispute with its employees as to working hours.
- Kay has successfully completed landmark litigation confirming the right of a client to terminate certain contracts of employment on notice.
Raymond is a partner at Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans and specialises in High Court civil litigation. He also handles a significant portfolio of labour advisory and litigation work.
His legal career started as a legal practitioner at Coghlan & Welsh in 1995. He joined Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans in January 2000 and became partner in April 2001. He has served the firm in that capacity ever since.
Raymond’s litigation practice is principally of a commercial nature. The clients in his labour portfolio include a number of Zimbabwe’s major mining houses, a major player in the petroleum sector and several in agro industry. Raymond has an interest in mining law and is expanding his involvement and knowledge in this area.
Raymond holds the degree of LLB (Hons) from the University of Zimbabwe. He is one of the panel of the Law Society Of Zimbabwe’s Advocacy Trainers. He also sits as an Ethics examiner for the Council for Legal Education and has been nominated into the Who is Who Legal Litigation.
Admissions
Legal Practitioner of High Court of Zimbabwe
Relevant experience
One of Raymond’s notable achievements was the successful handling of the Anglican Church dispute which was to be known as the “Anglican Church saga”. This led to his nomination as the Zimbabwe Human Rights Lawyer for the year 2012.
Simon is a partner at Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans and specialises in labour advisory and litigation work. He has extensive experience in labour dispute resolution, arbitration, mediation and retrenchments.
His clients include a number of Zimbabwe’s major mining houses, commercial banks and financial services institutions, hotels as well as other corporate entities.
Simon is also involved in general High Court civil litigation in respect of a number of clients.
Simon joined Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans in July 2002, soon after completing his university studies. He became Partner in October 2006 and has served the firm in that capacity ever since.
He holds an LLB (Hons) degree from the University of Zimbabwe.
Admissions
Legal Practitioner of High Court of Zimbabwe
Registered Notary Public and Conveyancer.
Relevant experience
- He has advised several mining, manufacturing and banking clients in relation to very substantial retrenchment exercises and assisted in the management of the retrenchment processes.
- He has managed on behalf of a number of clients sensitive matters involving the discipline and dismissal of senior executives.
Herbert is a partner at Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans and specialises in insurance litigation and commercial law. He joined the firm in 2004 and has been a partner since 2008.
He holds an LLB (Hons) degree from the University of Zimbabwe. He is currently studying for an LLM Commercial Law (Banking and Insurance) with the University of South Africa. Herbert was admitted as an Attorney, Notary Public and Conveyancer in 2004.
Admissions
Legal Practitioner of High Court of Zimbabwe
Related Services
Herbert has experience in both litigation and commercial law advisory work. His major clients include insurance firms and financial institutions such as African Century Leasing Limited. The work undertaken includes:
- Reviewing financial lease agreements.
- Advising on the structure of financial leases.
- Advising on debt security instruments.
- Civil litigation for debt recovery.
Herbert has also accumulated experience in the insurance law practice where he has undertaken the following work;
- Reviewing insurance contracts.
- Rendering advice in relation to insurance claims.
- Litigation on insurance claims.
Naboth is a partner at Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans and heads the conveyancing practice. He specialises in general property related matters, conveyancing, mortgage financing (commercial and residential) and commercial property finance as well as transfers, subdivisions and consolidations and general notarial work, with specific reference to Notarial Bonds, all types of leases and servitudes.
Naboth joined Gill, Godlonton & Gerran’s Conveyancing Department in 1986. He obtained his LLB degree from the University of South Africa in 2006 and was admitted as an attorney, notary public and conveyancer in 2007.
Naboth advises and assists most of the major commercial banks and building societies and some foreign financial institutions in relation to mortgage financing and general property advice.
Naboth is a member of the Conveyancing Committee of the Law Society of Zimbabwe.
Admissions
Legal Practitioner of High Court of Zimbabwe
Related Services
- Advising and supervising the registration of the property related aspects associated with a major investor in an industrial project in Zimbabwe, including advice and supervision of the registration of bond (both notarial and mortgage) over the assets of the investor.
- Advising and attending to the registration of security over mining rights.
- Due diligence relating to all immovable property owned by a major steel making company in Zimbabwe on behalf of a foreign investor.
Tapuwa is a partner at Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans and specialises in High Court and Supreme Court general civil litigation, acting for a number of major commercial entities. He joined the firm in November 2006 and became a partner in April 2013.
He holds an LLB (Hons) degree from the University of Zimbabwe.
