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Quick facts
Number of lawyers

23

Number of partners

5

Network memberships

LEX Africa

Languages

English

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

Corpus is a full services corporate and commercial law firm based in Lusaka, Zambia, that aims to provide legal services to the highest international standards. We offer world class legal services to local, regional and international clients, providing a crucial legal link to the growing Zambian market based on our understanding of the law, business and industry in Zambia and the region.

Our aim is to assist our clients in achieving their objectives as smoothly and efficiently as possible while minimising the legal and regulatory risks. While reliable technical legal advice is always very important, the ability to deliver that advice in a coherent and relevant way, combined with transaction management, structuring, negotiating, and drafting skills, are essential to the supply of high-quality legal services. Corpus delivers those services to the highest international standards.

We act for corporations, NGOs, financial institutions, trusts and state-owned enterprises in providing clear, relevant and timely legal advice in order to assist clients in achieving their objectives and managing their legal risks. Corpus’ core competences lie in the expertise offered through our four operating practices, namely:

Corporate Advisory Corporate; Commercial; Agribusiness; Restructuring & Insolvency; Tax; Employment & Benefits; Public Procurement & Outsourcing; Trusts & Charities; Banking & Finance Capital Markets; Banking; M&A; Private Equity; Financial Regulation; Insurance; Pensions, Dispute Resolution & Public Policy Litigation; Arbitration; Competition; Telecommunications, Media & Technology; Public Law; Franchising & Distribution, Energy, Resources & Infrastructure; Mining & Metals; Oil & Gas; Power; Natural Resources; Environment & Climate Change; Transport & Logistics; Intellectual Property; Infrastructure; Real Estate; Hotels & Leisure,

Our Mission
Our goal is to be the market leader in the provision of legal services to corporate clients with business interests in the region by offering a professional, client-centred quality service with passion and integrity. Our strong team of transactional and litigation lawyers with extensive experience handling significant complex matters sets us apart as the go-to firm in the market and earns us our reputation as the go-to firm for innovative and first-of-a-kind work.

Our Business Approach
Our business strategy is underpinned by our aspiration to be the region’s premier law practice. We aim to achieve this by applying a client centric approach and offering innovative and practical solutions. We believe good service delivery is not only about applying the law but understanding our clients’ needs and business goals. We recognize the value of knowing our client’s business and, therefore, we invest in learning about our client’s business, the industry in which the business operates, how the business fits in the marketplace and the challenges faced. This knowledge equips us with the ability to anticipate potential legal and regulatory risks and offer practical advice tied to the realities of our client’s business.

The calibre, deep industry knowledge and reputation of our people also enables us to add real value and create opportunities for our clients by making connections between them and our extensive network of contacts and experts. We believe good service delivery is not only about applying the law but understanding our clients’ needs and business goals.

Primary contact(s) at firm
  • Charles Mkokweza | Senior Partner | Energy, Resources & Infrastructure
    Corpus Legal Practitioners
    Tel: +2602 11 372300 / 01 / 04
    E-mail: CMkokweza@corpus.co.zm

 

  • Jackie Cornhill Jhala | Partner | Corporate Advisory Department
    Corpus Legal Practitioners
    Tel: +2602 11 372300 / 01 / 04
    E-mail: JJhala@corpus.co.zm
Key transactional practices
  • Banking
  • Capital markets: Equity
  • Capital markets: Debt
  • Competition
  • Financial restructuring
  • Financial services regulatory
  • M&A
  • PPP/PFI
  • Private equity
  • Private equity funds
  • Project development
  • Project finance
  • Real estate finance
  • Real estate funds
  • Restructuring and insolvency
Key practice contacts and recent transactional highlights

Jacqueline Jhala
jjhala@corpus.co.zm

This instruction was part of a larger transaction in which Bimeda Holdings Limited, a company based in Ireland, is looking to acquire Afrivet Business Management (Pty) Limited. Afrivet Business Management (Pty) Limited has a number of subsidiaries, including Afrivet Zambia Limited.

Corpus was required to conduct a due diligence on Afrivet Zambia Limited and advise Bimeda Holdings Limited on the Zambian law aspects with respect to the acquisition of Afrivet Business Management (Pty) Limited. Corpus was required to review various corporate documents, material contracts, intellectual property licences, employment contracts and agreements, data protection and privacy policies, and insurance agreements, amongst other documents.

As part of the scope of work, Corpus was equally required to advise on the competition law aspects of the transaction and assist the client in identifying whether notification to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission would be required.

Sector expertise
  • Accounting
  • Agriculture
  • Automotive
  • Aviation
  • Banking
  • Construction and materials
  • Consumer goods and services
  • Energy
  • Fisheries and aquaculture
  • Food and beverage
  • Forestry
  • Gaming
  • Government and public policy
  • Healthcare
  • Industrials
  • Insurance
  • Investment management
  • Media
  • Mining
  • Natural resources
  • Oil and gas
  • Pharm and life sciences
  • Real estate
  • Shipping
  • Social infrastructure
  • Tech and telecoms
  • Tourism
  • Transport
  • Utilities
Other offices

Corpus Legal Practitioners
Tel: +2602 11 372300 / 01 / 04 | +260 966 861462 |
Piziya Office Park, Stand No. 2374,
Thabo Mbeki Road
Lusaka, Zambia.
P. O. Box 32115
E-mail: corpus@corpus.co.zm

Address:
Piziya Office Park, Stand No. 2374
Thabo Mbeki Road
Lusaka, 10101
P. O. Box 32115
Tel:+260211372300 Email:Contact Us Web Address:https://www.corpus.co.zm
Rankings published in 2026
Financial and corporate
Tier 1
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
View profile
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 1
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

Corpus Legal Practitioners is a corporate and commercial law firm. It has been serving clients in Zambia and across Africa for over 25 years. The firm is also a member of LexAfrica. The firm is experienced in project development, project finance and M&A. 

