About Me

PERSONAL DETAILS
NAME                                          Tinashe Samunderu

PROFILE:

I am a highly organised and motivated lawyer specialising in corporate and commercial law with a unique, solutions centered brand of practicing law as well as a personal touch and energy. I strive to provide comprehensive, strategic and commercially feasible advise to all my clients which mitigates risk and assist clients achieve their objectives in a value added manner.

Main areas of expertise are mergers and acquisitions, cross border transactions (particularly in Africa), corporate structure and restructure, joint ventures and special purpose investments, debt structure and restructure, conducting legal due diligences, construction contracts and dispute resolution, energy and infrastructure, and advising on regulatory compliance under various acts.

Now looking to utilise experience within a Corporate or Commercial law firm or related Advisory firm, or as an internal legal/general counsel within an organisation with exposure to stimulating work that will challenge my professional and personal competencies.

CONTACT                                   Email: [email protected]

Cell: +27 74 052 4131

RESIDES                                     South Africa, Johannesburg

EDUCATION

1. University of Johannesburg (2012)

LLB DEGREE

(Received top academic Achievers Bursary 2010 & 2011)

(Tutor and Part Time Lecturer for Introduction to Legal Studies 2012-2013)

2. Christian Brothers College (2007)
Cambridge International Examinations:

IGCSE Ordinary Level:

Distinction (“A*” Aggregate) in Business Management.

“A” in History and Geography

(Academic Colours)

Advanced Subsidiary Level:

“A” in History and English Literature

(Full Academic Colours)

GCE Advanced Level:

“A” in History and Literature

Extra Circular Activities

Academic Colours &   President of Debating Club,

PRO of Business Management

Club, Toastmasters Board

First team Tennis and Golf.

Represented school in Rugby and Athletics

PROFESSIONAL

2015

Attorney of the High Court – Eligible to be admitted as,Attorney of the High Court  of South Africa

2013-2014

Law Society of South Africa Attorneys Admission   Exams

Examinations:

Paper 1: Court Practice

Paper 2: Wills and Estates

Paper 3: Attorneys Practice

Paper 4: Bookkeeping
Electronic Experience
Advanced

Microsoft Office including (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Explorer)

Email, Social Media and Blogging (including marketing campaigns)

Intermediate

MS Excel

Graphic Design and Word Processing

Spreadsheets and Databases

IT troubleshooting

INTERESTS

Avid sports supporter and player, including Rugby Football, Cricket and Golf

Reading, Motivational Speaking and Spoken Word
Keen follower of Current Affairs and African Politics.

History and Lifestyle orientation, including travel and exploring

Outdoor activities including hiking and obstacle courses

CAREER HISTORY
Nova Africa Advisory

Senior Advisor

(Current)

In this Pan African focused role within this Advisory Firm l am responsible for structuring transactions and advising clients doing business across various Africa Markets in respect of the legal, commercial and corporate considerations relevant to contemplated commercial transactions as well as doing business in different African jurisdictions with a particular focus on Mergers and Acquisitions and Banking and Finance Transactions. Notable transactions include:

·  Advising South Africa Franchisee on USD 900 000 acquisition of various stores by investor with focus on shareholding structure, profit guarantee structure and management and employee retention.

·  Advising Serbian Based trading company in respect of renewable energy project in the Johannesburg City Centre including regulatory and environmental consents, project feasibility, company structure and procurement procedures.

·  Advising DRC based Investment Company on the formation of Investment vehicle focused on high risk projects across sub-Saharan Africa, including incorporation and structuring of a limited liability holding company (LLC) in Brussels.

· Advising South African Trust on USD 2 million dividends payments and structure.

· Advising South Africa commodity company on 1 000 000 tonne Coal export transaction including exchange controls, financial model and agreements, and customs considerations.

· Advising Pan African Industrial Solution Company on its operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe, including a USD 2 000 000 supply agreement with one of the top 5 largest mining companies in the world, including development of bespoke take or pay formula and risk management provisions.

· Advising Pan African Industrial Solution Company on an agency agreement with Australian franchise.

