Osei-Ofei Legal

Managing Partner: Kwadwo Osei-Ofei

Number of partners: 2

Number of lawyers: 5

Languages: English, Setswana

Website: www.oolbw.com

Email:[email protected]

Tel: +267 3908293

Languages: English and Setswana

FIRM OVERVIEW

OOL is an independent corporate and commercial law firm, widely recognized as a leading provider of legal services in Botswana’s corporate legal sector. The firm serves a diverse clientele, primarily within the corporate sphere, including banks, private equity fund managers, retail and wholesale enterprises, and oil companies.

Originally established as Hazel Todd Attorneys in 1998, OOL is built on a strong legacy of excellence. The firm specializes in corporate and commercial transactions, banking law, competition law, corporate law, contract law, construction law, corporate recoveries, foreclosures, insolvencies and liquidations, insurance, corporate repossessions, high-value debt recoveries, property law, labour disputes, delictual claims, securitization and conveyancing, regulatory compliance, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution.

The OOL team comprises experienced litigators and commercial advisors who expertly analyse legal issues and provide tailored solutions to meet each client’s specific needs.

MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE

Corporate/Commercial Law

OOL specializes in providing corporate and commercial legal advice to a diverse range of clients. Its services encompass everything from advising on the most suitable legal structures for a client’s needs and assisting in their establishment to drafting contractual documentation and negotiating insolvencies and liquidations.

With a team of highly experienced attorneys, OOL offers deep insight into Botswana’s legal and regulatory landscape, helping clients navigate the complexities of the business environment.

The firm has extensive expertise in drafting a wide range of contracts that not only reflect clients’ business intentions but also safeguard their interests. These include management agreements, franchise agreements, and other critical business contracts.

Additionally, OOL is actively engaged in regulatory compliance, competition law, taxation, insolvency, receivership, liquidation, pension fund matters, mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, and general legal advisory services.

Litigation and ADR

OOL has built a strong reputation as a formidable and highly respected firm of litigators. Its attorneys work both individually and collaboratively to ensure clients receive efficient, practical, and results-driven legal advice.

The firm has represented clients in a broad range of disputes, including contractual and civil commercial claims, landlord-tenant disputes, enforcement of property rights, foreclosures and repossessions, enforcement of foreign judgments, labour and industrial action disputes, franchising disputes, and construction disputes.

While primarily focused on corporate and commercial law, OOL’s legal expertise also extends to family and matrimonial law, estate administration, and the drafting, management, and interpretation of wills and testamentary instruments.

As alternative dispute resolution (ADR), particularly arbitration, gains traction as a preferred method of resolving disputes, OOL brings extensive experience in this area. Its attorneys are affiliated with the Botswana Institute of Arbitrators and frequently represent clients in arbitration proceedings. In appropriate cases, they also serve as party-nominated or Botswana Institute of Arbitrators appointed arbitrators.

Employment and Labour Law Issues

OOL’s team of attorneys provides comprehensive legal counsel on all aspects of employment law. Their expertise includes vetting and drafting employment, consultancy, and secondment agreements, as well as collective labour agreements. They also advise on redundancy and retrenchment processes, draft severance agreements, and offer general guidance on employer-employee relations.

In the event of a dispute requiring legal representation before the Industrial Court, OOL’s attorneys possess the experience and expertise necessary to effectively navigate cases before Botswana’s specialized labour court.

Conveyancing and Notarial Practice

OOL has a specialized and dedicated department focused on conveyancing and notarial practice. Given the tight deadlines associated with this area of law, the department operates as a cohesive team to ensure efficient and seamless service delivery.

The team has extensive experience in handling land transfers and related contracts, sectional titles, and securitization involving both movable and immovable property.

OOL’s notaries public provide a full range of services under the Hague Convention and are highly skilled in drafting various notarial deeds, including hypothecation bonds, trusts, cessions, and documents required for international use.

Trusts, Wills and Administration of Estates

OOL has assisted numerous private clients in establishing both living and testamentary trusts, ensuring that their estates are distributed according to their wishes upon their passing. The firm’s attorneys draft the necessary testamentary instruments and related documents to provide clients with comprehensive estate planning solutions.

Beyond document preparation, the team also facilitates estate administration, ensuring that testamentary instructions are properly executed and complied with. In cases where no testamentary documents exist, OOL’s attorneys provide expert guidance and assistance in the intestate succession administration of deceased estates.