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Libent Rwazo

Libent Rwazo

Legal Director, IMMMA Advocates
[email protected] | vCard
Dar es Salaam
  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Credentials

Libent Rwazo is a Director and Litigation Manager with over fourteen years of experience. He advises clients across sectors including banking and financial services, corporate and commercial enterprises, telecommunications, real estate, insurance, energy and infrastructure, manufacturing and public sector entities. He also acts for foreign investors on complex cross-border matters.

Libent has a distinguished litigation practice, handling high-stakes civil and commercial disputes, including cases on banking, commercial contracts, insurance, negligence and product liability, real estate, regulatory matters, public defamation, insolvency and recoveries, and land disputes. He has been involved in some of the most significant and precedent-setting commercial cases before Tanzania’s High Court and Court of Appeal.

Experience has included advising:

  • Puma Energy Tanzania Limited on land use conversion and title regularisation for retail service stations, including regulatory approvals, authority liaison, and enabling Tanzania’s first hybrid CNG retail station in Dar es Salaam.
  • Property developers, commercial building owners, corporate clients, and individuals in the purchase and sale of commercial, residential, and agricultural properties, including negotiation, drafting and approval of sale agreements, preparing transfer documents, obtaining approvals, registering transfers, leases, and security documents and ensuring full legal compliance.
  • Currently manages intellectual property portfolios, assists clients in combating counterfeit goods, represents clients in IP disputes, conducts trademark searches, and advises on trademark registration, renewals, and recordals of assignments or changes in name and address.
  • Acted in complex disputes, including enforcement of performance securities connected to the financing of communication towers, with client exposure exceeding USD 30 million.
  • Representing various Telecommunication Companies and Financial Institution in several matters at the High Court of Tanzania and Court of Appeal.
  • Represented the National Bank of Commerce at the High Court Commercial Division in a recovery claim against a defaulting borrower for the sum of Tshs. 30 billion.
  • Represented Acacia Mining and its subsidiaries in various claims at the High Court of Tanzania in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam, Commercial Court, Court of Appeal involving approx. USD 33.4 Million.
  • Managed a complex dispute involving enforcement of performance securities for financing communication towers, with client exposure exceeding USD 30 million.
  • Advised Tanesco on land acquisitions and represented the company in related disputes.
  • Supported Puma Energy Tanzania Limited following the acquisition of shares from BP Tanzania Limited.
  • Negotiated and prepared all documentation for a client to acquire land in Mukuranga District for the construction of a cement factory.
  • Facilitated Puma Energy Tanzania Limited in acquiring land at Dege Somangila, Temeke.
  • Advised on receiverships, prepared all legal documentation, and facilitated transfers of mortgaged properties worth over TZS 10 billion.

Professional Qualifications

  • Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania and all Courts subordinate thereto.
  • Advocate of the High Court of Zanzibar and all Courts subordinate thereto (except Primary Courts & Kadhi’s Court)

Education

  • The University of Dar Es Salaam, LL.M in Corporate and Commercial Law (2017)
  • The Open University of Tanzania, Bachelor of Laws Degree (Hons) (2008)
  • The Law School of Tanzania, Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (2011)
  • The Institute of Judicial Administration-Lushoto, Diploma in Law (2003)

Prior Experience

  • 2024 to date, Legal Director, IMMMA Advocates, DLA Piper Africa, Tanzania
  • May 2019 to 2023, Salary Partner, IMMMA Advocates, DLA Piper Africa, Tanzania
  • May 2015 to May 2019, Senior Associate, IMMMA Advocates, DLA Piper Africa, Tanzania           
  • Dec 2011 to May 2015, Associate, IMMMA Advocates, DLA Piper Africa, Tanzania
  • Oct 2008 to Dec 2011, Legal Officer, IMMMA Advocates, DLA Piper Africa, Tanzania
  • Jan 2005 to Oct 2008, Law Office Clerk, IMMMA Advocates, DLA Piper Africa, Tanzania

   Memberships

  • Zanzibar Law Society
  • Tanganyika Law Society
  • East African Law Society