AFRICA GUIDE – LITIGATION

Contents

04 Introduction

05 OurFirm

06 OurFootprintinAfrica

07 OurLitigationPractice

08 Botswana

14 DemocraticRepublicofCongo

20 Guinea

26 Kenya

36 Madagascar

42 SouthAfrica

54 Tanzania

60 Togo

66 Uganda

71 KeyContacts

3

Africa Guide - Litigation

3

CONTENTS PAGE

Introduction

This is the first edition of our Guide to Dispute Resolution in Africa. It is intended to provide a concise overview of issues relating to litigation and arbitration in certain key African jurisdictions.

Thereisalwaysariskthatcross-borderbusinessactivitieswillresultinadispute

thatgivesrisetolitigationorarbitrationinajurisdictionthatatleastonepartyisnotfamiliarwith.ThisguideprovidesanoverviewofthedifferencesindisputeresolutionproceedingsinvariousAfricancountries.

ItcoversnineAfricanjurisdictionsincludingthecountriesinwhichBowmanshasoffices.Theanswersdealwiththelawandrulesoftherelevantjurisdiction.

IthasbeenpreparedasacollaborationamonglawyersfromourofficesandbestfriendfirmsinvariousAfricanjurisdictions.

AdamAnderson

HeadofLitigation

The guide is not a substitute for advice. If you require further information,

please contact one of the key contacts listed at the end of this document.

4

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE

Our Firm

Bowmans is a leading Pan-African law firm. Our track record of providing specialist legal services, both domestic and cross-border, in the fields of corporate law, banking and finance law and dispute resolution, spans over a century.

WithsixofficesinfourAfricancountriesandover400specialisedlawyers,

wearedifferentiatedbyourgeographicalreach,independenceandthequalityoflegalservicesweprovide.

WedrawonouruniqueknowledgeoftheAfricanbusinessenvironmentandin-depthunderstandingofthesocio-politicalclimatetoadviseclientsonawiderangeoflegalissues.Ouraimistoassistourclientsinachievingtheirobjectivesassmoothlyandefficientlyaspossiblewhileminimisingthelegalandregulatoryrisks.

Ourclientsincludecorporates,multinationalsandstate-ownedenterprisesacrossarangeofindustrysectorsaswellasfinancialinstitutionsandgovernments.

Ourexpertiseisfrequentlyrecognisedbyindependentresearchorganisations.WehavebeennamedAfricanLegalAdviserbyDealMakersforthelastthreeconsecutiveyearsandSouthAfricanLawFirmoftheYearfor2016bytheWho’s Who Legal.Mostrecently,wewontheTechnology,MediaandTelecommunicationsTeamoftheYearAwardattheprestigiousAfricanLegalAwardshostedbyLegal WeekandtheCorporateCounselAssociationofSouthAfricain2017.Thefirmwasalso‘highlycommended’intheAfricanLawFirmoftheYear–LargePracticeandLitigationandDisputeResolutionTeamoftheYearcategories.

5


CONTENTS PAGE

Bowmans offices

Relationship firm

Significant transaction or advisory experience

Bowmans offices

Relationship firm


SOUTH AFRICA MOZAMBIQUE

NIGERIA

KENYA

TANZANIA

UGANDA

Bowmans offices

Relationship firm



NIGERIA

KENYA

TANZANIA

UGANDA

Our Footprint in Africa

Bowmans offices

Relationship firm



NIGERIA

KENYA

TANZANIA

UGANDA

Bowmans offices

Relationship firm



NIGERIA

KENYA

TANZANIA

UGANDA

Bowmans offices

Relationship firm



NIGERIA

KENYA

TANZANIA

UGANDA

WeprovideintegratedlegalservicesthroughoutAfricafromsixoffices(Cape

Town,DaresSalaam,Durban,Johannesburg,KampalaandNairobi)infourcountries(Kenya,SouthAfrica,TanzaniaandUganda).

WeworkcloselywithleadingNigerianfirmUdoUdoma&Belo-Osagie,andMozambique-basedboutiquefirm,TacianaPeãoLopes&AdvogadosAssociados.WealsohavestrongrelationshipswithotherleadinglawfirmsacrosstherestofAfrica.

WearerepresentativesofLexMundi,aglobalassociation,withmorethan160independentlawfirmsinallthemajorcentresacrosstheglobe.Thisassociationgivesusaccesstothebestfirmsineachjurisdictionrepresented.

6

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE

OurLitigationPracticespecialisesincommercialdisputesandhasextensiveknowledgeofdisputesinthefollowingareasoflaw:

• Banking• Businessrescue• Commercial• Contract• Constitutional• Construction• Corporate• Corporaterecovery• Forensicandwhitecollarcrime• Insolvency• Insurance• Medico-legal• Regulatory• Riskassessment• Property• Tax

WeareabletoofferabroadscopeoflegalservicestosupportourdisputeresolutionandarbitrationlawyersinproceedingsacrossAfrica.

Our Litigation Practice

7


CONTENTS PAGE

Botswana

8

BOWMANS

CONTENTSPAGE

CONTENTS PAGE

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

1.Whatisthestructureofthelegalprofession?

TheBotswanalegalsystemcomprisesasplitbarofattorneys(akintoUKsolicitors)andadvocates(akintoUKbarristers).OursystemevolvedfromthemodelusedinSouthAfrica,butovertimeithascrystallisedintoapracticeofnolocaladvocatesbeingextant.Attorneyshaverightofappearancetothehighestcourtinthelandanddosoappearregularly.

SouthAfricanadmittedadvocatesmaybeadmittedonanadhocbasistoappearinBotswanacourtsandtheydosoappear,inparticularinmatterswhichareseentobeofacertainmagnitude.

2.Whatmethodsofdisputeresolutionare

availabletosettlecommercialdisputes?

TheHighCourtofBotswanaistheprimaryforumforadjudicatinglargecommercialdisputes.DisputeswithcommercialvalueslowerthanthethresholdofBWP40thousandaredealtwithintheMagistrates’Courts.

BotswanahasrecentlyseentheinceptionoftheSmallClaimsCourt,whichisopentonaturalpersonswithdisputesnotinexcessofBWP10thousand.Theproceedingsinthesecourtsaremostlyadversarial.

Alternativedisputemechanismsinthewayofarbitration,adjudicationandmediationarealsoavailableinBotswana.

3.Arethereanyrestrictionsontheroleof

foreignlawyersinlitigationproceedings?

ForeignattorneysarenotabletoconductcasesinBotswana,unlesstheyareenrolledtopractiseinaccordancewiththeLegalPractitioners’Act.However,foreignadvocatesinlitigationproceedingsmayapplytothecourtbypetitioninwritingtobeadmittedandenrolled.

4.Whatisthetimeperiodwithinwhichacivil

claimmustbebrought?

ThePrescriptionsActdetailsthetimeperiodswithinwhichcivilclaimscanberenderedunenforceablebylapseoftime.ThisActstipulatesthefollowingprescriptionperiods:

• oneyearforclaimsfordefamation;• threeyearsforclaimsfoundedonoral

contracts,claimsforremunerationdueinconnectionwithservicesrenderedandrentalsdueuponcontract;

• sixyearsforclaimsfoundedonwrittencontracts;and

• 30yearsforclaimsfoundedonmortgagebonds.

5.Whatisthelegalfeestructure?

Wherethereisnofixedrateforservices,theHighCourtRules(Rules)provideatarifffortimetaken.

Ratesmayvarydependingontheagreementmadebetweentheclientandattorney.Whatisimportanttonoteisthatthereisadisparitybetweencostsclaimableonaparty-and-partyscaleasprovidedforintheRules,andthecommercialrealityofattorneyandownclientfees,whichoftenarewellinexcessofthestatutoryrate.Thisdictatesthatlitigants’recoveriesoffeesarebetween50%and60%oftheiractualexpenditureintaxation.

6.Isitpossibleforlitigationtobefunded

byathirdparty?Canlawyersclaim

contingencyfees?

Itispossibleforlitigationtobefundedbyathirdparty,thoughtheRulesonlyenvisagethecostimplicationspartiesbeforecourtstandtoincur.Thirdpartyfundingisthereforeanissueofcontractbetweenthethirdpartyandthelitigant.

Botswanadoesnothavethenecessarylegalframeworkforcontingencyfees.

9


CONTENTS PAGE

THE COURT SYSTEM

1.Whatisthestructureofthecourtsystem?

ThesuperiorcourtinBotswanaistheCourtofAppeal,followedbytheHighCourt,whichstandssuperiortotheMagistrates’Court.TheHighCourtisacourtoffirstinstance,thoughithearsappealsfromlowercourts(exampletheMagistrates’Court)andtribunals(exampletheLandTribunal)aswellasreviewsofthedecisionsofthesame.

Mattersthatrequirespecialisedknowledgearerelegatedtospecialtribunals,forexample,theWorkman’sCompensationCommissioner,IncomeTaxAppealsCommitteeandtheIndustrialCourt.

Botswanahasadualsystemoflaw,aCustomaryCourtsystemco-existswiththeCommonLawsystem.CustomaryCourtsdealwithalltribalmattersandhavetheirownhierarchy,thoughappealsliewiththeMagistrates’Court,theHighCourtandtheCourtofAppeal.

2.Arecertaintypesofdisputesallocatedtoa

particularcourt?

Yes.Mattersthatrequirespecialisedknowledgearerelegatedtospecialtribunals,forexample,theWorkman’sCompensationCommissioner,IncomeTaxAppealsCommitteeandtheIndustrialCourt.

3.Arelowercourtsboundbythedecisionsof

highercourts?

Yes.

4.Whatarethedifferenttypesofcivil

proceedingsincourtavailabletoenforce

aclaim?

Therearetwotypesofcivilproceedingsavailabletoenforceaclaim:

• actionproceedings:commencewiththeserviceofawritofsummons,followingfurtherexchangesofdocumentsuntilthemattercomestotrial,whereoralevidenceisheardbythecourt.Intrialactionthepartiesarecalled‘plaintiff’and‘defendant’.

• motionproceedings:commencewiththeserviceofanoticeofmotionsupportedbyanaffidavitastothefactsuponwhichtheapplicantreliesforrelief.Ininstancesofmotionproceedingsthematterdoesnotgofortrialandoralevidenceisnotheard.

Thepotentialofmaterialdisputesoffactthatcannotberesolvedonpaper,withoutreferencetooralevidence,istheprimaryfactorthatdeterminesthechoiceofwhethertoproceedinactionoronmotion.

5.Arecourtproceedingsandcourt

documentsconfidential?

No.Courtproceedingsarenotconfidentialastheyareheldinpublic,unlessthepresidingjudgehasreasontoholdtheproceedingsincamera.

Courtdocumentsinrespectoffinalisedlitigiousmattersarepublicrecord.However,courtdocumentsinrespectofongoingproceedingsareonlyavailabletothepartieswithpersonalinterestinthelitigation,whichdeterminationiswithinthecompleteauthorityoftheregistrar.

6.Arethereanypre-trialproceedings

prescribedbytherulesofcourt?

Yes,inBotswanatherehasbeenadeparturefromthetraditionalstructureofRulesinRoman-Dutchjurisdictionswiththeintroductionofthejudicialcasemanagementoflitigation.

