Young law firm seeks to displace the old guard

Formed mid last year, Cymbell Advocates, a law firm made up of four youthful partners and a number of associates is starting to a make a mark in a field that has been dominated by big and established law firms.

All the four partners: Matsiko Godwin Muhwezi, Owen Henry, Wanda Samuel Ronald and Arinda Herbert have one thing in common: they are resilient.

Muhwezi, the managing partner of the firm, told The Nile Post that their partnership was like a dream made in heaven.

“All the partners are specialized in various fields such as new technology, migration law, energy and extractives, big infrastructure financing and so many others,” he said. “They are committed, skilled and understand the legal landscape because they have worked in various places.

Yet one would ask: Why would someone entrust a young and small firm with a big case ahead of the big law firms?

Muhwezi has an answer for that. He said small law firms like Cymbell are more flexible compared to big firms that may have a bureaucracy and an established routine of handling matters. This bureaucracy of the big firms, he says this sometimes translates into huge legal costs for clients.

“At our firm we not only give your case undivided attention but also our pricing model is reasonable,” he said.

“Our fixed fees allow better financial planning and are fully comprehensive with no hidden extras. We handle our clients' assignments or cases using a partner-led and team-based unique approach, through maintaining personal contact and ensuring efficient and fast delivery of the service.”

Owen Henry, the partner in charge of the Banking, Finance and Real Estate docket, said that he believes Uganda and the world at large, should embrace small, specialised law firms because they have people with the right skill-sets.

So far Cymbell has handled the case by Joseph Kabuleta, one of the presidential candidates, where he challenged the notion “scientific elections” by the Electoral Commission.

While the case did not go well for the candidate, Muwhezi said it acted as a stepping stone for bigger things.

And bigger cases, he said, have started streaming in.

Already they are handling a case filed by a client who wants certain sections of the NSSF Act annulled because they violate the rights of workers. They have also handled a number of cases in the insurance sector, banking sector and the extractives industry.

“The future appears bright,” Muhwezi said.

“We are here to make a difference.”