Wanangwa Hara
Managing Partner
Wanangwa is a notary public and highly experienced in commercial law, corporate law, finance, and tax. He advises a niche client base of Malawian and international clients in commercial and corporate transactions involving commercial loan financing; syndicated financing; facility agreements; security documents; M&As; restructuring; private equity; projects; grants; P3s; construction contracts; public procurement; telecommunications; energy and mining; competition; IP; insurance; employment and regulatory services. Additionally,
Wanangwa has extensive experience in conducting legal due diligence reviews in both domestic and cross-border deals as a stand-alone legal service or as part of a multi-disciplinary diligence team in conjunction with international law firms or audit firms. Wanangwa is also highly experienced in local and international tax, tax dispute resolution with strong credentials in dealing with revenue authorities.
Experience
- Local counsel assisting DLA Piper in conducting a LDD for Carbon Streaming Corporation in its signing of a US$20 million carbon credit streaming financing and acquisition agreement with Community Carbon, established by UpEnergy Group, bringing fuel-efficient cookstoves and safe water devices to millions of households in eastern and southern Africa. Conducted legal due diligence on Up Energy’s subsidiary in Malawi amongst other subsidiaries in Africa.
- Advising an entity operating Africa’s extensive ICT data infrastructure including subsea cable connecting communication carriers in South and East Africa on refinancing, restructuring, and setting up an evergreen a security trust structure.
Advised an Energy Alliance on structuring a project grant with the Government of Malawi in respect of a USD 27.6 million project deployment
Advising a property development and investment company with a footprint in South Africa, Zambia, and the DRC in expanding to Malawi, an investment of $4 million in real property, leases, exchange control regulations, tax and other legal property related matters
Advised SFC Finance Limited on a share pledge agreement and drafting the pledge over shares for an entity in Malawi.
Advised on security instruments, registration, and costs under the Personal Property Securities Act for an entity in Europe on commodity finance facility of USD$5 million to an outfit in UAE for the inventory purchase of pulse, fertilizer and produce in Malawi.
Advised MMC on the indirect shareholder restructures at the parent company level with an indirect impact on an entity in Malawi.
Advising a technology group in financial services sector backed by British-Malawian investors on a project for establishment of a financial institution in Malawi, acquisition of an already licensed bank and $100 million investment
Advised an international entity on the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the steps Malawi will have to carry out to adopt and domesticate the FCTC. Focus on taxation of tobacco products manufactured in Malawi or imported into Malawi.
Routine advisor on referrals from an American multinational technology company focusing on search engine technology, online advertising, cloud computing, computer software on Malawi communications regulatory environment.
Advised on a multijurisdictional referral from an American multinational technology company on the regulatory framework for OTT services in Malawi.
Advised an Energy Alliance on employment, tax, immigration, procurement, and corporate perspectives on structuring local hires in Malawi, projects, and investments.
Advised a swiss entity on the regulatory framework for implementing a tax stamp and fuel marking scheme through a P3 or Public Procurement.
Advised Elements Global on Independent Contractor arrangements in Malawi and misclassification risks.
Advised a Norwegian renewable power producer on applicability of e-signatures and digital signatures in contracts in Malawi.
Part of the team providing local advice to a consortium of American Companies on the 50 MW Bwengu solar PV power plant in Malawi.
Advising an independent power producer company based in Kenya on the 21 Megawatts Nkhotakota Solar Power Plant.
Advising Illovo Sugar (Malawi) PLC on licensing and approvals required for Dwangwa Cogeneration project
Provided a preliminary advisory note to Elsewedy on the construction of 100 MW Solar PV Power Plant and construction of Hydro power Project in Malawi.
Advised and represented Midima Holdings Limited on a contentious matter for $905, 598. 19 in respect of a contract with EGENCO to design, build, supply, deliver diesel power generation plants in Malawi. Advised on arbitration under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.
Member of the team that provided legal advice to an Australian entity on the regulatory framework for mining licensing, Mining Development Agreements, fiscal incentives, and mining operations in Malawi in relation to the acquisition of an existing mining company.
Advised an Australian company in respect of the use of Malawi’s railway infrastructure for future transportation of minerals and recent transactions affecting Malawi’s railway system.
Advised Trademark East Africa on foreign company registration and change of name in Malawi.
Provided a legal due diligence review for a Chinese company on the acquisition of a Mining Company in Malawi with a mining license for heavy mineral sand for a period of 20 years.
Consulted on class litigation before England and Wales High Court in Josiya & 7262 others vs British American Tobacco Plc, Imperial Brands Plc & Ors [2021] EWHC 1743 where Malawian tobacco farmers, claim damages for unjust enrichment.
Advised Illovo Sugar (Malawi) Plc and Associated British Foods on the recoverability of sums of money in GBP owed under novated contracts of supply of sugar with entities domiciled in Greece through arbitration before the Refined Sugar Association in London including the registration and enforcement of awards.
Advised the Premier League on sports/media/cyber instructions related to Malawi
- Advised Aisin Corporation on a possible car navigation system in Malawi.
Team member on referrals from Trade and Development Bank in its lending activities in Malawi including:
- $10,000,000-00 export finance facility extended to a local agricultural outfit
- $1,000,000-00 4-year term loan in favor of a Development Finance Institution.
- Facilities restatement to a local tobacco export operation from US$ 80,000,000-00 to US$ 100,000,000.
Incorporated Africa Grant Advisors following a project for fund management of renewable energy project in Malawi with an Asian partner.
Advised a multinational supermarket retailer on a potential disposal of retail assets to a mauritian entity.
Reviewed, drafted, and advised on construction and financing contracts to the value of $6 million on the construction of a fertilizer loading bay/terminal in Liwonde, Malawi.
Legal advisor for various INGOs including Goal International, Accurat Norway, Let’s Build Foundation, Morehouse School of Medicine, Overland Mission etc. on formation of companies, deregistration, corporate secretarial work, reporting requirements, tax advisory, employment and the regulatory environment.
Advising Illovo Group on the formation of Thriving Community Foundation.
Advised Illovo Sugar (Malawi) Plc on registration for consulting architects, surveyors, engineers, environmentalists, or foreign construction consultants under the National Construction Industry Council Act.
Conducted a legal due diligence review for South Asia’s largest online higher edtech company in its investment or acquisition of an Indian company in the education sector with branches in Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Member of a team that provided an LDD review in partnership with an Audit firm on behalf of lenders intending to either loan money to an agricultural company or buy equity in the company.
Member on a team that provided an LDD review on behalf of a global logistics and supply chain company on the disposal of shares in a container terminal clearing company and acquisition of 100% shares in a Malawian logistics company.
Member on a team that provided a LDD review to Capital Market Company on the acquisition of shares in a Malawian entity valued at USD$3 million.
Part of the panel of legal advisors on instructions from Mybucks Banking Corporation Ltd, CDH Bank Ltd and FDH Bank Plc.
Part of the panel of legal advisors for Britam Insurance Company Ltd and Liberty Insurance Company Limited and.
Represented General Alliance Insurance Company Ltd and Prime Insurance Company Ltd in wide-range contentious insurance matters.
Advised and represented PWC on contentious claims by NBS Bank Limited in respect of disposal of a tea company.
Provided winding up regulatory advice to mpharma.
Advised a Kenyan Innovation company with a branch in Malawi on a lump sum contract project with the Public Private Partnership Commission for the Provision of Non-Consulting Services to Host Grant Manual Activities
Member on a team that advised a local financial institution on credit approval requirements on a 15-year period facility involving a public entity.