Agness Ziba
Associate
Agness Ziba is an Associate at Ritz Attorneys at Law, recognized for her legal expertise and strategic insight. She holds a First Class Honours Bachelor of Laws from the University of Lay Adventist of Kigali, reflecting her exceptional academic achievement and dedication to the field.
Agness joined Ritz Attorneys at Law in 2022 as an Intern, swiftly demonstrating her prowess and commitment, which led to her promotion to Associate in 2024. Her practice focuses on Banking and Finance Law, Environmental and Social Governance (ESG), Commercial Law, and International Trade Law—areas in which she has made significant contributions and achieved notable successes.
Among her key responsibilities, Agness manages critical accounts such as the ETG Group, where she has played a central role in complex and high-stakes legal matters. Her experience includes defending Illovo against flooding claims in Chikwawa and representing cattle feedlot and Agricane in various legal challenges. Her strategic acumen was pivotal in securing Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) approval for a landmark transaction enabling ETG and JTI to engage in foreign currency transactions, demonstrating her proficiency in navigating regulatory landscapes.
Agness’s legal expertise is further evidenced by her role in advising the ETG Group and Standard Chartered Bank on Security Agreements related to a significant facility agreement. She expertly facilitated the conversion of import payables into equity and guided the ETG Group through the intricate process of converting USD 600K in management fees and USD 1.8 million in payables into equity. Her contributions were crucial in obtaining RBM approval for these complex financial arrangements.
Her strategic insights were also instrumental in the Enforceability Opinion provided on behalf of Malawi Guarantors for the Ninth Amendment of a Facility Agreement involving ETG and ETC groups as Guarantors and Standard Chartered Bank as the Security Agent. This demonstrates her ability to handle sophisticated legal issues and provide critical support in high-value transactions.
In addition to her legal practice, Agness holds a certification in Basics of Corporate Management, which complements her legal expertise with a robust understanding of corporate strategy and management. She is also an active member of several professional organizations, where she contributes to discussions on legal reforms and industry best practices.
Agness is known for her commitment to pro bono work, offering legal services to underrepresented communities and contributing to initiatives aimed at improving access to justice. Her dedication to continuous learning and professional development ensures that she remains at the forefront of evolving legal trends and practices.