Scanlen & Holderness

Chairman & Senior Partner: Sternford Moyo

Partners: Byron Symeonoglou, George Gapu, Nellie Tiyago, Archford Rutanhira, , Evans Moyo, Rudo Magundani, Brighton Mahuni , Pretty Murove, Fidelis Manyuchi ,and Thakor Kewada

Number of partners: 12

Number of lawyers: 17

Languages: English and Shona 

Firm Overview: 

Scanlen & Holderness is a leading and premier law firm established 128 years ago. Scanlen is a full service law firm, its diverse and talented lawyers offer a full circle of legal services to domestic, regional and international clients.

Notable Transactions 

Scanlen’ s notable transactions in the last twelve months are as follows;

Mr Moyo advised leading mining companies on: 

· Investor tax exemptions on new projects.

· Requirement for payment of corporate taxation and royalties in foreign currency.

· Possible incentives including exemption from beneficiation tax when it becomes operational, retention of export proceeds in foreign currency, taxation and other benefits associated with investment licences and special economic zone licences.

· Advising on acquisition of exemptions from selling minerals to or through Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe including advice on permits for direct sales of minerals.

· Cession of about hundred claims from one mining company to another including attending to transfer of the claims.

· Negotiating and advising on a joint venture project between a Zimbabwean gold mining company and South African mining company.

· In connection with the negotiation of/and regulatory matters associated with acquisition of a large lithium mine in Mashonaland province by the largest Cobalt mine in the world.

· Funders of green field mining projects; preparation of due diligence reports and typical financial security agreements enforceable in Zimbabwe.

· A plantation agricultural and manufacturing company on taxation matters with significant financial implications.

· Restructuring an international manufacturing company with operations in six African countries.

· On the legal landscape associated with change of a large mining conglomerate’s energy requirement to shift to clean energy with particular emphasis on hydrogen ahead of the implementation of government of Zimbabwe’s energy policy and incentives for use of clean energy built into such policy.

· The setting up of a solar energy plant; negotiation and advice on all relevant independent power producer agreements and agreement with the local power utility.

· Negotiating resolution of a long standing dispute involving owners of a failed financial institution and the liquidators of such financial institution.

· A new investor from Portugal on setting up of a wind energy project for use in plantation agriculture.

· On the acquisition of a large privately owned medical company by an investor in the health sector.

· Demerger from a joint venture involving a British company with South African operations and a Zimbabwean listed company.

· Diaspora investors based in North America mobilizing resources for investment projects in Zimbabwe including advice on a green field distribution company.

· A property development company in connection with the setting up of a satellite commercial centre with high rise structures of up to ten stories.

George advised on: 

· Local and regional mergers and acquisitions, providing commercial advice on agricultural projects and deal structures.

· Commercial arbitration and litigation matters in international disputes, trade, insolvency and immunity of international organizations.

· A project to build the capacity of Government representatives in dealing with international disputes.

Nellie advised on:  

· Private and public entities on card based and cardless payment systems for the banked and unbanked.

· Public health issues ,COVID 19 treatment protocols and medicines control ( vaccinations approvals in Zimbabwe and unconventional medical interventions);

· Establishment of the first single and largest multi-disciplined Medical Practice in Zimbabwe;

· Constitutional review of the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Constitution.

Evans litigated: 

· High profile tax dispute involving millions of dollars, representing corporates in the sugar production and milling industry.

· On behalf of a broadcasting corporate on a precedent setting copyright infringement dispute.

Memory: 

· Acting as local counsel to an international law firm, advising on group restructuring and disposal of a lithium mining company in Masvingo province.

· Advised on group restructuring involving a listed international conglomerate on regulatory compliance in particular securities law and competition law.

· Litigated in high profile cases involving the protection of wetlands in Harare, which has contributed to the development of environmental litigation in Zimbabwe.

Rudo: 

· Served the national, regional and international human rights community including working with the ACP-EU, UPR, SADC and African Commission.

· Is on the list of Legal Aid Counsel for the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Scanlen and Holderness is a member of Lex Africa, the first and largest network of leading commercial lawyers and a member of Meritas, a worldwide network of leading lawyers.