 

Highlights  

Corpous Legal Partners represented Atlas Farming Limited in the sale and purchase of the assets of the Mkushi Estate from Agrivision Zambia Limited. Acting as lead counsel for the purchaser, the team was responsible for reviewing the offer letter and assisting the client in securing the deal; reviewing the sale and purchase agreement and facilitating their execution; assisting the parties with the conclusion of the conditions precedent; and facilitating the close of the transaction and post-closing conditions. The transaction is currently ongoing and led by partner Jacqueline Cornhill Jhala.  

The firm also local counsel on a transaction in involving a Metal Purchase and Sale Agreement between Moxico Resources B.V and Pegasus Royalties Limited, a subsidiary of Ecora Resources plc. The deal involved a US$ 50,000,000 prepayment facility to Moxico Resources B.V for purposes of financing the corporate and working capital needs of the Seller and its subsidiaries in Zambia. The team, led by Charles Mkokweza and Lupiya Simusokwe, conducted due diligence on Moxico Resources and its Zambian subsidiaries, reviewed the metal purchase and sale agreement, drafted and registered the security documents, and provided legal opinion on matters of Zambian law. The transaction closed in February 2025.  

Martha Siwale-Mwala and Mutinta Zulu were promoted to partner in January 2025. Partner Namakuzu Shandavu left the Energy, Resources, and Infrastructure team in April 2024 to move to LCK Chambers.  

 

Key Clients  

Brookfield Asset Management; British International Investment Plc; Ecora Resources Plc; Anglo American PLC; Agrivision Zambia Limited; Lumwana Mining Company Limited; Globeleq Africa Investments Limited; First Quantum Minerals; Rio Tinto; Blackthorn Resources 

6 results6 results
Deal Highlights
28 results28 results
Deal Name Deal Date Firm Name Jurisdiction Deal Type Lawyer Names Client Names Client Role
UK Export Finance - Project finance
2020-01-01
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
Project finance
Lupiya Simusokwe
UK Export Finance
Export credit agency
ABSA Bank Zambia - Project finance
2021-01-06
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
Project finance
Lupiya Simusokwe
ABSA Bank Zambia
Lender
Apollo Farms - Real estate acquisition
2022-02-24
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
Real estate acquisition
Namakuzu Shandavu
Apollo Farms
Seller
Capital Drilling Zambia Limited - Insolvency
2022-02-24
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
Insolvency
Jacqueline Jhala
Capital Drilling Zambia Limited
Debtor
Intesa Sanpaolo - Project finance
2022-02-24
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
Project finance
Lupiya Simusokwe
Intesa Sanpaolo
Lender
Madison Asset Management Company - Insolvency
2020-01-11
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
Insolvency
Jacqueline Jhala
Madison Asset Management Company
Debtor
Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries - Project finance
2021-01-12
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
Project finance
Lupiya Simusokwe
Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries
Lender
Olam International - M&A
2021-01-21
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
M&A
Jacqueline Jhala
Olam International
Seller
Southern BioEnergy Limited - Project development
2022-02-24
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
Project development
Namakuzu Shandavu
Southern BioEnergy Limited
Project company
Total Zambia - Real estate acquisition
2022-02-24
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
Real estate acquisition
Namakuzu Shandavu
Total Zambia
Seller
ABSA Bank Zambia - Project finance
2022-02-24
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
Project finance
Lupiya Simusokwe
ABSA Bank Zambia
Lender
Facebook UK Limited; JML International Limited - Project finance
2022-02-24
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
Project finance
Lupiya Simusokwe
Facebook UK Limited, JML International Limited
Lender
Olam International Limited - M&A
2021-01-21
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
M&A
Jacqueline Jhala
Olam International Limited
Acquirer
Glencore - M&A
2021-01-21
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
M&A
Charles Mkokweza
Glencore
Seller
Qatar Investment Authority - M&A
2021-01-09
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
M&A
Lupiya Simusokwe
Qatar Investment Authority
Acquirer
Total Zambia Limited - Real estate acquisition
2022-02-24
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
Real estate acquisition
Namakuzu Shandavu
Total Zambia Limited
Seller
Madison Asset Management Company Limited - Restructuring
2020-01-11
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
Restructuring
Jacqueline Jhala
Madison Asset Management Company Limited
Debtor
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants - Restructuring
2022-02-24
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
Restructuring
Jacqueline Jhala
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
Insolvent entity
ABSA Bank Zambia - Project finance
2021-01-05
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
Project finance
Lupiya Simusokwe
ABSA Bank Zambia
Lender
Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation - Project finance
2021-01-10
Corpus Legal Practitioners
Zambia
Project finance
Lupiya Simusokwe
Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation
Lender
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