On Friday last week (12 September), stakeholders from across Zambia and from other Bowmans offices gathered to celebrate the remarkable success of Bowmans Zambia.
Registered as B&M Legal Practitioners in May 2020 amid the global uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the practice grew rapidly, offering clients deep local insight backed by the strength of a pan-African law firm.
In less than a year, Bowmans Zambia had earned recognition as National Law Firm of the Year (Zambia) from IFLR1000, validating the quality of its work and market leadership.
Co-founder of Bowmans in Kenya, Philip Coulson, said: ‘Opening a new office in the middle of a global pandemic was a bold statement of resilience and faith in Zambia’s future. In just five years, the team has not only built a thriving practice but has also positioned Zambia as a key node in Bowmans’ continental network.’
He congratulated the partners, associates, and staff who made this success possible and wished the team well, saying: ‘May this anniversary be both a celebration of how far you have come and a launchpad for even greater achievements in the years ahead.’
Bowmans Zambia started with a team of four lawyers: two partners including seasoned disputes specialist Mabvuto Sakala and corporate law expert Bwalya Chilufya-Musonda. They were supported by two senior associates.
The team focused on corporate and commercial work, project finance and general finance matters, and acted for clients in litigation, arbitration and employment disputes as well as major incidents and corporate investigations.
Mabvuto Sakala, managing partner of Bowmans Zambia said: ‘This work has allowed us to help address some of the country’s ongoing issues such as the power deficit and the call to ramp up production in the mining sector.’
Since opening its doors, the office has doubled its partnership size, broadened its service offering, and taken a leading role in regional initiatives, including establishing the Lusaka International Arbitration Centre (LIAC) and advancing diversity and inclusion in the sector by offering graduate and internship programmes.
Looking ahead, Sakala said, ‘We aim to cultivate stronger partnerships that not only enhance our collaboration but also empower us to freely explore areas where we can excel even further together.’
He thanked clients for their support saying, ‘Our success is simply a reflection of yours.’
Bowmans managing partner Alan Keep concluded, ‘We are all very proud of the success of this office. In compliance with laws in each jurisdiction, our ambition to build an African law firm to service clients across borders remains more relevant than ever. We do not intend to stand still, and we have great hopes for this region as economies grow, and Africa takes its rightful place on the global stage.’
He thanked clients for placing their trust in a fledgling operation and commended the team in Zambia for their success despite starting during such a challenging time across the world.