Bowmans (Law Firm)’s Post

NEWSFLASH | The challenge of combating #counterfeitgoods remains prevalent in several African countries, and affects various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, ICT, agriculture, logistics, chemicals and automotives to fast-moving consumer goods. #Counterfeiting not only poses risks to consumer health and safety but also undermines legitimate businesses and stifles innovation. In response to this, Kenya has established a robust #legalframework aimed at protecting #IntellectualPropertyRights and curbing the proliferation of counterfeit products in the Kenyan market. Our head of #IP and #Technology, John Syekei, partner, Daniel Mwathe, and associate, Richard Odongo, provide an overview of the key laws, regulations, and #compliance requirements that businesses must adhere to in order to protect their #IntellectualProperty here: https://lnkd.in/dMRk-QDT

WATCH | As we reflect on and celebrate the 25th anniversary of South Africa's #CompetitionLaw framework, we are proud to played a part in some of the seminal events that have shaped competition law in the country in the last 25 years. These include our co-head of Competition, Derek Lotter's involvement in one of the first contested proceedings before the Competition Tribunal in the late 90s. In the final part of our video series created to mark a quarter-century of #CompetitionEnforcement in South Africa (available here: https://lnkd.in/dpHXMp5u), Derek notes that it has been incredible to see how things have progressed over time: 'Many competition regulators around the world are grappling with issues around where the boundary sits between competition enforcement and where the public interest starts, and our authorities have broken ground in that regard.' Watch here: https://lnkd.in/dFGeQcCH This video series is a prelude to our panel discussion and cocktail function in celebration of 25 years of competition law where we will be joined by competition law experts, including judges, competition regulators and economists. We will be delving into the critical and defining events for competition law over the last 25 years and discussing the future of competition law enforcement on the African continent. When: Today - 19 September 2024, 16:00 SAST Where: Bowmans Cape Town office More on our panel discussion here: https://lnkd.in/di82vAYa We look forward to seeing you later!

INSIGHTS | Our recently published Employment Impacts of Business Transfers Guide is a compilation of how various African countries regulate the impact of #BusinessTransfers on employment. It covers 16 African jurisdictions and provides an overview of the #EmploymentLaw consequences of business transfers in each of these jurisdictions courtesy of the #legalexperts we work with from other law firms. These jurisdictions include Ghana (input provided by Gwendy Bannerman and Lilian Sakyi from n. dowuona & company), Mozambique (input provided by António Veloso Idérito Ngulela from Pimenta e Associados - Sociedade de Advogados), Nigeria (input provided by Jumoke Lambo and Victoria Agomuo from our alliance firm: Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie), Senegal (input provided by Océane Paprocki, Nuno Gouveia and Silvia Mota Carvalho of the Miranda Alliance) and Uganda (Brian Kalule and Brian Manyire from AF Mpanga Advocates). The complete guide is available here: https://lnkd.in/dJp2jw7g

WATCH | We are just one day away from our celebratory event marking a quarter-century of #CompetitionEnforcement in South Africa - to be held tomorrow (10 September 2024) at our Cape Town office. More information on the event and our impressive line-up of speakers - who will be delving into the critical and defining events for #CompetitionLaw over the last 25 years and discussing the future of competition law enforcement on the African continent - is available here: https://lnkd.in/di82vAYa In addition to our cocktail function, we have also created a video series to mark this occasion which is available here: https://lnkd.in/dSrFsc4X In the sixth part of our series - #CompetitionLaw partner, Judd Lurie, discusses how #MarketInquiries have become a key tool for intervention by The Competition Commission South Africa in a broad range of sectors. He notes that 'We have seen market inquiries by the Commission into the online intermediation platform sector, digital news media, and fresh produce. Based on our experience, the process can be extensive and invasive.' Watch the complete video here: https://lnkd.in/dnb29WvP