Judicialcasemanagementisasysteminwhichjudgesdirectconductoflitigation.Thereisaseriesofpre-trialprocessesinvolvingseveralmeetingsbetweenpartiesandtheircounsel,withStatusHearingsbeforecourtatwhichappropriatedirectionsarehandeddownforfutureconductofmatters.

Thejudicialcasemanagementsystemhasseriousimplicationsasfailuretoparticipateintheseproceedingscanresultinadverseorders.Inaddition,oncetheHighCourthandsdownafinalpre-trialorder,whichisthepenultimatehearingtotheactualtrialofamatter,suchordercannotbeunlessapartyisabletoprovemanifestinjustice.

10

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE

7.Whatistheroleofajudgein

civilproceedings?

JudgesinBotswanaplaymanyroles.Theyhaveallthetraditionaldutiesaccordedtojudicialofficers,inthattheyinterpretthelaw,assessevidencepresentedandcontrolhowhearingsandtrialsunfold.

Judgesremainabovethefrayoflitigation,andprovideanindependentandimpartialassessmentofthefactsandhowthelawappliestofactsinissue.

JudgesinBotswanaaretheprimarydriversoflitigation,makingthejudiciarymanagersofallaspectsofpre-trialprocesses.

8.Whatdocumentsarepartiesrequired

todisclose?

Apartyisobligedtomakeafullandpromptdisclosureofalldocumentscurrentlyorpreviouslyinitspossessionorinthepossessionofanagent,thatarerelevanttotheissuesofthecaseexceptforprivilegeddocuments.

9.Areanydocumentsregardedasprivileged?

Communicationsanddocumentationexchangedasbetweenalawyerandaclientareprivileged.

10.Howisevidencepresented?

Intrialproceedings,evidenceispresentedthroughthetestimonyofwitnesses,unlessaSummaryofEvidencedeliveredinthepre-trialprocesshasbeenadmittedbyaparty.Inmotionproceedings,partiespresenttheirevidenceintheaffidavitsfiledwiththecourt.

11.Areinterimremediesavailabletoaparty

beforeorduringcivilcourtproceedings?

Yes.Itisopentoapartytosecureinterimremediesthroughappropriateinterlocutoryapplicationsbeforeand/orduringcivilproceedings.

12.Howisacourtorderenforced?

Acourtorderisgenerallyenforcedthroughthedeputysheriff,intheeventthatapartyrefusestoabidebytheorder.ContemptproceedingsarealsoavailabletolitigantsinappropriatecircumstanceswherearecalcitrantpartyleavesthecounterpartynochoicebuttoseektheHighCourt’sintervention.

13.Whatistheestimateddurationof

courtproceedings?

Thedurationofcourtproceedingscannotbeestimated.Durationisbasedonseveralfactors:theefficiency,diaryandavailabilityofthepresidingjudgeandthecounterparty,aswellasthecomplexityofthecase.

14.Doesacourthavethepowerto

awardcosts?

Yes.CostsusuallyfollowtheeventofjudgmentinBotswana,saveinexceptionalcaseswherethecourtmakesnoorderastocosts.

15.Areforeignclaimantsrequiredtoprovide

securityforcosts?

Foreignlitigantsarenotrequiredtoprovidesecurityforcosts,thoughtheRulesallowanincoladesiringtodemandsecurityforcoststopursuethesame.

16.Isitpossibletorecoverlegalfees?

Yes.Intheabsenceofasuitabletenderforcosts,apartythathasbeenawardedcostsbythecourtcanrecoverlegalfeesbypreparingandtaxingaBillofCosts.

17.Onwhatgroundscanpartiesappeal

orreviewanordergrantedbyacourt?

Apartywhoisnotsatisfiedwiththefinaldecisionofacourtoffirstinstancemayappealagainstsuchdecisiontoahighercourt.Ontheotherhand,apartynotsatisfiedwiththedecision-makingprocessusedtoarriveataconclusion,mayinappropriatecircumstancesseektohavesuchdecisionreviewed.

11


CONTENTS PAGE

18.Doproceduresexistfortherecognition

andenforcementofforeignjudgmentsor

arbitralawards?

Yes.TheenforcementofforeignjudgmentsinBotswanaisprovidedforundertheJudgments(InternationalEnforcement)Act.Whereapartyhasobtainedafinalandconclusivejudgmentintheirhomejurisdiction,suchjudgmentisenforceableinBotswanaprovidedthatitscountryoforiginhasbeenrecognisedbythePresidentofBotswanainapublishedorderasacountrywhoseforeignjudgmentsmaybeenforcedbyourcourtsoncedulyregistered.InordertoeffectenforcementanapplicationmustbebroughtinourHighCourttohavetheforeignjudgmentmadeanorderofourcourt.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

1.Whatarethemainalternative

disputeresolutionmethodsavailable

toresolvedisputes?

Arbitration,mediation,andadjudication.

2.Arepartiestocommerciallitigation

requiredtosubmittoalternativedispute

resolutionproceedings?

Unlessboundbyacontractcontainingaclauserequiringpartiestothecontracttosubmitthemselvestoalternativedisputeresolution,partiestocommerciallitigationarenotrequiredtosubmittoalternativedisputeresolutionproceedings.

3.Howcostsaredealtwithinalternative

disputeresolutionproceedings?

Intheabsenceofspecificagreementstothecontrary,costsinalternativedisputeresolutionproceedingsusuallyfollowtheevent.

4.Arealternativedisputeresolution

proceedingsconfidential?

Yes.Unlesspartiesotherwiseagree,theproceedingsandanyawardspublishedtherein

areconfidentialtotheextentthatdisclosuremayberequiredinordertoprotectorpursuealegalrightortoenforceorchallengeanawardinanylegalproceedings.

5.Whatarethemainbodiesthatoffer

andconductalternativedisputeresolution

proceedings?Arepartiesobligedtouse

thesebodiesforalternativedispute


TheBotswanaInstituteofArbitratorsisoneofthemainbodiesthatoffersandconductsalternativedisputeresolutionproceedings,althoughpartiesarenotobligatedtousethisorotherbodiesunlesstheyhaveagreedtodosobycontract.

ARBITRATION


arbitrationproceedings?

Thedurationofarbitrationproceedingscannotbeestimated,asdurationisbasedonseveralfactors:theefficiency,diaryandavailabilityofthearbitratorandthecounterparty,aswellasthecomplexityofthecase.

2.Canacourtinterveneinarbitration

proceedings?

Yes.Inappropriatecircumstances,itisopentoapartytoarbitrationproceedingstoseekinjunctiverelieffromacourt.Inaddition,thecourtmayatanytime,uponmotion,removeanarbitratoragainstwhomagroundforrecusalisfoundtoexist,orwhohasmisconductedtheproceedingsinconnectionwithanarbitration.

3.Doesanarbitratorhavethepowerto

grantinterimrelief?

Thearbitrator’spowertograntinterimrelief dependsontherulesagreedbythepartiesthatdetermineconductofthearbitrationproceedings.

12

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE


todisclose?

Despitetheagreedrules,partiesaregenerallyrequiredtodisclosealldocumentsthatarenotprivilegedthatshallassistindeterminationofthematterindispute.


Exchangesasbetweenattorneyandclientareprivileged.


Generally,anydocumentsdeliveredwithparties’submissionsareadmittedintoevidencewithoutthenecessityfortheiridentificationorverificationbyanywitness,althoughanypartywillbeentitledtoleadevidenceonorigin,accuracy,meaningandrelevanceofthesame.Anypartymayapplytothearbitrator,orthearbitratormayathis/herowninstancedirectthepartiestodiscoverdocumentsandothermaterialrelatingtoanymatterinquestioninthearbitration,whichisinthepossessionandcontrolofsuchparty.

7.Howisanarbitrationawardenforced?

Anawardonasubmissionmay,byleaveoftheHighCourt,beenforcedinthesamemannerasajudgmentorordertothesameeffect,andwhereleaveisgiven,judgmentmaybeenteredintermsoftheaward.

8.Isitpossibletoappealan

arbitrationaward?

Yes.However,thepartiesmustinasignedwrittenagreementprovidethattheawardshallbesubjecttoappeal.Theabsenceofsuchagreementshallmeanthatanawardcannotbeappealed.

9.Canforeignjudgmentsorarbitralawards

berecognisedandenforcedbywayof


Yes,theRecognitionandEnforcementofForeignArbitralAwardsActregulatesthe

recognitionandenforcementofarbitralawardsinBotswana.Inaddition,aforeignawardmaybeenforcedintermsoftheJudgements(InternationalEnforcement)Act.

AforeignawardcanberecognisedandenforcedinBotswana,providedthatthecountryinwhichtheawardwasmadeisadesignatedcountrybythePresidentafterbeingsatisfiedthat,‘substantialreciprocityoftreatment’isextendedtothejudgementsoftheHighCourtofBotswanainthatcountry,andthattheawardhasbeenregisteredwiththeHighCourt.

10.Areforeignclaimantsrequiredto

providesecurityforcosts?

Unlesspartiesagreetothecontrary,generallythearbitratormayonapplicationofadefendantinconventionorinreconvention,orderaclaimantinconventionorinreconventiontoprovideappropriatesecurityforcosts(includingadditionalsecurity)andmayinfactstaythearbitrationproceedingspendingcompliancewithsuchorder.

REFORM

1.Istherelikelytobeanyfuturereform

ofthecourtsystemoralternativedispute

resolutionsystem?

Reforminthecourtsystemoralternativedisputeresolutionsystemisnotlikely.TheLegislaturewillpassinstrumentsthatamendaspectsoftheRulesandtheArbitrationAct,butthesubstanceofthesystemislikelytoremainunchangedinthenearfuture.

13


CONTENTS PAGE

Democratic Republic of Congo

14

BOWMANS

CONTENTSPAGE

CONTENTS PAGE

DISPUTE RESOLUTION


Lawyersarecalled‘Avocats’intheDemocraticRepublicofCongo(DRC).Theyhavetherighttoassistandrepresenttheirclientsandalsopleadontheirbehalfbeforethecourtsofthecountry.Furthermore,AvocatsareentitledtoactoutsideDRC’scourts.Forexample,theycanprovidelegaladvicetotheirclients.

Judicialdefenders(défenseurs judiciaires)arecourtofficerswhocanassistandrepresentpartiesaswellaspleadontheirbehalfbeforePeaceTribunalsandCountyCourts(TGI).AvocatsorcivilservantscanrepresenttheState.Thelatterarecalled‘mandataires de l’Etat’.



CommercialTribunalscansettlecommercialdisputesinDRC.Conciliation-mediationandarbitrationarealsoavailabletosettlecommercialdisputes.



Inprinciple,onlyCongoleseAvocatsareallowedtointerveneinlitigationproceedingsinDRC.However,foreignlawyerscanalsointerveneinthetwofollowingcases:

• aninternationalconventionenteredintobetweentheircountryoforiginandDRCallowsthemtoactasAvocatsinDRC;and

• inreciprocationforCongoleseAvocatsbeingallowedtointerveneinlitigationproceedingsabroad(exampleifCongoleseAvocatsareallowedtointerveneinlitigationproceedingsinFrance,FrenchlawyerswillbeauthorisedtointerveneinlitigationproceedingshappeninginDRC).


claimmustbebrought?

