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Key contacts
Managing Partner, Zambia: Mabvuto Sakala
Quick facts
Number of countries

6

Number of offices

9

Network memberships

Lex Mundi

Alliance firm

Aman & Partners LLP (Ethiopia), Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie (Nigeria)

Best friend relationships

Across Africa

Key practice areas
Financial and corporate
Project development
Project development
Firm overview

The members of Bowmans’ Zambian practice have been involved in precedent-setting domestic cases and pioneering cross-border transactions for more than 25 years.

Its specialist lawyers provide a comprehensive legal service extending from banking and finance law to corporate advisory work, and litigation and dispute resolution.

Their expertise ranges from corporate, financial, tax and competition law (including mergers and acquisitions, capital market transactions, syndicated lending, corporate financing, project financing, export credit financing and debt restructuring) to litigation, alternative dispute resolution and employment law.

Clients include leading banks and financial institutions, securities firms, insurance companies, investment funds, state-owned enterprises, and companies in the mining, telecommunications and energy sectors.

Click here for more about Bowmans.

Awards
  • IFLR Africa Awards, 2021: National Law Firm of the Year, Zambia
Client feedback

"Understood the transaction fully and guided on both local and international law."

"Technical competence, patience, listening, communication, meeting of deadlines."

Sector expertise

The firm has specialist expertise in a range of sectors. Click here for further detail.

Other offices
Address:
3rd Floor Evexia Commercial Building
Plot Number 1014, Church Road
Lusaka
Tel:+260 211 356638 Fax:---------------------- Email:Contact Us Web Address:https://bowmanslaw.com/our-african-footprint/?data-tab=6
Rankings published in 2026
Financial and corporate
Tier 2
13 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

AB & David
2 practice areas
View profile
ALN Zambia | Musa Dudhia & Co
4 practice areas
View profile
Chibesakunda & Co
3 practice areas
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Corpus Legal Practitioners
5 practice areas
View full profile
Mulenga Mundashi Legal Practitioners
3 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 2

Bowmans
3 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 3

Abigail & Chama Advocates
4 practice areas
View profile
Christopher Russell Cook & Co
3 practice areas
View profile
Eric Silwamba, Jalasi & Linyama
2 practice areas
View profile
MAY and Company
3 practice areas
View full profile
MOIRA Legal Practitioners
4 practice areas
View profile

Notable

Equitas Legal Practitioners
3 practice areas
View profile
Mwenye & Mwitwa
1 practice area
View profile
Project development
Tier 2
11 firms ranked
View full list

Tier 1

AB & David
2 practice areas
View profile
ALN Zambia | Musa Dudhia & Co
4 practice areas
View profile
Chibesakunda & Co
3 practice areas
View profile
Corpus Legal Practitioners
5 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 2

Bowmans
3 practice areas
View full profile
Mulenga Mundashi Legal Practitioners
3 practice areas
View full profile

Tier 3

Abigail & Chama Advocates
4 practice areas
View profile
Christopher Russell Cook & Co
3 practice areas
View profile
MAY and Company
3 practice areas
View full profile
MOIRA Legal Practitioners
4 practice areas
View profile

Notable

Equitas Legal Practitioners
3 practice areas
View profile
Linked Reviews
Financial and corporate

Bowmans is a full-service firm with offices across six African jurisdictions, including Mauritius, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda locations. The firm’s Zambian operations are based in the capital city of Lusakaand it boasts strategic partnerships with alliance firms in Ethiopia and Nigeria. 

 

The firm is noted for its financing work, and is also active in capital markets, M&A, restructuring and project development. In the finance space, the firm largely represents banks as lenders in complex refinancing proceedingsThe firm’s capital markets involvement includes equity side counsel on IPO’s as well as activity in the derivatives space. In the M&A practice, the firm is active principally in joint ventures and in representing sellers in divestments, as well as attending to a range of other deal types. The firm’s restructuring work largely involves shareholders of major international corporations. In project development, the firm sees to numerous deals involving the agriculture and energy sectors.  

