I look back to the day I made the bold decision to setup a new law firm in the Tanzanian legal market. That was in the twilight quarter of 1999. Having had to leave a law firm I had been a founder of, the decision was indeed a bold one. I do not regret it though.
- Charles R.B Rwechungura, Managing Partner.
As CRB AFRICA LEGAL we entered the market in February 2009. We are pleased with our achievements, modest though they are. We have an ambition. Growth is the name of that ambition. Growth in terms of the number of professionals and specialization. We are driven by our mantra, “Inspired by Trust and Driven by Teamwork”.
If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. - African Proverb
CRB AFRICA LEGAL is a corporate law firm based in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. It was founded in February
2009 originally under the name of CRB ATTORNEYS which was later renamed to its current name,
CRB AFRICA LEGAL. It celebrated its eighth anniversary in February 2017 and it enjoys a place
among the top ranking reputable providers of corporate legal services in Tanzania. Witness to
this are the rankings which the firm has been scoring annually in various prestigious international
directories, key among them can be seen under awards and recognitions page.
The firm is duly registered and licenced as a partnership under the laws of Tanzania.
CRB AFRICA LEGAL has a professional indemnity cover of USD 2 million issued by a reputable
insurer in Tanzania.
FIRM OVERVIEW
PRACTICE AREASMining
CRB has a very active mining portfolio, services provided range from:
• Helping multinational mining corporate/investors to establish corporate presence in Tanzania and acquire mineral rights either
by applying for new licencing or purchasing existing licences (by direct purchase or through farm-in arrangements);
• Conducting due diligences on mineral rights (title due diligences) and giving legal opinions for intending purchasers and for
purposes of raising of funds at international offshore stock exchanges;
• Designing environmental compliance matrices for exploration and mining companies and conducting bi annual environmental
compliance audits.
• Advising mining companies in the negotiation of joint venture agreements with holders of mining rights.
• Advising mining companies on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and relationships with host communities.
PRACTICE AREASBanking & Financial Law, Debt Recovery & Insolvency
Our General banking legal services include:
• Helping multinational banks and financial institutions to establish corporate presence in Tanzania and obtain all regulatory and business licences.
• Helping multinational microfinance institutions to establish corporate presence in Tanzania and obtain all regulatory and business licences.
• Designing operational documents and instruments or customizing existing global templates to comply with Tanzanian law requirements.
• Designing template security documents for banks (mortgages, debentures, guarantees, share pledges, security sharing agreements and security agency agreements).
• Advising local and foreign banks in respect of various types of credit/lending transactions.
• Perfecting loan security documents.
• Giving pre-disbursement legal opinions.
• Advising banks on regulatory compliance requirements (designing compliance matrices).
• Assisting banks in the recovery of bad debts through managing receiverships, rescheduling of loans and court action against defaulters.
• Advising foreign banks extending loans to local banks and other borrowing entities.
PRACTICE AREASDispute Resolution, Commercial Litigation, Tax & Employment Disputes
CRB AFRICA LEGAL handles all types of commercial litigation in courts including shareholder disputes, debt
recovery, land disputes, insolvency (winding up and liquidation), employment disputes and tax disputes.
Wealth, if you use it, comes to an end; learning, if you use it, increases. - Swahili Proverb
PRACTICE AREASIncorporation of Companies, Mergers and Acquisitions
• CRB AFRICA LEGAL incorporates at least three companies a month mainly on behalf of foreign companies seeking to set
up corporate presence in Tanzania. This is mostly in the sectors of mining, banking, insurance, beverages, real estate and
agriculture.
• “Get up” services are also provided to clients to enable the newly incorporated companies to start business, such as the
processing of the relevant tax files (for Value Added Certificate and Tax Identification Number Certificate) and processing
work and residence permits.
• Acting as legal counsel to businesses intending to merge including helping them to obtain approvals from the relevant
licencing agencies and merger approval from the Fair Competition Commission (FCC).
PRACTICE AREASCapital Markets & Securities
Services offered in this field are inclusive of:
• Acting as Transaction Legal Advisers to entities seeking to list securities(bonds) and equities in the Dar es Salaam Stock
Exchange (DSE).
• Conducting legal due diligences on companies seeking to list on the Dar es salaam stock exchange as well as foreign stock
exchanges and giving legal opinions for inclusion in prospectuses and information memoranda
• Helping Lead Advisers/ Arrangers to prepare prospectuses and information memoranda
• Conversion of private limited liability companies into public limited liability companies to comply with the listing requirements.
• Advising companies in respect of rights issues of shares.
• Advising listed companies on regulatory compliance requirements.
• Designing compliance matrices for listed companies.
PRACTICE AREASReal Estate
CRB AFRICA LEGALs expertise and experience is evidenced by the following flagship projects:
• Protea Hotel Oysterbay (Mr. Charles Rwechungura advised the project promotor, Theatre Square Limited, from plot
acquisition to funds mobilization and project implementation).
• No 50 Mirambo Street (Mr. Charles Rwechungura advised the project promotor, African National Congress, from plot
acquisition to funds mobilization and project implementation).
• Sheraton Hotel, now Serena Hotel (Mr. Charles Rwechungura advised the project promotor, Tanrus Investment Limited, from
plot acquisition to funds mobilization and project implementation).
• NMB House (Mr. Charles Rwechungura advised the project promotor, Upanga Properties Limited, from plot acquisition to
funds mobilization and project implementation).
THE TEAMPartners
Charles R B RwechunguraManaging Partner
Cyril PeshaPrinciple Partner
Albert LemaJunior Partner
Mary JohnJunior Partner
THE TEAMAssociates
Jovin TibendaAssociate
Pladius MwombekiAssociate
Alice MutungiAssociate
THE TEAMLegal Officers
Brenda MremaSenior Legal Officer
Camilla YusufSenior Legal Officer
AWARDS & MEMBERSHIPSAwards Memberships
Best Corporate & Commercial Firm, Tanzaniawww.worldfinance.com/legal-awards
International Law Referalwww.irglobal.com
Charles Rwechungura Best Lawyer, Tanzaniawww.worldfinance.com/legal-awards
RECOGNITIONS
Charles Rwechungura (CRB AFRICA LEGAL)Leading Individual & Leading Firm 2017Chambers and Partnerswww.chambersandpartners.com
Chambers Global is a publication that lists and rank lawyers and law firms in over 190 countries.CRB AFRICA LEGAL is a featured firm in this publication www.chambersandpartners.com
Since 1996 Who’s Who Legal has identified the foremost legal practitioners in business law based upon comprehensive, independent research. It is impossible to buy entry into this publication. CRB AFRICA LEGAL is a featured firm in this publication www.whoswholegal.com
The International Financial Law Referal (IFLR) is the marketi-leading financial law publication for lawyers in financial institutions, corporates and private practiceCRB AFRICA LEGAL is a featured firm in this publicationwww.iflr.com
The Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research programme revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market.CRB AFRICA LEGAL is a featured firm in this publicationwww.legal500.com
It is the spirit and not the form of law that keeps justice alive. - Earl Warren
CONTACT USPlot No. 60Ursino Street, Regent Estate P.O Box 79958 Dar es SalaamTanzania
+255 222 774911 / +255 222 774941
www.crbafricalegal.com