Admissions
Legal Practitioner of High Court of Zimbabwe
Relevant experience
Tapuwa has extensive experience in the litigation field, involving property management, labour and related disputes. He also maintains a significant labour advisory portfolio.
In particular:
- Tapuwa acted for two of the largest owners of Zimbabwean commercial property in commercial disputes with their tenants.
- He dealt with a full spectrum of labour advisory and litigation matters on behalf of major clients in the fuel and manufacturing sectors.
- He handled immigration and document procurement matters on behalf of an overseas immigration consultancy.
Dudu is a partner at Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans and specialises in corporate and commercial law, with emphasis on issues in relation to inward investment in Zimbabwe. She also handles a significant portfolio of High Court commercial civil litigation, commercial law advisory work and has conducted various legal due diligence exercises on behalf of both internal and external investors.
Dudu has an interest in mining law and has been involved in several due diligence exercises for international investors looking at investing in the mining sector in Zimbabwe.
She holds the degrees of LLB and LLM from the University of Fort Hare in South Africa.
She acts for a number of major national and international financial institutions, businesses in the service sector and tobacco companies.
Dudu’s legal career stated as a programs officer at Human Rights Trust of Southern Africa. She joined Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans in January 2009 and became a partner in April 2014. She was appointed to the Management Committee as a co-Managing Partner in April 2016 and has served the firm in that capacity ever since.
Admissions
Legal Practitioner of High Court of Zimbabwe
Constance is a partner at Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans and has been with the firm since November 2012. She holds an LLB (Hons) degree from the University of Zimbabwe.
Constance’s legal career started in 2012 when she joined the firm as a professional assistant. She was admitted as an Attorney, Conveyancer and Notary Public in 2012. Constance has since the inception of her career worked extensively in the corporate and commercial law department. She has focused on investment law and has acted as a legal advisor for various local and International clients with her duties including but not limited to the conducting of legal due diligences for the purposes of inward investments, the drafting and review of the contracts as well as undertaking contract negotiations on behalf of clients
Constance further specialises in superior court litigation mostly relating to commercial transactions. She has an active litigation practice and acts for a wide range of corporates including manufacturing companies, financial institutions and mining houses.
Admissions
Legal Practitioner of High Court and Supreme Court of Zimbabwe
Related Services
- Hwange Extension (600MV Thermal) – assisting Local Counsel and providing advice on regulatory, licensing, Land Ownership and Planning requirements.
- Olivine Industries (Pvt) Ltd – appointed by an International company to conduct a legal Due Diligence on the target company for the purposes for an inward investment.
- Acting for Leading Commercial Banks in foreclosure proceedings.
- Litigation in the High Court and Supreme Court in Commercial and Construction disputes.
Brian is a partner at Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans and specialises in mining, energy, infrastructure and commercial law. He has been with the firm since April 2013.
He holds an LLB (Hons) degree from the University of Zimbabwe and Diploma in Mineral Resources Management from the Zimbabwe Institute of Management.
Brian has experience in both the public and private sector having worked as a research assistant at the Judicial Services Commission and upon qualifying as an attorney joined the corporate sector as legal officer for a leading group of companies with interests in various sectors of the economy. Immediately prior to his joining the firm Brian had been elevated to the post of head of legal and corporate affairs of the same corporate entity. On account of his industry experience, Brian brings in a wealth of experience in commercial and corporate affairs issues with an in-depth knowledge and appreciation of the expectations of our corporate and commercial clients.
Brian has acted for a wide range of corporate clients including several local banks, international and local mining houses, associations of engineers and architects and a number of listed corporate entities.
Brian is a Non-Executive Director of a brick manufacturing company listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.
Brian’s further expertise involves superior court litigation mostly relating to commercial transactions and disputes in his main practise areas and he has been lead attorney in a number of successfully litigated multi-million dollar matters.
Admissions
Legal Practitioner of High Court and Supreme Court of Zimbabwe
Related Services
- Border Posts Project (Zimbabwe) – advising a Consortium of consulting engineers and architects. US$ 50 Million dollar project
- Amalgamated Motor Corporation – Corporate restructuring and facilitating reinvestment.
- Advising on a hydro power plant proposed for Lake Mtirikwi
- Acting for Consortium of consulting engineers and architects in respect of a variety of multi-million dollar projects
- Litigation in the High Court and Supreme Court in very substantial disputes in infrastructure related matters
Faro is a partner at Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans and specialises in labour as well as commercial law. He has acted for a wide range of corporate clients, including Tobacco Processors Zimbabwe Pvt Ltd, Edgars Stores Limited, Mashonaland Tobacco Company and Bindura Nickel Corporation Limited.