Inprinciple,acivilclaimmustbebroughtwithinaperiodof30years.Insomespecificcases,thistimeperiodisshorter(exampleaworkerwishingtorecoverhis/hersalarymustbringaclaimwithinaperiodofoneyear).


OnceanAvocatagreestohandleacase,his/herclienthastopayhim/heraretainingfee(provision),whichcannotbelessthan20%oftheamountoftheAvocat’sfees.

Forextra-judicialinterventionsthereisaminimumaswellasamaximumamountofmoneythatmustbepaidtotheAvocats.Thus,thelegalfeescanvaryonacase-by-casebasis,aslongastheyarewithintheabovementionedrange.Extra-judicialinterventionsinclude,interalia,consultations,conciliationsanddraftingwills.

Avocatsarepaidinthesamewaywhenitcomestojudicialinterventions(examplepleadingonbehalfoftheirclientsbeforethecourts).However,thereisaslightdifferencebecausefromtimetotime,theirlegalfeescanbeincreasedbyapercentageofacertainamountofmoney(exampleincaseofreviewofajudgmenthandeddownbyaPeaceTribunal,anAvocatwillreceiveapercentageoftheamountofmoneyawardedtohis/herclient).Furthermore,ifacaseinvolvesrecoveringmoney,Avocatswillbepaidwithapercentageoftheamountoftherecoveredmoney.

AnAvocat andhis/herclientcanalsoenterintoasubscriptioncontract,whichcontainsaminimumaswellasamaximumamountofmoneythatmustbepaid,onamonthlybasis,totheAvocat.Thesaidamountofmoneyvariesonacase-by-casebasis(dependingonwhethertheclientisanindividualoracompany),butitmustbewithintherangeoftheabovementionedminimalandmaximalmonthlylegalfees.

ContingencyfeesareforbiddeninDRC.

15


CONTENTS PAGE



contingencyfees?

Yes.Litigationcanbefundedbyathirdparty.Avocatscannotclaimcontingencyfees.

THE COURT SYSTEM


ThecourtsysteminDRChasthefollowingstructure:

• atthebottomofthecourtsystemarePeaceTribunals,MilitaryTribunals,CountyCourts(commonlyreferredtoasTGI),CommercialTribunalsandLabourTribunals;

• theseconddegreeofthecourtsysteminDRCismadeupofCourtsofAppealandMilitaryCourts.TherecanbeoneormoreCourtsofAppealineachprovinceandinKinshasa.DecisionsrenderedbyCountyCourts,CommercialTribunalsandLabourTribunalscanbecontestedbeforetheCourtsofAppeal;and

• thehighestcourtsinDRCaretheMilitaryHighCourtandtheCourtofCassation.TheCourtofCassationislocatedinthecapitalofDRC.Ithasjurisdictionovertheentireterritoryofthecountry.CivilandMilitaryTribunalsandcourtsareunderthecontroloftheCourtofCassation.

2.Arecertaintypesofdisputesallocated

toaparticularcourt?

Yes.Forexample,CommercialTribunalshavejurisdictionoverthefollowingmatters(thisisnotanexhaustivelist):

• disputesbetweenmerchantsrelatingtotheircommitmentsandtransactions;

• disputesbetweenindividualsrelatingtoactsofmerchant;

• disputesbetweenshareholders;and• insolvencymatters.

3.Arelowercourtsboundbythedecisions

ofhighercourts?

Yes.Lowercourtsareboundbythedecisionsofhighercourts.

4.Whatarethedifferenttypesof

civilproceedingsincourtavailableto

enforceaclaim?

Therearetwotypesofcivilproceedingsincourttoenforceaclaim.Apartycanaskforajudgmentonthemeritsor,incaseofanemergency,askforasummaryjudgmentalsocalled‘procédure de référé’.



Inprinciple,courtproceedingsareheldinpublic.However,ifsuchproceedingsaredeemedtobedangerous,confidentialproceedingswilltakeplace.Courtdocumentsarealwaysconfidential.



No.

7.Whatistheroleofajudgeincivil

proceedings?

Theroleofajudgeincivilproceedingsistosettledisputesbetweenthepartiesgenerallyandspecificallytosettledisputes

• arisingfromwedding,divorce,death,ordifficultyrelatingtoachild’seducation;

• relatingtoownershipissues,debtsnotrecovered,andbreachofacontract;and

• arisingfromlabourrelationships.


todisclose?

Partiesarerequiredtodisclosealldocumentscurrentlyorpreviouslyintheirpossession,thatarerelevanttothecase.Apartyisrequiredtomakeaspontaneousdisclosureofthedocumentsrequired.Ifapartyfailstocomplywitharequestfordisclosure,theapplicantmayapplytocourttocompeldisclosure.Thecourtmayorderapenalty.


Thecivilprocedurecodedoesnotprovidealistofdocumentsregardedasprivileged,butinpractice,thecommunicationsbetweenanAvocatandhis/herclientarestrictlyprivileged.Anin-houseAvocat’slegaladvicetohis/hercompanywouldberegardedasprivileged.Documentsprepared

16

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE

incontemplationof,orinpreparationfor,litigationarealsoprivileged.


Evidencecanbepresentedinwritingororally.However,forcivilmatters,evidencemustbeinwriting.Itisworthnoting,though,thatthejudgecouldorderaninquirymeasure,ifrequired,forthedisclosureofevidence.



Yes,interimremediessuchasaprotectiveseizureofassetsandfreezingofbankaccountsareavailabletoapartybeforeorduringcivilcourtproceedings.Protectiveseizureisalsousedincaseofemergencyoriftheenforcementoftheclaimmaybeendangeredorimperilled.Furthermore,theaimofinterimremediesistoprevent

• theriskofthedefendantdissipatingmonetaryassets;or

• thedestructionofevidence.

Thepartyseekinginterimremediesmustlodgeaformalrequestwiththecourtpresident.


Acourtorderalwaysmentionsthatthejudgmentisenforcedandimplementedbythebailiffwiththeassistanceofthepoliceforceifrequired.

13.Whatistheestimateddurationofcourt

proceedings?

Theestimateddurationofcourtproceedingsvariesonacase-by-casebasis.


awardcosts?

Yes.Thejudgmentrenderedbythetribunalcontainsdamagesaskedbytheclaimant.However,beforetheinscriptionofthecaseatthecourt,theclaimantmustdepositasufficientfundtopaythecourtcosts.Ajudgmentcontainsfeesandcosts(whichrepresentcourtcosts).Itisworthnotingthatthelosingpartymustpaythefeesandcostsoftheproceedings.


securityforcosts?

Yes,foreignclaimantsarerequiredtoprovidesecurityforcosts,unlessotherwiseprovidedbyatreaty.


Yes.Thefeethatisrecoverablewillbesetoutinthejudgment.



Inprinciple,iftheClaimantorthedefendantisnotsatisfiedwiththejudgmentrenderedbythecourtoffirstinstance,eachonecanlodgeanappealagainstthejudgment.IfoneofthepartiesisnotsatisfiedwiththeCourtofAppeal’sdecision,eachoneisentitledtocontestthesaiddecisionbeforetheSupremeCourt.



arbitralawards?

Itisnecessarytorequestanexequaturofaforeignjudgmentoraforeignarbitralaward,inorderforforeignjudgmentstobeenforceableinDRC.


1.Whatarethemainalternativedispute

resolutionmethodsavailableto

resolvedisputes?

ThefollowingtypesofalternativedisputeresolutionareavailableinDRC:

• Mediation/Conciliation:thismechanismconsistsofamicablyseekingasolutiontoadisputewiththeassistanceofaconciliator/mediatorchosenbythepartieswhoactsasaneutralthirdparty.Thesolutionbroughtbythemediator/conciliatorisnotbindingontheparties.Theproceedingendsbythesigningofanagreementbetweenthepartiesprovidingthesolutionofthedisputeorbythedraftingofanon-conciliationminutes(procès-verbal de non-conciliation).

17


CONTENTS PAGE

• Arbitration:thisisaprivateprocessfortheresolutionofadispute,inwhichpartieschooseonethirdpartyormore(iearbitrator/s)tohelpthemexamineandsolvetheirdispute.Arbitrationprovisionsareinsertedincontractsbywayofanarbitrationclause(clause compromissoire)oraseparateagreement(convention

d’arbitrage)concludedbetweentheparties.

Thesaiddisputeendsuponthepronunciationofadecision(iearbitralaward)bythearbitrator.Thatdecisionisbindingontheparties.

Arbitrationandconciliation-mediationarevoluntaryproceedings,whichoffertothepartiestheopportunitytosettletheirdisputewithoutgoingthroughcourtasthesemechanismsarequick,effectiveandcost-efficient.




No.Partiesarenotrequiredtosubmittoalternativedisputeresolutionproceedingsbecauseitdependsonthewilloftheparties.

3.Howarecostsdealtwithinalternative


Costsincludehonoraryfeesofthearbitrator/conciliator/mediatorandadministrativefeesoftheCentre National d’Arbitrage, de Conciliation

et de Médiation(CENACOM).ThesecostsaredetermineduponsubmissionofthedossieratCENACOM.Additionalcostsmaybeinvolvedduringtheproceedingsuchashonoraryfeesofexpertsappointedbythearbitrator/conciliator/mediator.Inpractice,thesecostsdependontheamountatstakeinthedisputeandthecomplexityofthecase.



Alternativedisputeresolutionproceedingsareconfidential.






CENACOMisthemainbodythatoffersandconductsalternativedisputeresolutioninDRC.PartiesarenotobligedtouseCENACOMforalternativeresolutionproceedings.

ARBITRATION



Thedurationofarbitrationproceedingsvariesonacase-by-casebasisbuttakeslesstimethancourtproceedings.Thearbitrator’sauthorityisfixedinthearbitrationagreementandcannotexceedsixmonthsfromthedateoftheappointmentofthelastarbitrator.However,theperiodcanbeextendedeitherbyparties’consentorupononeparty’srequest.


proceedings?

Acourtwilldeclareitsincompetencetosettleadisputeinarbitrationproceedings.Itcanonlyinterveneinarbitrationproceedingsbyvirtueofaparty’srequesttoobtainaninterimrelieforprotectivemeasureincaseofmotivatedandjustifiedemergency.Thisisontheconditionthatthesemeasuresdonotinvolveexaminationofthemeritsofthedispute,asonlythearbitraltribunaliscompetenttodothis.

Thearbitraltribunalisalsoentitledtorequesttheassistanceofthelocaljudgeintheeventthatsuchassistanceisrequiredforthemanagementofevidences.

3.Doesanarbitratorhavethepowertogrant

interimrelief?

No.Onlythecourthasthepowertograntinterimrelief.

18

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE


todisclose?

Thearbitraltribunalcanrequestfromtheparties,explanations,argumentationandevidencesitdeemsnecessaryforthesettlementofthedispute.Thedocumentationincludes,inter aliastatementsandexpertreports.


No.Therearenodocumentsregardedasprivileged.Alldocumentsthatthearbitraltribunalmayrelyoninordertorenderadecisionmustbecommunicated.


