Francis Gimara
HEAD OF ALP EAST AFRICA
Francis Gimara
HEAD OF ALP EAST AFRICA
Fgimara@alp-ea.com
Professional Qualifications and Memberships
- Master of Laws (LLM), University of Cambridge.
- Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Business Administration, Edinburgh Business School (Herriot Watt University)
- Diploma in Legal Practice (Dip LP), Law Development Centre
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (Hons), Makerere University.
- Member, International Bar Association (IBA)
- Member, Uganda Law Society
- Member, East African Law Society
- Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CAirb)
- Member, Pan-African Lawyers Union
Profile Summary
Francis Gimara is a well-respected attorney with cross-cutting experience in areas of Regional Integration Law (acting as pioneer of the field in East Africa), Corporate Governance Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution (Mediation and Arbitration), Banking and Finance Law, International Trade Law, Insolvency Practice, and Procurement and Disposal of Assets Law.
He served as President of the Uganda Law Society (2016-17) and was awarded the distinguished honour of Senior Counsel by the Law Society and then Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Bart Katureebe in recognition of his contribution to the development of the legal profession. He is also the Current Chairperson of the PPDA Appeals Tribunal of the Republic of Uganda.
Francis Gimara was ranked and recognised by Chambers Global 2022 as “a well-established reputation in the country for his arbitration counsel work, as well as his advice on business integration”
Top Matters
- Francis Gimara has provided legal and consultancy services in the areas of trade and integration law to several organizations like:
– USAID East African Trade Investment Hub Trade Integration Project for Uganda and Tanzania
– World Bank/IFC – Common Market Scorecard
– Legal Advocacy initiatives for East African Centre for Trade Policy and Law including advisory and legal representation on their case before the East African Court of Justice
– East African Law Society in their advocacy and legal initiatives
– Legal advisory services to the Government of South Sudan on EAC matters
– Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) training of Judges from East Africa on EAC law. - He has been Lead Counsel on key disputes before the EACJ that have set precedent for regional integration law and Overseen the provision of strategic advisory legal services to private actors involved in cross-border trade, Uganda Manufacturers’ Association, and the Uganda Grain Council.
- Provided legal advisory services to several financial institutions like Stanbic Bank Ltd, Housing Finance Bank, DFCU Bank Ltd, Centenary Bank, Orient Bank, Post Bank Ltd, and CBA Bank.
- Acted as the Lead Consultant to DFCU Bank in reviewing and advising the Bank in its securities portfolio.
- Advised in the development of ICT regulation to operationalize the Uganda e-signature Act 2011 and NITA-U Acts 2009;
- Acted as the Lead Consultant for the Training project for the State University of New York Tanzania Parliament Technical Assistance project.
- Advised Broadcasting Council on the Broadcasting Policy and the Electronic Media Bill 2004;
- Advised on the Media Laws Review Project for Uganda Broadcasting Council.
- Acted as the Lead Researcher for the Private Members Bill that has led to the present Copyright and Neighboring Act;
- Lead Expert to review and critique the draft NITA-U Bill before it was draft into a final copy;
- Legal and Regulatory expert in the review and development of the Postal Policy (2007);
- Legal and Regulatory Expert in the development of the Uganda e- Government Strategy Framework (2007);
- Legal and Regulatory Expert in the review and development of the Uganda Judiciary ICT Strategy 2009-2013;
Publications
- Chambers Global Practice Guide, ‘International Arbitration’ 2019, Francis Gimara and Lastone Gulume (Contributors – Law and Practice – Uganda Chapter), https://practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/international-arbitration-2019/uganda.
- Chambers Global Practice Guide, ‘Alternative Energy and Power Trends and Developments’ 2019, Francis Gimara and Harold Roger Obiga, (Contributors – Trends and Developments), https://practiceguides.chambers.com/practice guides/alternative-energy-power-2019/uganda/trends-and-developments.
- Chambers Global Practice Guide, ‘Insolvency’ 2018, Francis Gimara and Sylvester Henry Wambuga (Contributors – Law and Practice – Uganda Chapter).