Faro joined the firm as an associate in 2013 after gaining his LLB (Hons) from the University of Zimbabwe.
He was admitted as an Attorney, Conveyancer and Notary in 2013 and was a recipient of the 2013 Law Society of Zimbabwe book prize.
Admissions
Legal Practitioner of High Court of Zimbabwe
Related experience
- Faro specialises in labour law and advises clients in relation to labour laws generally, and in particular as to disciplinary matters and retrenchments. He represents clients in all relevant tribunals and courts.
- In addition, Faro has a High Court civil litigation practice, specialising in commercial disputes.
ASSOCIATES
Dorothy Pasipanodya is an associate at Gill Godlonton & Gerrans and specialises in intellectual property law and is also interested in commercial law, human rights and litigation.
Dorothy joined the firm in November 2014. Prior to joining private practice, she worked in research after gaining her LLB (Hons) from the University of Zimbabwe.
Dorothy is a qualified agent to file locally and internationally in the Zimbabwe National Intellectual Property Office (ZIPO) and regionally in the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO). She is a Board member of the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA) and she serves on the council of the Zimbabwe Institute of Patent and Trademark Agents (ZIPTA).
Dorothy is both a national and international debate, public speaking and moot court champion. She has spoken at various professional development seminars on behalf of ZIPTA as well as at Intellectual Property Outreach Programs.
Admissions
Legal Practitioner of High Court and Supreme Court of Zimbabwe
Related experience
- Dorothy’s areas of practice include searches for trademarks, the filing and processing of applications for their registration, the renewal of existing trade mark registrations (and patent registrations in Zimbabwe), the recordal of the transfer (assignment) of trademark registrations, the recordal of the appointment of registered users of trademarks, the recordal of changes of name and/or address of a trademark owner, and providing general advice relating to trademarks, primarily in Zimbabwe but also in ARIPO which covers the external countries of Botswana, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania and Uganda in addition to Zimbabwe. To a lesser extent Dorothy has had some involvement in the filing of ARIPO patent applications, industrial design applications and copyright matters.
Ruvimbo is an associate at Gill, Godlonton & Gerrans and specialises in property law and conveyancing where her assignments have included processing of property transfers and drafting of securities. Ruvimbo also practices in litigation and has a keen interest in commercial law.
Ruvimbo holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) degree from the University of Pretoria and joined the firm in 2015. She was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of Zimbabwe in 2016.
Admissions
Legal Practitioner of High Court of Zimbabwe
Relevant experience
- Drafting and registering securities;
- Property transfers;
- Rendering property related advice to various clients;
- Company secretarial services.
Areas Of Practice
Arbitration
Our arbitration department is headed by Mordecai Mahlangu with Peter Lloyd, Kay Ncube and Simon Sadomba.
We offer advice, guidance and legal services as follows:
- Recommend wording of dispute resolution clauses in arbitration agreements
- Service as arbitrators in commercial and labour disputes in which we have no interest
- Are named in divers lists of arbitrators maintained by various arbitration structures in Zimbabwe
- Advise in relation to the law and procedures of arbitration, including enforcement of international awards in Zimbabwe
Commercial and corporate
Our commercial and corporate department is headed by Peter Lloyd with Sue Brighton, Mordecai Mahlangu, Dudu Ndawana, Constance Mabhande and Brian Mataruka.
We offer advice, guidance and legal services in the following areas:
- Investment and exchange control issues generally, but with specific reference to foreign direct investment
- Legal due diligence work generally, and with reference to proposed acquisitions in particular
- Advice in relation to Zimbabwe’s indigenisation laws and policy
- Guidance in relation to the various legal regimes applicable to particular fields of business activity in Zimbabwe, with particular reference to mining, banking, insurance and manufacturing
- Zimbabwe’s competition law
- Mergers, acquisitions and restructurings
- Advice in relation to Zimbabwe’s environmental laws
- Compliance with Zimbabwe’s Companies Act and subsidiary legislation
- Compliance with the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange Listing Requirements
- Drafting of all necessary commercial contracts
Conveyancing
Our conveyancing department is headed by Naboth Matingo, who has practised in this field for over 30 years.
We handle all aspects of conveyancing work, including:
- Registration and transfers of fixed property
- Registration of mortgage bonds over fixed property
- Registration of notarial bonds over moveable property
- Advice on tax matters involved in property transfers
- Advice on security registration generally
- All legal issues pertaining to fixed properties, such as usufructs, servitudes and related real rights
- Advice on share block schemes and sectional title schemes
Criminal Law
Our criminal law department is headed by Herbert Mutasa with Brian Mataruka.