Partiesarefreetoagreeontheproceduretobefollowedbythearbitraltribunal.Failingsuchagreement,thearbitraltribunalmayconductthearbitrationasitconsidersappropriate.Thearbitraltribunalhasthepowertodeterminetheadmissibility,relevanceandthesignificanceofanyevidencepresented.

Theclaimant,insupportofhis/herrequest,shallstatetheevidence,themattersindisputeandfindings.Thedefendantmustsubmithis/herdefenceinrespectofthesematters.


AnarbitrationawardisenforcedbyvirtueofanexequaturgrantedbythepresidentofthecompetentcourtinDRC.Apresidentialordinancedefinesthewordingoftheenforcementthatshouldbeaffixedtothecertifiedtruecopyofthearbitrationaward.

8.Isitpossibletoappealanarbitrationaward?

No.Anarbitrationawardisnotsubjecttoanappeal.However,itissubjectonlytoanactionforcancellation.Theactionforcancellationisadmissibleonly:

• ifthearbitraltribunalhasruledwithoutanarbitrationagreementorunderavoidorexpiredagreement;

• thearbitraltribunalwasirregularlyconstituted;

• ifthearbitraltribunalruledwithoutcomplyingwiththemissionentrustedtoit;

• iftheadversarialprinciplehasnotbeenrespected;and

• intheeventofbreachoftheinternationalpublicorder.

Theactionforcancellationisopenfromtheissuanceofthearbitralawardandremainsvalidwithinonemonthupontheaffixationoftheexequaturtothearbitralaward.




No.ForeignjudgementsandarbitrationawardscanberecognisedandenforcedonlybyvirtueofanexequaturgrantedbythepresidentofthecompetentcourtinDRC.


securityforcosts?

Itdependsontheclauseofpaymentinsertedbythepartiesinthearbitrationagreement.

REFORM

1.Istherelikelytobeanyfuturereformof

thecourtsystemoralternativedispute

resolutionsystem?

No.

19


CONTENTS PAGE

Guinea

20

BOWMANS

CONTENTSPAGE

CONTENTS PAGE

DISPUTE RESOLUTION


InGuinea,attorneyscalled‘Avocats’(similartobarristers)aretheonlylegalpractitionersentitledtopleadbeforeGuineancourts.Avocatscanacceptworkdirectlyfromthepublic.ThereisalsoamandatorynominationofAvocatscalled‘commission d’office’inspecificcasessuchasinacriminalcaseinvolvingadefendantthatisdestitute.



Tribunalsoffirstinstancecansettlecommercialdisputes.Theyhavejurisdictionovercommercialmatters.Conciliation,mediationandarbitrationarealsoavailabletosettlecommercialdisputes.



Yes.Avocatscalledtothe(Guinean)bararetheonlyonesallowedtopracticeasAvocatsinGuinea.Asaconsequence,inprinciple,foreignlawyersdonothavetherighttointerveneinlitigationproceedingsinGuinea.

However,foreignlawyersmayinterveneinlitigationproceedingsinGuineaifaninternationalconventionenteredintobetweentheircountryoforiginandGuineaallowsit.


claimmustbebrought?

Inprinciple,aclaimmustbebroughtwithin30years.However,thisperiodvariesdependingonthenatureofthepersoninvolved(forexampleworkersmustbringtheirclaimsrelatingtothepaymentoftheirsalarieswithinoneyear).


TheAvocat’sfeesarenegotiatedbetweentheAvocatandhis/herclient.Avocatsgenerallychargetheirclientonarateperdaybasisoronarateperhourbasis.Theymayalsochargeafixedamountforafile.

ContingencyfeesareforbiddeninGuinea.

6.Isitpossibleforlitigationtobefundedbya

thirdparty?Canlawyersclaimcontingencyfees?

Litigationcanbefundedbyathirdparty.Avocatsarenotallowedtoclaimcontingencyfees.

THE COURT SYSTEM


AtthebottomoftheGuineancourtsystemstructurearethetribunalsoffirstinstance.Theyhavejurisdictionovercivil,administrative,commercial,socialandcriminalmatters.TheseconddegreeoftheGuineancourtsystemismadeupofCourtsofAppeal.DecisionsrenderedbythetribunalsoffirstinstancecanbebroughtbeforetheCourtsofAppealandthehighestcourtinGuineaiscalledtheSupremeCourt.

Apartfromtheabovecourts,Guinea’scourtsystemalsohasspecialisedcourts,notablytheCourtofAuditorsandtheMilitaryTribunal.


particularcourt?

Yes.Forexample,commercialsectionsofthetribunalsoffirstinstancehavejurisdictionovercommercialdisputes.MilitarydisputesareallocatedtotheMilitaryTribunal.

21


CONTENTS PAGE


highercourts?

Yes.



aclaim?

Therearetwotypesofcivilproceedingsincourttoenforceaclaim.ApartycanaskforajudgmentonthemeritsoraskforasummaryjudgmentalsoknowninFrenchas‘ordonnance

de référé’.



Inprinciple,courtproceedingsareheldinpublicunlessotherwiseprovidedbylaw.Thejudgemaydecidethatthecourtproceedingsshouldbeconfidentialincircumstanceswhere,ifthecourtproceedingswereheldinpublic,itwouldviolateprivatelifeandifsomethingmaytroubletheserenityofjustice.

Courtdocumentsareconfidential.However,ifapartytolitigationusesadocumenttobolsteritsclaim,thesaidpartymustcommunicatethedocumenttotheotherparty/parties.



No.


proceedings?

Therolesofajudgeincivilproceedingsaresettling:

• disputesbetweentheparties;• familydisputesarisingfromwedding,

divorce,death,ordifficultyrelatingtoachild’seducation;

• disputesrelatingtoownershipissues,debtsnotrecovered,andbreachofacontract;and

• disputesarisingfromlabourrelationships.


todisclose?

Partiesarerequiredtodisclosealldocumentscurrentlyorpreviouslyintheirpossessionthatarerelevanttothecase.Apartyisrequiredtomakeaspontaneousdisclosureofthedocumentsrequired.Ifapartyfailstocomplywitharequestfordisclosure,theapplicantmayapplytocourttocompeldisclosure.Thecourtmayorderapenaltypayment.


TheGuineanlawdoesnotprovidealistofdocumentsregardedasprivileged,butinpracticethecommunicationsbetweenanAvocatandhis/herclientarestrictlyprivileged.Anin-houseAvocat’slegaladvicetohis/hercompanyisregardedasprivileged.Documentspreparedincontemplationoforinpreparationforlitigationarealsoprivileged.


Evidencecanbepresentedinwritingororally.However,forcivilmatters,evidencemustbeinwriting.Pleasenotethatthejudgecouldorderanecessarymeasureofinquiryforthedisclosureofevidence.



Yes,interimremedies,suchasaprotectiveseizureofassetsandfreezingofbankaccounts,areavailabletoapartybeforeorduringcivilcourtproceedings.Protectiveseizureisalsousedincaseofemergencyoriftheenforcementoftheclaimmaybeendangeredorimperilled.

Theaimofinterimremediesistopreventtheriskofthedefendantdissipatingmonetaryassetsorthedestructionofevidence.

Thepartyseekingtheinterimremediesmustlodgeaformalrequestwiththecourtpresident.

22

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE


Acourtorderalwaysmentionsthatthejudgmentisenforcedandimplementedbythebailiffwiththeassistanceofthepoliceforceifrequired.

Enforcementofjudgmentsmaynotbemadebefore6:00andafter21:00,duringSundays,officialholidaysornon-workingdays.


courtproceedings?



awardcosts?

Yes.Thejudgmentrenderedbythetribunalcontainsdamagesaskedbytheclaimant.However,beforetheinscriptionofthecase,theclaimantmustdepositsufficientfundstopaythecourtcosts.

Ajudgmentcontainsfeesandcosts(whichrepresentcourtcosts).Costsinclude:

• feesandtaxesreceivedbythecourt’sclerkorthetaxagent;

• compensationfortechnicians(forexampleexpert,translator);

• disbursements;and• feesofthepublicandministerialofficials.

Theunsuccessfulpartymustpaythefeesandcostsoftheproceedings.



Yes,foreignclaimantsarerequiredtoprovidesecurityforcosts,exceptifatreatyprovidesotherwise.


Yes,legalfeesarerecoverablefromtheunsuccessfulpartyandarestipulatedinthejudgment.



Inprinciple,iftheclaimantorthedefendantisnotsatisfiedwiththejudgmentrenderedbythecourtoffirstinstance,eachonecanlodgeanappealagainstthejudgment.IfoneofthepartiesisnotsatisfiedwiththeCourtofAppeal’sdecision,eachonewillbeentitledtocontestthesaiddecisionbeforetheSupremeCourt.

18.Doproceduresexistfortherecognitionandenforcementofforeignjudgmentsor

arbitralawards?

ItisnecessarytorequestanexequaturofaforeignjudgmentoraforeignarbitralawardinorderforforeignjudgmentstobeenforceableinGuinea.




resolvedisputes?

ThefollowingtypesofalternativedisputeresolutionareavailableinGuinea:conciliation,mediationandarbitration.However,arbitrationisthemostusedinGuinea.

Arbitrationisaprivateprocessfortheresolutionofadispute,inwhichpartieschooseonethirdpartyormore(ie arbitrator/s)tohelpthemexamineandsolvetheirdispute.Arbitrationprovisionsareinsertedincontractsbywayofanarbitrationclause(clause

compromissoire)oraseparateagreement(compromis)concludedbetweentheparties.Thesaiddisputeendsuponthepronunciationofadecisionbythearbitrator/s.Thatdecisionisbindingbetweentheparties.

Arbitrationprovidesanopportunityforpartiestosettletheirdisputewithoutgoingthroughcourtasthismechanismisquick,flexible,confidentialandcost-efficient.

23


CONTENTS PAGE







Inpractice,thepartiespayfortheirowncosts.However,thearbitratorcanalsodecidetoallocatethepaymentofthefeesbetweenthepartiesoronlytooneparty.



Alternativedisputeresolutionproceedingsareconfidential.






TheChambre d’Abitrage de Guinée(CAG)isthemainbodythatoffersandconductsalternativedisputeresolutioninGuineaConakry.PartiesarenotobligedtouseCAGforalternativedisputeresolutionproceedings.

ARBITRATION



Thedurationofarbitrationproceedingsvariesonacase-by-casebasisbuttakeslesstimethancourtproceedings.However,itisworthnotingthatthearbitrator’smissionisfixedinthearbitrationagreement.Itcannotexceedsixmonthsfromthedateoftheappointmentofthelastarbitrator.However,theperiodcanbeextendedeitherbyparties’consentorupononeparty’srequest.


proceedings?

Acourtwilldeclareitsincompetencetosettleadisputeinarbitrationproceedings.Itcanonlyinterveneinarbitrationproceedingsbyvirtueofaparty’srequesttoobtainaninterimrelieforprotectivemeasureincaseofmotivatedandjustifiedemergency.Thisisontheconditionthatthesemeasuresdonotinvolveexaminationofthemeritsofthedispute,asonlytheArbitralTribunaliscompetenttodothis.

Thearbitraltribunalisalsoentitledtorequesttheassistanceofthelocaljudgeintheeventthatsuchassistanceisrequiredforthemanagementofevidences.


grantinterimrelief?



todisclose?