NEWSFLASH | The #retailsector's need for fresh #capital, #restructuring and strategic realignment is a good fit with the capabilities on offer from certain #PrivateEquityFunds. Some potential areas of focus for #PrivateEquityFirms when assisting #distressedcompanies in African #retail include leveraging their expertise in operational efficiency to streamline the distressed retailer. Investors willing to take on the risk of purchasing distressed assets through #businessrescue could see significant returns, and breathe new life into the distressed retail sector in the process. Our Kenya Managing partner, Paras Shah, #PE and #FundFormation partner, Jutami Augustyn, and #BusinessRescue, #Restructuring and #Insolvency partner, Tobie Jordaan, provide more detail here: https://lnkd.in/d4WF9ctw

EVENT | #DigitalConfidence is an important part of ensuring efficient and effective delivery of #legalservices. Which is why we are hosting our clients at the 2024 edition of our BowLab TechFest: an exclusive opportunity for them to explore key #legaltech solutions and upskill at a time where - although technology will not replace lawyers - lawyers that use technology will replace those who do not. Our keynote speaker, Theo Watson, a commercial attorney at Microsoft South Africa, will kick off the 2-day festivities with a presentation titled 'The Art of the Possible in the Age' - with a panel discussion on 'What is Top of Mind? Quick Wins, Tech Risk vs Reward and Upskilling Legal Teams' wrapping up the final day. When: 18 and 19 September 2024, 09:00 SAST Where: online We look forward to seeing you there.

INSIGHTS | Various African countries regulate the impact of #BusinessTransfers on employment differently. Our Employment Impacts of Business Transfers Guide - which we prepared with input from other law firms across the continent - provides an overview of the #EmploymentLaw consequences of business transfers in numerous African jurisdictions. These include Angola (compiled by Adail Cardoso and Elieser Corte Real of Fatima Freitas & Associados, Sociedade de Advogados, RL), Botswana (compiled by Jeffrey Bookbinder and Tefo Bonifayce Gaongalelwe of Bookbinder Business Law), Cameroon (compiled by Nuno Gouveia and Silvia Mota Carvalho of the Miranda Alliance), Ethiopia (Ermias Ayalew Chernet and Deborah Haddis Berhanu from our alliance firm Aman & Partners LLP) and Gabon (Archa Dutta ép. Bekale, Nuno Gouveia and Silvia Mota Carvalho of the Miranda Alliance). The complete guide is available here: https://lnkd.in/dJp2jw7g

WATCH | South Africa marks a significant milestone this year with the 25th anniversary of its #CompetitionLaw framework. To celebrate a quarter-century of #CompetitionEnforcement in the country, we have created a video series (available here: https://lnkd.in/dnExwWBA) as a prelude to the panel discussion and cocktail function we will be hosting at our Cape Town office in just two days (Thursday, 19 September 2024) in honour of this milestone. In the fifth part of our series - #Competition partner, Richard Bhagwan-Bryce, discusses the complexities of #InterimRelief. He discusses how there have been approximately 50 interim relief applications brought to the Competition Tribunal, with the majority having been dismissed. He adds 'The competition authorities have also done excellent work in helping to clarify certain key aspects of section 49 of the Competition Act, being the relevant provision that regulates interim relief applications in South Africa.' Watch the complete video here: https://lnkd.in/dspMt6nC

EVENT | It has been proven that a demonstrated commitment to #DiversityandInclusion efforts is a key contributor to the success of any organisation. It is with this in mind that the International Bar Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee will be hosting a panel of speakers from the legal industry who will share best practice recommendations on implementing D&I policies and integrating these into #OperationalCulture. This panel - which our head of Competition | Kenya, Joyce Karanja, will form part of - will offer practical guidance on managing difficult scenarios and also provide first-hand experiences of implementing the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) toolkit for Law Firms, which was launched at #IBAParis in 2023. On our #OrganisationalCulture, Joyce Karanja says, 'At Bowmans, we believe that diversity is about people, about the spectrum of differences and similarities of the human experience. These differences whether in race, gender, tribe, nationality, physical ability, background, experience, and way of thinking etc. add to our uniqueness and our individual ability to add value and contribute to the success of the Firm.' When: 17 September 2024, 11:15-12:30 CST Where: #IBAMexicoCity Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/da2CuTXw