2020 African Business Excellence Awards

MEAMARKETS / African Business Excellence Awards 2020 5 , Best Banking & Finance Law Firm 2020 - Southern Africa & Distinction Award for SME Legal Services 2020 Thompson Stevenson & Associates When it comes to finding legal services, it pays to find a practice you can rely on. The team at Thompson Stevenson & Associates (TSA) have nearly two decades of exceptional results to draw on. We take a closer look at this impressive law firm to see how they have been able to achieve such great things in the African Excellence Awards, and where they are likely to be going in the future. Since the firm’s establishment in 2001, the team at TSA have grown from strength to strength. While the firm is able to provide clients with the full array of legal services, it has developed an affinity for local mining law that is second to none. Alongside the team’s knowledge of international financial law and international investment in Zimbabwe, TSA is a formidable partner organization to have on hand. The law firm is highly regarded and has a strong reputation for offering quality legal services. TSA is a distinctive law firm with a straightforward approach and has expertise in bringing thoughtful solutions to the complex legal challenges faced by its clients around the world. The team collectively possesses a wealth of experience and expert skills set that the world can tap from. When the firm first opened its doors, the simple mission of the team was to develop a specialty in the financial and business world in the area of mining. It has achieved this and more in the last twenty years. Serving both individual and corporate clients, the team has overseen commercial contracts, trusts, mergers and acquisitions, business rescue and liquidations. Other areas in which the firm has in-depth knowledge of in a Zimbabwean context include the country’s company law, labour law, immigration law, tax law, property law, import & export policies, foreign exchange law, and liaison with licensing authorities. Part of TSA’s unique appeal is its access to specialists who can support the team in their work. Economists, doctors, engineers, lawyers, accountants and project managers are all crucial parts of the way in which the business works, playing equally important roles in achieving success. This has allowed the firm to take on many cases revolving around commercial and corporate law and achieve some outstanding results. The team members that make up TSA are always looking to brighter horizons. They work collaboratively, consulting each other on clients’ cases. Sharing information in this way allows for easy development of personal expertise. The firm encourages good legal knowledge in every respect, providing a sophisticated hr policy and robust back office support structure that allows for a conducive work environment. Its members have access to an electronic and traditional library to promote research so as to ensure the best possible results. Being based in Africa presents unique challenges to the team. Across the board, investment in the continent will be vital to businesses flourishing as a whole. Being based in Zimbabwe, the team is aware that companies must develop more export capacity in order to trade with surrounding Aug20252 African countries. It’s a country that has much to offer the world as it is endowed with minerals that are in high demand. That said, to make the most of this, investment in infrastructure and the provision of electricity are key. Investment opportunities abound in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, real estate, and tourism amongst other areas. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything about how Zimbabwe has worked. The government had to adopt many measures in order to contain the virus and stop it spreading. Lockdown laws have had an incredibly high impact on business operations, limiting everybody’s operational capacity. In the future, the firm is hoping to continue to grow, but establishing a strong base in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital city, is key to any expansion. When this work has been done, it will be possible to open new branches in other Zimbabwean cities, and maybe even across southern Africa as a whole. There are few firms ready for international investment, and potential investors in the region are always welcome. The success of TSA is a credit to its team. The team is proving to be an invaluable resource when it comes to encouraging investment in southern Africa, a region with a great deal of potential. Their efforts are sure to be rewarded, allowing the firm to thrive for years to come. Company: Thompson Stevenson & Associates Name: Phillip Chikomwe Web Address: www.tsazim.com