Thearbitraltribunalcanrequestfromtheparties,explanations,argumentationandevidencesitdeemsnecessaryforthesettlementofthedispute.Thedocumentationincludesinteraliastatementsandexpertreports.





24

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE



AnarbitrationawardisenforcedbyvirtueofanexequaturgrantedbythecompetentCourtofAppealinGuinea.Thearbitralawardhasres

judicatainGuineanterritoryifitsatisfiesthefollowingconditions:

• thedecisionisenforceable;and• thedecisionisnotcontrarytopublic

policyinGuinea.


arbitrationaward?

No.Anarbitrationawardisnotsubjecttoanappeal.However,itissubjectonlytoanactionforcancellation.Theactionforcancellationisadmissibleonly:


• thearbitraltribunalwasirregularlyconstituted;


• iftheadversarialprinciplehasnotbeen• respected;and• intheeventofbreachoftheinternational

publicorder.

Theactionforcancellationisopenfromtheissuanceofthearbitralawardandremainsvalidwithinonemonthupontheaffixationoftheexequaturtothearbitralaward.




No.ForeignjudgementsandarbitrationawardscanberecognisedandenforcedonlybyvirtueofanexequaturgrantedbythecompetentCourtofAppealinGuinea.



Itdependsontheclauseofpaymentinsertedbythepartiesinthearbitrationagreement.

REFORM


ofthecourtsystemoralternative

disputeresolutionsystem?

No.

25


CONTENTS PAGE

Kenya

26

BOWMANS

CONTENTSPAGE

CONTENTS PAGE

DISPUTE RESOLUTION


ThelegalprofessioninKenyaisfused.Anadvocateisentitledtocarryoutanylegalworkandappearinanycourtwithoutlimitation(exceptwhereaminimumnumberofyearsofpost-qualificationexperienceisexpresslyrequired).



LitigationistheprimarymethodofsettlingcommercialdisputesinKenya.Othermethodsinorderofpriorityare(1)negotiation;(2)arbitration;(3)mediation;and(4)conciliation.



ForeignlawyersarenotpermittedtorepresentpartiesandconductlitigationproceedingsinKenyaunlesstheyhavefirstqualifiedtopracticeasadvocatesinKenyaandhaveobtainedpractisingcertificates.

However,theAttorney-Generalmay,inhis/herabsolutediscretion,permitaforeignpractitionertopracticeasanadvocateinKenyaifsuchperson:

• isentitledtoappearbeforethesuperiorcourtsofaCommonwealthcountry;

• hascomeorintendstocometoKenyaforthepurposeofappearing,actingoradvisinginaspecifiedsuitormatter;

• hasbeensoinstructedbytheAttorney-Generaloranadvocate;and

• isnotdisqualifiedorsuspendedfromactingasanadvocate.

Aforeignlawyerpermittedtopracticeasanadvocate:

• cannotpracticeuntilhe/shehaspaidaprescribedadmissionfeetotheregistraroftheHighCourt;

• isnotentitledtopracticeunlesshe/sheisinstructedby,andifappearingincourtappearswith,anadvocateoranofficerentitledtoactasanadvocate;and

• isnotentitledtosignorfileanypleadingsincourt.


claimmustbebrought?

TheLimitationofActionsActsetsthefollowingtimeperiods(fromthedateonwhichthecauseofactionaccrued)withinwhichcivilclaimsmustbebrought:

• threeyearsforanactionfoundedontort;• sixyearsforanactionbasedoncontract;• 12monthsforactionsfoundedonlibeland• slander;and• 12yearsforactionsfortherecoveryofland.

IntermsoftheEmploymentAct,2007,anactionarisingoutofanemploymentcontractortheActitselfmustbeinstitutedwithinthreeyearsaftertheact,neglectordefaultcomplained.Alternatively,inthecaseofcontinuinginjuryordamage,actionmustbeinstitutedwithin12monthsafterthecessationthereof.


TheAdvocatesRemunerationOrdercontainsschedulesthatprescribetheminimumfeeschargeablebyanadvocatefordifferenttypesofwork.Whereadvocatesandclientsdonotexpresslyagreeonadifferentbasisforfees,theAdvocatesRemunerationOrderapplies.

27


CONTENTS PAGE

Advocatesandtheirclientsareatlibertytoagreeonthefeechargeableforlegalworkcarriedout.However,thefeechargedbyanadvocatemustnotbelowerthanthatfixedintheAdvocatesRemunerationOrder(asrevisedandamendedfromtimetotime).



InKenya,fundingoflitigation(iechamperty)andcontingencyfeearrangementsarenotlawful.

THE COURT SYSTEM


TheKenyancourtsystemisdividedintosuperiorcourtsandsubordinatecourts.

ThesuperiorcourtscomprisetheSupremeCourt,theCourtofAppeal,theHighCourt,theEmploymentandLabourRelationsCourtandtheEnvironmentandLandCourt.

TheSupremeCourtisthehighestcourtinKenya.TheCourtofAppealisthesecondhighestcourt.TheHighCourt,theEmploymentandLabourRelationsCourtandtheEnvironmentalandLandCourthavethesamestatusandtheyarethethirdhighestcourtsinKenya.

ThesubordinatecourtscomprisetheMagistrates’Courts,theKadhis’Courts,theCourtsMartialandallothercourtsandtribunalsestablishedbyanyActofParliament.


particularcourt?

Yes,certaindisputesareallocatedtospecificcourts.Forexample:

• disputesrelatingtoelectionstotheofficeofPresidentcanonlybeheardanddeterminedbytheSupremeCourt;

• appealsfromtheHighCourt(wherearightofappealexistsorleavetoappealhasbeengranted)canonlybeheardanddeterminedbytheCourtofAppeal;

• disputesarisingoutofanemploymentcontractoranemploymentrelationship

canonlybeheardanddeterminedbytheEmploymentandLabourRelationsCourt;

• theHighCourthassupervisoryjurisdictionoversubordinatecourtsoranypersonorbodyperformingquasi-judicialfunctions(butnotoveranysuperiorcourt);

• thejurisdictionofMagistrates’Courtsislimitedtospecificsubjectmattervalues.Themaximumpecuniaryjurisdictionofcertainmagistratesandthecourtsthattheypresideoverisassetoutbelow:

•chiefmagistrate–KES7million; •seniorprincipalmagistrate–KES5million; •principalmagistrate–KES4million; •seniorresidentmagistrate–

KES3million;and •residentmagistrate–KES2million.


ofhighercourts?

Yes.



aclaim?

• Bankruptcycauses:thesearecivilproceedingsthatrelatetobankruptpersonsandtheirestates.

• Constitutionalpetitions:thesearecivilproceedingsthatrelatetotheinfringementorthreatenedinfringementofconstitutionalrightsprotectedundertheConstitutionofKenya,2010.

• Divorcecauses:thesearecivilproceedingsthatrelatetodissolutionofmarriages,therightsofdivorcingordivorcedpersonsasagainsteachotherandthedivisionofmatrimonialproperty.

• Industrial/employmentandlabourrelations

causes:thesearecivilproceedingsthatrelatetotherightsandobligationsofpartiestoemploymentcontractsandpersonswhoaredeemedtohaverightsandobligationsunderKenyanlabourlaw.

• Interpleaderproceedings:theseareproceedingscommencedbypersonsholdingpropertythatisbeingclaimedbytwoormorepeoplewithintereststhatareadversetoeachother.

• Judicialreviewcases:thesearecivilproceedingsthroughwhichtheactions

28

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE

anddecisionsofsubordinatecourtsandtribunals,administrativebodiesandquasi-judicialtribunalsmaybechallengedwithaviewtogettingtheHighCourttoexerciseitssupervisoryjurisdiction.Theadministrativebodiesinvolvedareusuallygovernmentdepartments,administrativetribunalsandotherpublicbodiessetupunderActsofParliamenttocarryoutspecificmandates.

• Ordinarycivilcases:thesearecivilproceedingsusuallyrelatingtoclaimsundercontractortort.Suchproceedingsarecommonlyinstitutedbywayofplaint(ororiginatingsummonsinsomecases).

• Successioncauses:thesearecivilproceedingsthatrelatetotheadministrationoftheestatesofdeceasedpersonsandtheresolutionofclaimsanddisputesrelatingtotheestatesofdeceasedpersons.

• Windingupcauses:thesearecivilproceedingsthatrelatetothewindingupandliquidationofcompaniesincorporatedundertheCompaniesAct.



Allproceedingsinthecourtareopentothepublicexceptinrespectofdivorcemattersandmatterswherechildrenareinvolved,wherethecourtmaydirectthatproceedingsshouldbeheldincamera.

Courtdocumentsarepublicdocumentsandtheyareinvariablyavailabletothepublic.



Yes,therearepre-trialproceedingsprescribedundertheCivilProcedureRules,2010(CivilProcedureRules).ThesearemodifiedfromtimetotimethroughpracticedirectionsissuedbytheChiefJustice.

Thecurrentpre-trialproceedingsintheHighCourtincludethefollowing:

• filingofpre-trialquestionnaires;• caseconferences:theseareconvened

within30daysafterthecloseofpleadingstodeterminethepertinentissues;

• filingoftrialconferencequestionnaire

forms;and• trialconferences:theseareconvenedat

least30daysbeforethehearingdateofasuittodeterminewaysofproducingevidence,allocatingsufficienttimefortrial,grantingleavetoamendpleadings,ifneed,beamongothers.ThepartiesthereaftersignamemorandumasprescribedundertheCivilProcedureRules.


proceedings?

CourtproceedingsinKenyaareadversarialinnature.Thejudgeisrequiredtobeneutralinthecontestunfoldingbeforehim/her.Theroleofthejudgeistoensurethetrialproceedsaccordingtotheproceduralrulesoftrialordueprocessoflawandthatevidenceenteredisdonesoaccordingtoestablishedrulesandguidelines.Oncethepartieshavefinalisedpresentingtheircases,thejudgeissuesajudgmentoranorderbasedonthelawandtheevidenceadduced.


todisclose?

TheCivilProcedureRulesrequirepartiestofurnishtheirevidenceinadvancebeforethecommencementofthetrial.Theseprovisionsarecouchedinmandatoryterms.Apartyinasuitisobligedtomakeafullandpromptdisclosureofalldocumentscurrentlyorpreviouslyinitspossessionthatarerelevanttotheissuesraisedinthecase(exceptlegallyprivilegeddocumentsasdiscussedbelow).

Duringacaseconference,thecourtisentitledtoconsidertheparties’compliancewiththerequirementsondisclosure.


Certaindocumentsareprivileged.Communicationsbetweenalawyerandhis/herclientarestrictlyprivileged.However,thereisanexceptionwhenitcomestomattersofillegalacts.

Medicalrecordsmustalsonotbedisclosedwithouttheconsentofthepatientconcernedunlessdisclosureisrequiredbylaw.

29


CONTENTS PAGE

Itisalsocommonpracticebyopposingpartiestoenterintonegotiationsinanefforttosettlependingmatterswithoutfearofprejudicingtheirclient’sclaim.Anydocumentand/orstatementmadewiththeintentofsettlingadisputeisnotadmissibleincourtproceedings.Inpracticesuchdocumentsaremarked‘withoutprejudice’.