We handle criminal law issues which may be faced by our corporate clients.
Energy and Mining Law
Our energy and mining department is headed by Sue Brighton with Raymond Moyo, Peter Lloyd, Dudu Ndawana and Brian Mataruka.
We have worked on the major energy projects in Zimbabwe, both thermal and renewable.
We provide:
- Advice in respect of the legislative and regulatory requirements relating to energy and mining projects including environmental and safety issues
- Advice in respect of Zimbabwe Investment Authority applications, Special Economic Zones and immigration requirements
- Drafting of transaction documentation
- Drafting or reviewing project finance agreements
- Investment issues particularly pertinent to the mining sector
- Advice relating to and registration of security
Estate Planning, Wills and Successions
Our Estate Planning, Wills and Deceased Estates department is headed by Sue Brighton with Peter Lloyd and Mordecai Mahlangu.
We handle all aspects of:
- Estate planning with consideration to trusts, company structures, tax and estate duty
- Drafting of trusts
- Drafting of wills
- Winding up of estates.
General Civil Litigation
Our General Civil Litigation department is headed by Raymond Moyo and this department is made up of twelve legal practitioners.
We service all areas of civil dispute resolution that our corporate or private clients may need assistance with. We regularly appear in local courts as well as in arbitration tribunals. Peter Lloyd and Mordecai Mahlangu also act as party appointed arbitrators in a wide variety of commercial disputes.
We advise on:
- All manner of civil litigation arising from commercial transactions of every kind
- Debt collection work on behalf of commercial clients
- Applications for liquidation and judicial management, acting both on behalf of creditors and on behalf of the corporate entity itself
- Advice in relation to schemes of arrangement with creditors, drafting scheme documents, the necessary applications to court, and generally managing the process
- Settlement negotiations, mediations and other forms of alternative dispute resolution
Insurance Law
Our insurance law department is headed by Herbert Mutasa with Raymond Moyo, Mordecai Mahlangu, Tapuwa Pasirayi and Dudu Ndawana.
We handle all aspects of insurance law including:
- Reviewing insurance contracts
- Provision of regulatory advice
- Advising on insurance claims
- Insurance related litigation
- Advising on insurance legislation
Intellectual Property
Our intellectual property department is headed by Constance Mabhande.
Our department:
- Advises both local and international clients as to the general protection of intellectual property rights
- Collaborates with a variety of international IP practitioners in relation to the registration of IP rights regionally and internationally
- Maintains a close relationship with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) whose office is in Harare
The Intellectual Property Department comprises of the following practice areas:
Trade Marks
We deal with national, ARIPO and Madrid trade mark filings, prosecutions, oppositions, renewals and general maintenance. Included amongst our services are the following:
- Registrability and availability searches
- National and Convention Trade Mark registrations
- ARIPO (Regional) Trade Mark registrations, in terms of the Banjul Protocol on Marks to which there are currently 10 signatories, namely: Botswana, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland, Sào Tome & Prìncipe, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe
- Trade mark monitoring and Trade mark oppositions
- Civil litigation in trade mark infringement, passing off and unlawful competition
- Anti-counterfeiting litigation
- Recordal of proprietary changes including assignments
- Amendment of trade marks
- The drafting and formal recordal of franchising, licence and registered user agreements
- Renewals and restorations
- Due diligence investigations
Patents / Utility Models (Petty Patents)
We handle the filing, prosecution and maintenance of patents through the national office (ZIPO) and ARIPO. Utility models (petty patents) registrations are undertaken through the ARIPO route only. Currently there are 18 member states (including Rwanda) under ARIPO’s Harare Protocol for the protection of Patents and Designs, namely Botswana, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leon, Sào Tome & Prìncipe, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Copyright
Copyright is a growing area of concern in Zimbabwe. In respect of this practice area we offer the following services:
- Copyright law advice
- Civil and criminal litigation in respect of piracy
- Licence agreements and assignment agreements
Designs
We offer the following services both locally in Zimbabwe and regionally in respect of designs:
- National and Convention Industrial Design applications, prosecutions and renewals.
- ARIPO (Regional) Design and Utility Model applications, prosecutions and renewals.
Domain names
We undertake domain name registrations and maintenance in liaison with the Zimbabwe Internet Provider’s Association (ZISPA). Our practice in this area is still developing.
Plant Breeders’ Rights Registrations
These are procured through the Ministry of Agriculture. Our services offered include filings, prosecution and renewals.
Beverley Court 100 Nelson Mandela Avenue Harare Zimbabwe