DLA Piper Africa, Namibia (ESI) is proud to announce its role as legal advisors to both Solar Century Africa and Sino Energy, in the acquisition by Solar Century Africa of the ‘Gerus’ 19.31 MWP solar photovoltaic plant near Otjiwarongo, Namibia.
Before joining ESI, Mia gained extensive experience in the Namibian labour law sector. She also gained extensive experience in civil and commercial litigation. After joining ESI in 2014, she practiced in the civil and commercial litigation department where she advised local and international corporate, financial and other institutions (including government institutions/state owned enterprises/statutory bodies) on managing litigation risks and disputes and successfully represented these institutions in the High Court and Supreme Court of Namibia. In 2016, she joined the commercial department. Mia’s practice focuses on banking and finance, project financing, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, general corporate and commercial work, property law and anti-trust matters. She is particularly active in the natural resources and construction sectors. She also regularly provides advice to private and public sector clients on various regulatory and compliance matters and attends to the drawing and negotiating of commercial contracts, conducting of due diligences and closing of transactions.
Her experience has included advising:
- Private and public sector clients on various regulatory and compliance matters.
- On administrative law matters and represents clients in judicial reviews and other proceedings.
- Various clients on all aspects of competition law, including merger control, prohibited practice investigations and competition law compliance.
- On project and structured financing transactions, in various sectors.
- Lenders and borrowers alike, on various transactions involving the financing of various renewable energy projects throughout Namibia, including, but not limited to solar and wind power plants in Namibia. Services include amongst other, the conducting of legal due diligences, advising on and preparing the transaction documents and advising on regulatory matters as well as environmental, land, employment, and other issues, and reviewing the suite of power purchase and other agreements.
- Foreign and local investors in the mining industry in Namibia. Services include amongst other, the conducting of legal due diligences, advising on and preparing the transaction documents and advising on regulatory matters (including licencing).
- Lenders in various transactions involving the financing of various projects (including construction of low cost housing and other construction projects) throughout Namibia. Services include amongst other, the conducting of legal due diligences, advising on and preparing the transaction documents and advising on regulatory matters.
- Local entity which is listed on the Namibia Stock Exchange in respect of a domestic medium-term green note programme. It is the first green bond intended to be issued by a non-financial institution in Namibia.
- An investor in relation to the development of over 1,000 ha of land in the north of Namibia for commercial agricultural purposes.
- An international bidder on the proposed acquisition of a major gold mine in Namibia, conducting a legal due diligence on the target, reviewing the transaction documents, and advised on all regulatory issues arising from the proposed acquisition.
- On and conducting a major due diligence on the largest uranium mine in Namibia and advising the international investor (purchaser of shares therein) on all aspects of the acquisition, including all regulatory approvals required to implement the transaction.
- One of the biggest local commercial banks in Namibia and its affiliates on the restructuring of their operations in Namibia.
- Generally advises on and attends to the drafting of various commercial contracts and closing of transactions.
- Various local commercial and development banks in civil claims in the high court of Namibia.
- Various local and international corporate entities as well as local government institutions/state-owned enterprises/statutory bodies in respect of civil and commercial claims in the high court and the supreme court of Namibia.
- On various employment matters and representing clients in arbitrations, labour appeals and reviews as well as chairing and initiating disciplinary hearings.
- And representing a bidder in public procurement review proceedings before the Review Board.
- And representing a state-owned enterprise in judicial review proceedings in the High Court and the Supreme Court.
- A major construction company on public procurement laws, as well as competition laws, and certain exemptions that may apply.
- One of the largest commercial banks in proceedings against it, by the Namibian Competition Commission, on allegations of prohibited concerted business practices.
- On the requisite statutory and other documents required for a local subsidiary of a foreign multi-service offering company, to buy back shares in the subsidiary.
- A local entity on shareholders’ disputes and remedies, as well as alternatives, such as winding up on just and equitable grounds, and rendered related strategic advice.
- On and reviewing a full suite of finance documents for a major multi-national company offering retail financing in Namibia.
- A major Non-Revenue Water (NRW) projects company, operating in several jurisdictions across the globe, on public private partnerships and public procurement.
- A multi-national specialist company, delivering customised project and workforce solutions, in various jurisdictions across the world, on local employment laws (including continuous shift operations for employees working offshore in oil projects) and drafting template employments agreements for local employees.
- An embassy of a foreign country on local employment laws and claims on a regular basis.
- A major international airline on its local employment and related matters, as well as claims on a regular basis.
- Foreign entities on their country establishment, assisting with the registration of the local entities and drafting bespoke constituting documents for such entities and advising on management and corporate governance as well as regulatory requirements in respect of the aforementioned.
- A local statutory body on board constitution and corporate governance.
- A state-owned enterprise on its corporate governance as well as that of its subsidiaries, with reference to local laws and international best practice.
Professional Qualifications
- North-West University (South Africa): LLB (2011)
- Admitted as legal practitioner in teh High Court of Namibia (2012)
Memberships
- Law Society of Namibia
- Court-accredited mediator (2015 - 2019)
- Treasurer, Namibian Women Lawyers Association (2016 - 2018)
- Legal Practitioner Council Member, Veterinarian Council of Namibia (2017 - 2020)
- Part-time lecturer, Justice Training Program (University of Namibia)
Recognitions
- Ranked in Chambers Global every year since 2022
- Ranked as Woman Leader by IFLR1000 in 2022 and 2023
Namibia is particularly mindful of the effects of climate change, and as such has shown and continues to show its commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to do so by 2030.