Documentsemanatingfromtheofficialstatusofapersonarealsoprivilege.Suchprivilegeincludestheprivilegeofjudgesandmagistrates,publicofficersinconnectionwithofficialinformation.


InKenyancourts,evidenceispredominantlypresentedthroughtheoralevidence(viva-voceevidence)ofwitnesses.Documentaryevidencemayalsobeproducedbywitnesses.Witnessesareusuallysubjectedtocrossexamination.However,ininterlocutoryproceedingsevidenceismainlypresentedtothecourtbywayofaffidavits.



Yes,interimremediesareavailabletoapartybeforeandduringcivilcourtproceedings.Suchinterimremediesinclude:

• injunctions;• arrestand/orattachmentbeforejudgment;• appointmentofreceivers;• orderforacommission;and• securityforcosts.

Oftheabove,injunctionsarethemostcommoninterlocutoryremediessoughtbylitigantsinKenya.

Aninterlocutory/interim/temporaryinjunctionislimitedsoastoapplyonlypendingthehearinganddeterminationofthemainsuit.Theinjunctioniscommonlygrantedasandwhenitisbroughttothecourt’sattentionthatthesubjectmatterinquestionisinimminentdangerofdestructionordisposalsoastoprotecttheplaintiff’sinterestinit.

Suchapplicationsmaybemadeandgrantedex parteiftheyarefoundbythecourttobeofanurgentnature.

Forapartytobeentitledtoaninterlocutory/interim/temporaryinjunction,heorshemustsatisfythreeconditions,that:

• itisaprimafaciecasewithahighprobabilityofsuccess;

• thereisirreparableinjurythatcannotbecompensatedwithdamages;and

• thebalanceofconveniencefavoursthepartymakinganapplicationforinterimrelief.


TheenforcementofcourtordersandjudgmentsinKenyaisgovernedtheCivilProcedureRules.Apartyinwhosefavourajudgmenthasbeengiven(iethedecreeholder)willberequiredtoextractadecreefromthecourtinordertoensureitisenforced.

Thecourtmayontheapplicationofthedecreeholder,ordertheexecutionofanorderby:

• deliveryofanypropertydecreedagainst;• attachmentandsale,orsalewithout

attachment;• attachmentofdebts;• arrestanddetentioninprisonofanyperson;• appointingareceiver;or• insuchothermannerasthenatureofthe

reliefmayrequire.


courtproceedings?

InKenya,theestimatedaveragedurationofcourtproceedingsisthreetofiveyears.However,acasecouldtakeashorterorlongerperiodasthefactorsinvolvedarenumerous.

TheCivilProcedureRuleshaveattemptedtoclassifycasesinthreecategoriesbasedonthelikelydurationofproceedings(andinonecase,basedonthevalueofthesubjectmatter)asfollows:

• Smallclaims:referstoasimpleclaim,involvingnotmorethantwopartiesandwhosemonetaryvaluedoesnotexceedKES49,999.Suchclaimswilllikelybeconcludedwithin100daysafterthepre-trialdirectionsaregiven;

• Fasttrack:referstoacasewithundisputedfactsandlegalissues;relativelyfewparties;

30

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE

andwouldlikelybeconcludedwithin180daysafterthepretrialdirectionsaregiven;and

• Multi-track:referstoacasewithcomplexfactsandlegalissuesorseveralpartiesandwhichwouldlikelybeconcludedwithin240days.

Thedurationsreferredtoaboveare,inpractice,notusuallyachievable.


awardcosts?

Yes,thecourthaspowertoawardcostsatitsdiscretion.

Asageneralrule,costswillfollowtheevent,meaningthatthesuccessfulpartywillbeawardedcosts.However,thecourtmay,forgoodreason,refusetoawardcostsorlimittheamountofcostsrecoverablebythesuccessfulparty.



Thereisnoabsoluterulethatrequiresforeignplaintiffstoprovidesecurityforcosts.However,thecourthasdiscretiontoordersecurityforcostsinappropriatecaseswhereaplaintiffresidesoutsideKenyaorwheretheplaintiffdoesnothavesufficientimmoveablepropertywithinKenya.Thepurposeofthisruleistoprovideprotectiontothedefendantwhereitappearsverylikelythathe/shewillhavedifficultyrealisingthecostsincurredinlitigation.


Legalfeesareonlyrecoverabletotheextentoftheamountofcostsawardedbythecourt.Therecoverableamountisalmostalwaysasmallfractionofthelegalfeesactuallyincurred.Ifcostsareawardedbythecourttheamountofcostsrecoverablebythepartytowhomtheawardhasbeengivenisusuallydeterminedthroughaprocesscalledtaxation.

17.Onwhatgroundscanpartiesappealor

reviewanordergrantedbyacourt?

Anypersonwhoisdissatisfiedwithanordergrantedbyacourtmayappealagainstthe

orderaslongasthelawexpresslypermitsthis.Wherethelawdoesnotexpresslypermitthefilingofanappealagainstsuchanorder,anappealcanonlybefiledifthecourthasgrantedleavetoappeal.

Anypersonwhoisaggrievedbyanordergrantedbyacourtmayapplyforareviewofthatorderonthefollowinggrounds:

• wherethereisamistakeorerrorapparentonthefaceoftherecord;

• wheretherehasbeendiscoveryofanewandimportantmatterorevidence(suchamatterorevidencemustbeonewhich,aftertheexerciseofduediligence,wasnotwithintheperson’sknowledgeorcouldnotbeproducedbyhim/heratthetimewhentheorderwasmade);and/or

• wherethereisasufficientreason.



arbitralawards?

Yes,thereareproceduresforrecognitionandenforcementofforeignjudgmentsandarbitralawards.

• Enforcementofforeignjudgments:theenforcementofforeignjudgmentsinKenyaisgovernedbytheForeignJudgments(ReciprocalEnforcement)Act(ForeignJudgmentsAct).UnderthisAct,judgmentsforadefinitesumgivenbycourtsofreciprocatingjurisdictions,orawardsinarbitrationproceedingsheldinreciprocatingjurisdictionswheresuchawardshavebecomeenforceableinthesamemannerasajudgment(anapplicabledecision),willberecognisedandenforcedbytheHighCourtofKenyawithoutre-trialorexaminationofthemeritsofthecaseprovidedthat:•theapplicabledecisionhasbeenregistered

atthecourtwithinsixyearsofthedateoftheapplicabledecisionor,wheretherehavebeenproceedingsbywayofappealagainsttheapplicabledecision,withinsixyearsofthedateoflastjudgmentorawardintheproceedings;

•thecourtissatisfiedthatpapersrelatingtosuchproceedingshavebeenproperlyserved;

31


CONTENTS PAGE

•thecourtissatisfiedthatthedefendantreceivednoticeofsuchproceedingsinsufficienttimetoenablethedefendanttodefendtheproceedings;

•theapplicabledecisionisnotcontrarytothepublicpolicyofKenya;

•theapplicabledecisiondoesnotrelatetotherecoveryofanypenaltyorpenaltyinterest(albeitthatamountsmayberecoverabletotheextentthattheydonotrelatetoanypenaltyorpenaltyinterest);and

•theapplicabledecisionwasnotobtainedbyfraud.

TheForeignJudgmentsAct,however,doesnotapplytojudgmentsofcourtsorarbitralawardsobtainedinanystateswhichhavenotenteredintoreciprocalenforcementagreementswithKenya.

• Enforcementofforeignarbitralawards:aforeignarbitralawardmadeinacountrythatisacontractingstatetotheNewYorkConventiononRecognitionandEnforcementofForeignArbitralAwardsisenforceableinKenya.

TheenforcementprocessinvolvesfilingthearbitralwardintheHighCourtofKenyaandfilinganexparteapplicationundertheArbitrationActforitsenforcement.




resolvedisputes?

ThemainalternativedisputeresolutionmethodsavailableinKenyaare:

• Negotiation:thisisaninformalprocessandoneofthemostfundamentalmethodsofconflictresolution,offeringpartiesmaximumcontrolovertheprocess.Itoffersamutuallyacceptablesolutionwithoutthehelpofathirdpartyandthemainfocusofnegotiationsisthecommoninterestsofthepartiesratherthantheirrelativepowerorposition.

• Conciliation:Inconciliationathirdparty,calledaconciliator,restoresdamagedrelationshipsbetweendisputingpartiesbybringingthemtogether,clarifyingperceptionsandpointingoutmisperceptions.Thismethodofalternativedisputeresolutioniscommonlyusedtoresolveemploymentandlabourrelationsdisputes.

• Mediation:Thisisavoluntary,informal,consensual,strictlyconfidentialandnonbindingdisputeresolutionprocesswhereaneutralthirdpartyhelpsthepartiestoreachanegotiatedsolution.

• Arbitration.




Thereisnomandatoryrequirementforpartiestocommerciallitigationtosubmittoalternativedisputeresolutionproceedings.However,intermsoftheCivilProcedureAct,thecourtsmay,eitherontheapplicationofthepartiesoronitsownmotion,referacommercialdisputetoalternativedisputeresolutionmechanisms.



Inalternativedisputeresolutionproceedingspartiesgenerallyagreethateachpartywillbeartheirowncostsandexpensesandthepartieswillsharethecostsofanythirdpartyinvolvedinfacilitatingtheresolutionofthedispute(example,conciliatorormediator).

Inarbitration,thecostsofarbitrationmaybe:

• agreeduponbytheparties;• fixedbythearbitratoraspartofthearbitral

awardintheabsenceofanagreement;or• shared,witheachpartybearingitsownlegal

andotherexpensesandthepartiesequallysharingthefeesandexpensesofthearbitraltribunalandanyotherexpensesrelatingtothearbitration.



Yes,alternativedisputeresolutionproceedingsareconfidential.

32

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE






TheCharteredInstituteofArbitrators,DisputeResolutionCentreandMediationTrainingInstitutearecurrentlythemainbodiesthatofferalternativedisputeresolutioninKenya.Partiesarenotobligedtousethesebodies.Theyarefreetostateintheiragreementshowthealternativedisputeresolutionproceedingswillbecarriedoutandwhichbodywilloverseetheproceedings.Thepartiesarealsofreetochooseindividualqualifiedarbitrators.

ARBITRATION



ThedurationofarbitrationproceedingsinKenyavariesdependingonthecomplexityofthesubjectmatter,theefficiencyandenthusiasmoftheparties,therespectiveschedulesofthepartiesandthearbitratorandhis/herefficiency.

ArbitrationproceedingsinKenyagenerallytakebetweensixmonthsandthreeyears.


proceedings?

Yes,acourtcaninterveneinarbitrationproceedingsbutthelevelandinstancesofinterventionarelimited.

UndertheArbitrationActtheinstancesinwhichacourtmayinterveneinarbitrationproceedingsinclude:

• determinationoftheenforceabilityofarbitrationagreements;

• grantinginterimmeasuresofprotection;• settingasidetheappointmentofanarbitrator;• appointinganarbitratorwherenonehas

beenappointed;• assistingintakingofevidence;• removinganarbitrator;• settingasideofarbitralawards;

• enforcementofarbitralawards;and• hearinganddeterminingappeals,wherea

rightofappealfromthedecisionofanarbitraltribunalliestothecourt.


interimrelief?

Yes,anarbitratorhaspowertograntinterimreliefandmeasuresofprotectionashemayconsidernecessary.


todisclose?