· Advising Angolan based advisory firm on the establishment of concept Artificial intelligence backed advisory firm in South Africa with focus on the corporate structure (shareholding and subsidiary), Intellectual Property retention, risk mitigation measure and Exchange Controls and Tax.

· Advising Nigerian based Resources company on acquisition of aircraft, including financial agreements and security agreements.

· Advising Zimbabwean based infrastructure development company doing business in Sudan, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo on corporate restructure including incorporation of subsidiary in Europe.

· Advising South Africa based mining company on supply agreement with listed Zimbabwean based mining company.

· Advising South African mineral water company on its African expansion including distribution Agreements, Trademarks and Exchange Controls.

· Drafting and development of marketing materials including Bid Documentation and Company profiles

Centurion LLP

Associate: Business Development: Sub Saharan Africa:

(November 2015 – December 2016)

Responsible for Deal/Transaction generation, structuring, and advisory across various African markets and sectors including among others, the resources, infrastructure, financial and Energy markets. Notable Transactions include:

· Advising of Pan Africa Oil Gas and Energy company on $2.2-billion solar project in Cameroon including regulatory consents, Power Purchase Agreements and relevant financial agreements and guarantees.

· Advising biggest ride sharing platform in the world on its Africa expansion and cost reduction models including partnership agreements with stakeholders.

· Advising Pan African Industrial Solution company on its operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe, including expansion of business and settlement proceedings on outstanding debts owed to clients in the amount of USD 5 000 000.

· Advising South Africa property Development Company on its 2 billion Rand multi-purpose mega project in Western Cape of South Africa, including procurement of finance partners.

· Advising South African Engineering Company on infrastructure projects in Uganda, including partnership agreements and regulatory concerns.

· Initiated and developed the Centurion Business mentorship Programme, A pan African focused business incubator programme.

· Advising South Africa EPC Energy company on building of 100MW Solar Plant in Zambia including Power Purchase Agreement.

· Advising Tanzanian Oil and Gas Company on USD 2 million bridge capital raise, including taking client on Investment Roadshow in Frankfurt with network partners for Capital Raise.

· Advising Indian Infrastructure Company on joint bid for Public Private Partnership infrastructure Project in Ghana including preparation of the joint Bid.

· Advising South African Maritime Company on USD 200 million Joint Venture Port project in Kribi Cameroon including Public Private Partnership model, regulatory concerns and financing agreements.

· Advising South Africa Mining Commodities trading Company on various Commodity transactions in Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania including all underlying purchase agreements.

· Developing the Centurion Legal Network Programme.

· Advising Pan African Non Profit Organisation (“NPO”) on its philanthropic initiative to encourage Business responsibility and corporate citizenship through peace across 54 African states.

· Drafting and development of marketing materials including Bid Documentation and Company profiles across South African, Cameroonian, and Ghanaian offices.

Webber Wentzel (Johannesburg) (February 2015 – October 2015):

Trainee Attorney/Associate

Employed as a Trainee Attorney/Associate in the Commercial Sector Group. Responsible for advising several blue chip clients on commercial and corporate transtions.

Webber Wentzel (Johannesburg):

Candidate Attorney

(2013 – 2015)

IT Electronic Business
Completed 3 rotations during the period of articles at Webber

Wentzel in the fields of IT Electronic Business Media and Telecoms, the Employment and Employee Benefits Team and the Dispute Resolution Team.
Media and Telecoms

Experience:
Exposed and involved in various aspects of the multi-media industry and communication technologies particularly in Media and Entertainment, as well as Technology and

Telecommunications including, Broadcasting Regulatory, Data

Protection and Privacy, Film Financing, Advertising and
Copyright as well as well as Restraints of Trade and Unlawful Competition.

Dispute Resolution
Experience: Involved  in both local and cross border litigation, mediation and arbitration. In particular corporate disputes including claims arising from joint venture and shareholder agreements, claims involving mining rights and related matters, commercial and construction related disputes including FIDIC, NEC, GCC, and JBCC contracts as well as mineral and petroleum law including energy and Oil and Gas Disputes as well and labour disputes, including disciplinary proceedings, review applications, employee benefits and executive dismissal and retrenchments as well as employment transfers in the context of s 197 and section 197A of the Labour Relations Act (LRA).