 

Highlights  

Bowmans Zambia advised Nampak, a diversified packaging manufacturer, on the successful disposal of its liquid cartons business, plastic drums business, and liquid business. Acting as local counsel, the team advised on the Zambian aspects of the transaction, with a specific focus on the transaction documents and tax implications of the disposal of the shares in Zambia. The transaction was completed in September 2024 and led by partner Bwalya Chilufya-Musonda.  

The firm also advised Stanbic Bank Zambia Limited as lead counsel in a $71.5 million financing to Kariba North Bank Extension Power Corporation (KNBEPC) for the development of the 100MW Chisamba Solar PV Project. Led by partner Joshua Mwamulima, the team conducted due diligence on KNBEPC and its related entities; drafted and negotiated the financing agreements and security documents; and advised on possible regulatory approvals required for closing. The transaction closed in May 2025.  

 

Key Clients  

Stanbic Bank Zambia Limited; Mitsui O.S.K Lines Ltd.; Absa Bank Zambia; First National Bank Zambia; Pepkor Holdings Limited; The Standard Bank; Garneton South Solar Limited; First Quantum Minerals Limited; Axian Energy Limited 

 

Testimonials 2024/2025  

We appreciate the expertise of the team and their awareness of the regulatory framework.” (Project Development)  

“We appreciate their technical capacity, their understanding of the needs of the lenders, and their flexibility in working.” (Project Finance) 

Bwalya Chilufya Musonda is an expert in the energy field and such a pleasure to work with.” (Project Finance) 

Joshua Mwamulima is responsive, very knowledgeable and very pleasant to work with.” (Project Development) 

Joshua Mwamulima is accessible and helpful. He has relevant technical capacity and skills.” (Project Finance) 

 

 

Testimonials 2022/2023 

"Understood the transaction fully and guided on both local and international law." (Financial Restructuring)

Bwalya Chilufya-Musonda 

"Technical competence, patience, listening, communication, meeting of deadlines." 

1 results1 results
Deal Highlights
3 results3 results
Deal Name Deal Date Firm Name Jurisdiction Deal Type Lawyer Names Client Names Client Role
MTN Group - Restructuring
2021-02-25
Bowmans
Zambia
Restructuring
Bwalya Chilufya - Musonda
MTN Group
Shareholder
Zambezi River Authority - Project development
2021-02-25
Bowmans
Zambia
Project development
Bwalya Chilufya - Musonda
Zambezi River Authority
Project developer
Export Development Canada - Financing
2021-02-25
Bowmans
Zambia
Financing
Bwalya Chilufya-Musonda
Export Development Canada
Lender
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Sponsored

Sponsored

  • IFLR1000
    Sponsored by Bowmans
    Pre-eminent African law firm Bowmans has once again been recognised as a leading legal advisor on complex, cross-border M&A and private equity transactions in East Africa. The firm topped the DealMakers East Africa legal advisor league table by deal flow and placed second by deal value in the M&A Category; placed second by both transaction flow and value in the General Corporate Finance Category; and was recognised for advising on the deal named Ansarada Private Equity Deal of the Year (East Africa).
  • IFLR1000
    Sponsored by Bowmans
    Pre-eminent African law firm Bowmans has announced that Hugo Meyer van den Berg has joined the firm as a partner in its Windhoek office. The appointment comes at a critical time in the development of Bowmans Namibia. Having been established when Bowmans and Koep & Partners joined forces almost three years ago, the practice has shown good growth and is now ready to expand.
  • IFLR1000
    Sponsored by Bowmans
    Johannesburg, - Pre-eminent African law firm Bowmans walked away with the top honours at the IFLR Africa Awards held in Cape Town last night (17 March 2026). In addition to winning the prestigious African Firm of the Year Award, Bowmans was named South African Law Firm of the Year and received the Team of the Year Award for M&A: Regional as well as four Deal of the Year awards. In addition, the firm’s chairman and senior partner Ezra Davids received the prestigious Lawyer of the Year: South Africa accolade.