Thereisnomandatoryrequirementtodiscloseanydocuments.Partiesdisclosedocumentsthatarerelevanttotheircases.Thedisclosureandexchangeofdocumentsandotherinformationisagreeduponbythepartiesandthearbitratorduringthepreliminaryarbitrationschedulingmeetings.


Certaindocumentsareprivileged.Communicationsbetweenalawyerandhis/herclientarestrictlyprivileged.

Medicalrecordsmustalsonotbedisclosedwithouttheconsentofthepatientconcernedunlessdisclosureisrequiredbylaw.

Itisalsocommonpracticebyopposingpartiestoenterintonegotiationsinanefforttosettlependingmatterswithoutfearofprejudicingtheirclients’claims.Anydocumentand/orstatementmadewiththeintentofsettlingadisputeisnotadmissibleincourtproceedings.Inpracticesuchdocumentsaremarked‘withoutprejudice’.

Documentsemanatingfromtheofficialstatusofapersonarealsoprivileged.Suchprivilegeincludestheprivilegeofjudgesandmagistratesandpublicofficersinconnectionwithofficialinformation.


Inarbitrationproceedings,evidencemaybepresentedinanymanneragreedbytheparties.Intheabsenceofanagreement,thearbitral

33


CONTENTS PAGE

tribunalisentitledtodecidewhethertoholdanoralhearingforthepresentationofevidenceorrequirethattheproceedingsshallbeconductedonthebasisofdocuments.

Theoralhearingandthepresentationoforalevidenceatthehearingusuallyfollowsthesameformatusedincourts.


AnarbitrationawardmaybeenforcedinthesamemannerasadecreeororderissuedbytheHighCourtonlyifitsenforcementispermittedbytheHighCourt.

Thearbitrationawardsoughttobeenforcedmustfirstbefiledincourtandanapplicationforenforcementfiled.OncetheHighCourtgrantstheapplicationforenforcement,thearbitrationawardbecomesenforceableasajudgmentoftheHighCourtandthemethodsofexecutiondiscussedabovebecomeavailable.8.Isitpossibletoappealanarbitrationaward?

Itispossibletoappealanawardgiveninadomesticarbitrationifthepartieshaveexpresslyagreedthatanappealmaybemadetoacourt.Wherenorightofappealhasbeenexpresslyreservedbythepartiesinthearbitrationagreement,thearbitrationawardcanonlybechallengedthroughanapplicationforsettingaside.

TheHighCourtwillsetasideanarbitralawardifthepartymakingtheapplicationfurnishesproofthat:

• apartytothearbitrationagreementwasundersomeincapacity;

• thearbitrationagreementisinvalidunderthelawtowhichthepartieshavesubjecteditor,failinganyindicationofthatlaw,thelawsofKenya;

• thepartymakingtheapplicationwasnotgivenpropernoticeoftheappointmentofanarbitratororthearbitralproceedingsorwasotherwiseunabletopresentitscase;

• thearbitralawarddealswithadisputenotcontemplatedbyornotfallingwithinthetermsofthereferencetothearbitration,

orcontainsdecisionsonmattersbeyondthescopeofthereferencetoarbitration;

• thecompositionofthetribunalortheconductofthearbitralproceedingsdidnotaccordwiththeagreementofthepartiesortheact;or

• themakingoftheawardwasinducedoraffectedbyfraud,bribery,undueinfluenceorcorruption.

Additionally,theHighCourtwillsetasideanarbitralawardifitfindsthatthesubjectmatterofthedisputeisincapableofsettlementbyarbitrationunderthelawsofKenyaortheawardconflictswiththepublicpolicyofKenya.



arbitrationproceedings?Foreignjudgmentsandarbitralawardscannotbeenforcedbywayofarbitrationproceedings.


securityforcosts?

Thereisnorulethatrequiresforeignclaimantstoprovidesecurityforcosts.Ifthepartiestoanarbitrationdonotexpresslyrestrictanarbitrator’spowertoordersecurityforcosts,anarbitratormayontheapplicationofapartyorderaclaimanttoprovidesecurityforcosts.

REFORM



resolutionsystem?

Therearenoproposedreformstothecourtsystemorthealternativedisputeresolutionsystem.

TheKenyanjudiciaryhasproposedplansforreformoftheKenyanjudiciarybytheintroductionofvariousmeasuresincludingtheuseofautomationsystemswithinthecourts.Theprocessofjudicialreformsison-going.

34

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE35


CONTENTS PAGE

Madagascar

BOWMANS

36CONTENTSPAGE

CONTENTS PAGE

DISPUTE RESOLUTION


InMadagascar,attorneyscalled‘Avocats’(similartobarristers),aretheonlylegalpractitionersentitledtopleadbeforeMalagasycourts. Avocatscanacceptworkdirectlyfromthepublic.ThereisalsoamandatorynominationofAvocats called‘commission d’office’inspecificcasessuchasinacriminalcaseinvolvingadefendantthatisdestitute.



Commercialcourtshavejurisdictionovercommercialdisputes.Commercialdisputescanalsobesettledbyarbitration.TherearetwotypesofarbitrationinMadagascar–localarbitrationandinternationalarbitration.



OnlyFrenchAvocats areentitledtoconductcasesintheMalagasycourts.ThisisasaresultofacooperationagreementbetweenMadagascarandFrance.


claimmustbebrought?

Allcivilclaimsmustbebroughtwithinaperiodof30years.


Avocat’sfeesarenegotiatedbetweentheAvocatandhis/herclient.

Avocatsgenerallychargetheirclientsonarateperdaybasisoronarateperhourbasis.Theymayalsochargeafixedamountforafile.

Avocatsmayalsochargetheirclientsforeachstepoftheproceedings(forexample,afixedfeeforthefirstinstanceproceedings,anotherfixedfeeforhandlinganappealifanyandafixedfeefortheproceedingsbeforetheCourtofCassationifany).



contingencyfees?

Litigationcanbefundedbyathirdparty.ContingencyfeesareforbiddeninMadagascar.

THE COURT SYSTEM


TheMalagasycourtsystemhasthefollowingstructure:

• atthebottomofthecourtsystemare39courtsoffirstinstance.Amongthese,thereareCommercialCourtsandLabourCourts.TherearecourtsoffirstinstanceinmajorareasincludingAmbatondrazaka,Antsirabe,AntananarivoandToamasina;

• theseconddegreeoftheMalagasycourtsystemistheCourtofAppeal.Anappealcanbelodgedagainstadecisionofanyofthecourtsoffirstinstance.TherearesixCourtsofAppealinMadagascarwhicharebasedinAntananarivo,Diego,Fianarantsoa,Majunga,TamataveandTulear;and

• theCourtofCassationisthehighestcourtinMadagascar.ItcontrolsthelegalityofthedecisionshandeddownbytheCourtsofAppealandthecourtsoffirstinstance.IthasjurisdictionovertheentireterritoryofMadagascar.

37


CONTENTS PAGE

2.Arecertaintypesofdisputesallocatedto

aparticularcourt?

Yes.Forexample,CommercialCourtshavejurisdictionoverthefollowingdisputes:

• disputesthataretheresultofanactofmerchant;

• disputesinvolvingshareholdersinacommercialcompany;

• insolvencycases;and• hybridactsifthesaidactshavea

commercialnaturefromthedefendant’sperspective.


highercourts?

Decisionsrenderedbyhighercourtsarebindingonthelowercourts.



aclaim?

Therearetwotypesofcivilproceedingsincourttoenforceaclaim.Apartycanaskforajudgmentonthemeritsor,incaseofanemergency,askforasummaryjudgmentalsocalled‘procédure de référé’.



Inprinciple,courtproceedingsareheldinpublic.However,ifsuchproceedingsaredeemedtobedangerous,confidentialproceedingswilltakeplace.Courtdocumentsarealwaysconfidential.



No.


civilproceedings?

Therolesofajudgeincivilproceedingsaresettling:

• litigationbetweentheparties;• familylitigationsarisingfromthewedding,

divorce,death,ordifficultyrelatingtoachild’seducation;

• litigationrelatingtoownershipissues,debtsnotrecovered,andbreachofacontract;and

• litigationarisingfromlabourrelationships.


todisclose?

Partiesarerequiredtodisclosealldocumentscurrentlyorpreviouslyintheirpossession,thatarerelevanttothecase.Apartyisrequiredtomakeadisclosurewithinthreeworkingdaysifthecommunicationsperiodisnotprovidedbyajudgment.


Yes,communicationsbetweenan Avocatandhis/herclientarestrictlyprivileged.Anin-houseAvocat’slegaladvicetohis/hercompanywouldberegardedasprivileged.Documentspreparedincontemplationoforinpreparationforlitigationarealsoprivileged.


Evidencecanbepresentedinwritingororally.However,forcivilmatters,evidencemustbeinwriting.



Yes,interimremediessuchasaprotectiveseizureofassetsandfreezingaccounts,areavailabletoapartybeforeorduringcivilcourtproceedings.Theaimofinterimremediesistopreventtheriskofthedefendantdissipatingmonetaryassetsorthedestructionofevidence.



Acourtorderisenforcedandimplementedbythebailiffwiththeassistanceofthepoliceforceifrequired.

38

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE


courtproceedings?

Theestimateddurationofcourtproceedingsvariesonacase-by-casebasis.Typically,thedurationofcourtproceedingsis:

• 12monthsifthecaseisinthecourtoffirstinstance;

• 24monthsifthecaseisinanAppealCourt;and

• fourtofiveyearsifthecaseisinaCourtofCassation.

14.Doesacourthavethepowertoawardcosts?

Yes,ifthejudgmentincludesdamagesaskedbytheclaimant.Italsocontainsfeesandcosts(whichrepresentcourtcosts).Thelosingpartymustpaythefeesandcosts.


securityforcosts?

Yes,ifaMalagasydefenderrequeststhattheforeignclaimantsprovidesecurityforcosts.Thesecurityforcostsiscalled‘cautio

judicatum solvi’.


Yes.Thelosingpartymustpayallcourtcosts.17.Onwhatgroundscanpartiesappealor


Inprinciple,iftheclaimantorthedefendantisnotsatisfiedwiththejudgmentrenderedbythecourtoffirstinstance,eachonecanlodgeanappealagainstthejudgment.IfoneofthepartiesisnotsatisfiedwiththeCourtofAppeal’sdecision,eachoneisentitledtocontestthesaiddecisionbeforetheCourtofCassation.



arbitralawards?

FortheforeignjudgmentorarbitralawardtobeenforceableinMadagascaritisnecessarytorequestanexequaturofaforeignjudgmentoraforeignarbitralaward.ThepartyrequestingsuchanexequaturmustmakeanapplicationattheAppealCourtofAntananarivo.



resolutionmethodsavailabletoresolvedisputes?

ThefollowingtypesofalternativedisputeresolutionareavailableinMadagascar:

• Conciliation:thisconsistsofpartiestoadisputeamicablyseekingasolutiontothedisputewiththeassistanceofaconciliator,whoischosenbythepartiesandactsasaneutralthirdparty.Themaindutiesofaconciliatorincludehearingtheargumentsofthepartiesandsuggestingasolutiontothem.Thepartiesmayormaynotfollowthesuggestedsolutionormayamendit.