Mining Health and Safety
Experience: Involved in the representation of major corporate clients at inquiries convened in terms of Section 65 of the Mine Health & Safety Act and drafting of exemption applications in terms of the Mine Health & Safety Act or the Occupational Health & Safety Act and legal compliance.

Skills and Competencies: In all of the abovementioned rotations roles included, among others, drafting and review of underlying commercial agreements as well as employment contracts.

Review of underlying agreements and documentation as well as compiling and completion of Due Diligence Questionnaires, in Due Diligence Process and ancillary duties thereto.

Drafting legal argument and making oral representation around

complex commercial and labour law related matters in various forums such as courts, and alternative dispute resolution forums.

Drafting and reviewing of litigious documents, filing and service of same. Collation of evidence bundles and materials for trials.

Legal writing, interpretation of statutes and Practical application   of corporate and commercial law concepts to commercial disputes.

Briefing of Advocates in relevant matters and appointment and management of correspondent attorneys across Africa in cross boarder litigation as well as legal research and interpretation of foreign statues in cross border litigation.

Client consultation, advisory, presentations and team strategy.

Notable Transactions include:

Part of the Webber Wentzel team acting as legal advisers to Helios Investment Partners LLP in connection with the proposed acquisition by Helios Investment Partners LLP of shares of Impact Oil and Gas Limited
Involved in the restructuring of Multichoice group of companies, as well as the review of MTN tower infrastructure and related assets

Involved in acting for MTN as well as Kulula Airways before the Advertising Standards Authority in relation to complaints lodged by MTN or Kulula or received from competitors

Part of the team acting for Baker Hughes in the Construction Dispute between Baker Hughes and Varinda de Abu Bacar in Mozambique

Involved in representing various large mining houses and listed employers at various inquiries in terms of section 65 of the Mine Health & Safety Act, No. 29 of 1996 following fatalities including Rustenburg Platinum Mines Ltd.

Involved in advising Palabora Copper Pty Ltd on the application of the Mine Health and Safety Act in respect of independently owned beneficiation plants

Involved in advising Anglo American Thermal Coal on the health and safety legislation applicable to water treatment and energy plants.
University of Johannesburg Introduction to Law Tutor / Lecturer (2012)

Experience Teaching and administering of Introduction to Law module, offered by the University of Johannesburg. Course covered areas of law such as contract law, commercial law, criminal law, constitutional law, civil procedure and common law.

Skills and Competencies:  Roles included, among others, weekly consultations and lectures with students, compiling, marking and grading of student assignments, practical field trips to various courts of South Africa with students, attending career days and representing the University of Johannesburg as ambassadors for the faculty of law, therefore providing link between the University and students.

PUBLICATIONS, AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROFESSION

· Academic Publication in legal magazine “Without Prejudice”,July  2014 edition, on the topic  “Sim Swap Fraud, No Way Out?..

· Attending and administering and delivering workshops on Constitutional Law to High School learners as part of the Constitutional Court of South Africa’s Constitutional Hill Educational Programme.

· Attending and administering and delivering various workshops on various branches of law to aspiring entrepreneurs as part of the Awethu Project.  This project aims to provide support to disadvantaged entrepreneurs, through the facilitation among other, of various training course, in respect of the different branches of the law, to empower this individuals with the knowledge and relevant materials to be able to practically apply the law in their various businesses. Training is provided in areas of law such as contract law, labour law and consumer law.

· Administering and delivering lectures and workshops to Post Graduate students at the School of Construction Economics & Management at the University of Witswatersrand in South Africa, in relation to the management and resolution of disputes within the construction industry as well as drafting and management of contracts in Construction Law.

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES, AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
•       Articles registered and completed with the Law Society of the Northern Provinces of South Africa.

•       Member of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers of South Africa (2015).

•       Member of the Webber Wentzel Rugby and Cricket Team (2014 – 2015)

REFERENCES (Available on Request)

MR NJ AYUK:

CEO CENTURION LLP

[email protected]

MS KATE COLLIER
PARTNER: EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:WEBBER WENTZEL
[email protected]

FUNGAI ZINORO

MANAGING PARTNER: FZ ASSOICIATES

[email protected]