• Transaction:thisisanagreement,whichintendstoendorpreventacurrent/futuredisputerelatingtoabreachofacontract.Thetransactionmustbeinwrittenform.Theexistenceofthetransactionmeansthatthedisputeendsandthereisnoneedtobringthecasetocourt.

• Mediation:thisisadisputeresolutionprocessthroughwhichathirdparty(amediator)chosenbythepartieshelpsthepartiestofindanagreedsolution.

• Arbitration:thisisaprivateprocessfortheresolutionofadispute.Adisputeissubmittedtooneormorearbitrators,whicharechosenbythepartiestorenderabindingdecisiononthedispute(iethearbitralaward).Arbitrationprovisionsareinsertedincontractsbywayofarbitrationclauses(clause compromissoire)orseparateagreements(compromis)concludedbetweentheparties.

Conciliationandtransactionarethemostusedmethodsofamicablysettlingdisputes.Theprocessesareflexible,allowingpartiestodefinethetime,structureandcontentoftheconciliationproceedings.Thealsodonotinvolveanycosts.

Mediationandarbitrationproceedingsaremainlyusedifthedisputeinvolvesaninternationaltransaction.Theyarequickerthancourtproceedings.

39


CONTENTS PAGE

2.Arepartiestocommerciallitigationrequired

tosubmittoalternativedisputeresolution

proceedings?




Thereisnochargeregardingconciliationandtransaction.Thefeesregardingmediationandarbitrationproceedingsdependonthequantumofthedisputeandthecomplexityofthecase.Inpractice,partiespayfortheirowncostsandsharethemediatorandarbitrator’sfeesbetweenthemunlessotherwisedecided.



Yes.






The Centre d’Arbitrage et de Mediation de

Madagascar(CAMM)isthemainbodythatoffersandconductsalternativedisputeresolutioninMadagascar.

PartiesarenotobligedtouseCAMMforalternativeresolutionproceedings.

ARBITRATION



Thedurationofarbitrationproceedingsvariesonacase-by-casebasisandthereisnospecificestimatedduration.


proceedings?

Acourtcanonlyinterveneinarbitrationproceedingsbyvirtueofaparty’srequesttoobtaininterimreliefbeforeorduringthearbitrationproceedings.TherequestislodgedwiththeFirstPresidentoftheAppealCourtofAntananarivo.


interimrelief?

Yes.Thearbitrator,appointedbythepartiestosettlethedispute,hasthepower,attherequestofaparty,tograntaninterimmeasure.Thearbitratorwillrequireapartytoprovidetheappropriatefeesforthis.


todisclose?

Alldocumentsrequiredbythearbitraltribunalmustbedisclosed.Allstatements,documents,anyexpertreportorinformationthatapartyprovidestothearbitraltribunalshallbedisclosedandcommunicatedtotheotherparty.


No.Therearenodocumentsregardedasprivileged.Alldocumentsthatthearbitraltribunalmayrelyontorenderadecisionmustbecommunicated.


Partiesarefreetoagreeontheproceduretobefollowedbythearbitraltribunal.Failingsuchagreement,thearbitraltribunalmayconductthearbitrationasitconsidersappropriate.Thearbitraltribunalhasthepowertodeterminetheadmissibility,relevanceandsignificanceofanyevidencepresented.


40

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE

Unlessotherwiseagreedbytheparties,thearbitraltribunalshalldeterminewhethertheproceedingsmustcontainoralhearingsforpresentationofevidenceorfororalargument.Inthisregard,thearbitraltribunalshallholdsuchhearingsatanappropriatestageoftheproceedings.


AnarbitrationawardisenforcedbyvirtueofanexequaturgrantedbytheAppealCourtofAntananarivo.


No,anarbitrationisnotsubjecttoanappeal.ItissubjectonlytoanactionforacancellationattheAppealCourtofAntananarivo.Anarbitrationawardcanonlybecancelledwhentheapplicantforthecancellationprovesthat:

• oneofthepartieswasundersomeincapacityorthearbitralagreementisnotvalidunderthelawchosenbythepartiesor,intheabsenceofchoiceofapplicablelaw,underprivateinternationallawrules;

• oneofthepartieswasnotdulyinformedoftheappointmentofanarbitratororofthearbitralproceedingsorhe/shewasnotabletoasserthis/herrights;

• thearbitralawarddealswithadisputenotprovidedbythearbitralagreementornotfallingintheprovisionsofthearbitrationclauseoritcontainsdecisionswhicharebeyondthescopeoftheprovisionoftheagreementorthearbitrationclause.However,iftheprovisionsoftheawardcanbeseparatedfromthoserelatingtonon-arbitralissues,onlythepartoftheawardthatcontainsdecisionsonmattersnotsubmittedtoarbitrationmaybecancelled;

• theconstitutionofthearbitralcourtorthearbitralprocedurewasnotmadeinaccordancewiththearbitralagreement,withthechosenarbitrationrules,withthelawofacountrychosenbythepartiesorrulesrelatingtotheconstitutionofthearbitralcourt;or

• wherethecourtfindsthatthedisputedoesnotfallwithinthescopeofanarbitrationsettlementorthearbitralawardiscontrarytotheinternationalpublicorder.




No.ForeignjudgementsandarbitrationawardscanberecognisedandenforcedonlybyvirtueofanexequaturgrantedbytheAppealCourtofAntananarivo.



Whetherornotaforeignclaimantwillberequiredtopaysecurityforcostsdependsontheclauseofpaymentincludedbythepartiesinthearbitrationagreement.

REFORM



resolutionsystem?

No.

41


CONTENTS PAGE

South Africa

BOWMANS

42CONTENTSPAGE

CONTENTS PAGE

DISPUTE RESOLUTION


TheSouthAfricanlegalprofessionissimilartotheEnglishlegalprofessioninthatthereisasplitbarandlegalpractitionerspracticeaseitherattorneys(solicitors)oradvocates(barristers).Advocatesarebriefedbyattorneysandcannotacceptinstructionsdirectlyfromthepublic.

Generally,advocatesappearandarguemattersincourtalthoughanattorneymayapplyforarightofappearancetobeheardincourt.TheLegalPracticeActwasrecentlyenactedandaimstoprovidealegislativeframeworkforthetransformationandrestructuringofthelegalprofession.Theintentionofthislegislationisforattorneysandadvocatestoberegulatedbyoneprofessionalbody.



CommercialdisputesaregenerallysettledintheHighCourtofSouthAfrica.TheHighCourthasjurisdictiontoheardisputeswithaclaimvalueofmorethanZAR400000andtheMagistratesCourtshavejurisdictiontoheardisputeswithaclaimvaluelowerthanZAR400000.

Disputeresolutionproceedingsincourtaretypicallyadversarial.Incommercialdisputes,apartyisrequiredtoproveitsclaimonabalanceofprobabilitiesinorderforacourttofindinitsfavour.

AlternativedisputeresolutionisfastbecomingamorecommonmethodofresolvingcommercialdisputesinSouthAfrica.Alternativedisputeresolutionmethodsareusedoutside,orinadditionto,formalcourtproceedingsandareperceivedtobebeneficialinthatproceedingsareconfidential,

expeditedandcosteffective.Partiesarealsoabletoappointthemediatororarbitrator.Mediationandarbitrationarethemostcommonformsofalternativedisputeresolution.



Foreignlawyersareprohibitedfromappearingonbehalfofpartiesinlitigationproceedings.


claimmustbebrought?

InSouthAfricanlaw,thelimitationonthetimeperiodwithinwhichaclaimmaybeinstitutedisdeterminedbythePrescriptionAct.Thelimitationisknownasextinctiveprescriptionandarighttoenforceaclaimisextinguishedbyoperationoflawafterthelapseofaprescribedtimeperiod.Theperiodsofprescriptionare:

• 30yearsforanydebtsecuredbyamortgagebond;judgmentdebt;anydebtinrespectofanytaxationimposedorleviedbyorunderanylaw;anydebtowedtotheStateinrespectofanyshareofroyalties,profitsorsimilarconsiderationpayableinrespectoftherighttominemineralsorothersubstances;

• 15yearsforanydebtowedtotheStateandwhicharoseoutofanadvanceloanofmoney,saleorleaseoflandbytheStatetothedebtor(unlessalongerprescriptionperiodisapplicableinregardtothisdebt);

• sixyearsforanydebtarisingoutofbillsofexchangeorothernegotiableinstrumentssuchascheques;andanydebtarisingfromnotarialcontracts(unlessalongerprescriptionperiodisapplicable);and

• threeyearsforanydebtnotmentionedaboveorspecificallymentionedinotherlegislation.

43


CONTENTS PAGE

Prescriptioniscalculatedfromthedateonwhichthedebtbecamedue.Adebtisduewhenthecauseofactioniscomplete.Thismeansthat:

• thecreditormustbeabletoclaimpaymentimmediately;and

• thedebtordoesnothaveadefencetothecreditor’sclaimforimmediatepayment.

Thecauseofactionmustbecompleteatthetimesummonsisissued.Therunningofprescriptionisinterruptedbythevalidissueandserviceofasummonsorothercourtprocess.


Thefeechargedbyattorneysandadvocatesisbasedonarateperdayorperhour.AlthoughtheHighCourtandMagistrates’Courteachhaveasettariffoffees,theratesaregenerallydeterminedbytheattorneyoradvocate.

Thereisalongstandingpracticeinwhichattorneysguaranteepaymentofanadvocate’sfeeeventhoughanadvocateisbriefedonbehalfofaclient.



contingencyfees?

Litigationistypicallyfundedbythepartiesthemselves,howeverthirdpartyfundingisbecomingmorefrequent.

Thirdpartyfundersareatriskasathirdpartyfundermaybejoined,againstitswill,toproceedingsinordertoallowasuccessfulopposingpartytoobtaincostsdirectlyfromthefunder.

ContingencyfeescanbearrangedprovidedthatthestrictrequirementsimposedbytheLawSocietyandtheContingencyFeesActrelatingtocontingencyfeesaremet.Intermsoftheserules,alegalpractitionerisentitledtochargedoublehis/hernormalfeeor25%oftheamountawardedinfavourofhis/herclient(whicheverislower).

Acontingencyfeearrangementthatdoesnotcomplywiththerequirementsrelatingtocontingencyfeesisinvalidandunenforceable.

THE COURT SYSTEM


ThereisahierarchyofcourtsinSouthAfrica–theConstitutionalCourt,SupremeCourtofAppeal,HighCourtsandMagistrates’Courts.LocalandinternationallitigationistypicallyheardintheHighCourts.

DisputesthatareofamonetaryvaluegreaterthanZAR400,000areheardintheappropriatedivisionoftheHighCourtconcerned.TheHighCourtsareseatedinvariousmajorcommercialcentressuchasCapeTown,Durban,JohannesburgandPretoria.

Thecourtwheretheactionorapplicationisinstitutedisrequiredtohavejurisdictionoverthematterinordertohearit.Thisisestablishedwhenthecauseofactionaroseintheareaofthespecificseatofcourtand/orthedefendantresidesorisdomiciledwithintheareaofthatseatofcourt.

DecisionsofaMagistrates’CourtcanbetakenonrevieworappealtotheHighCourt.AdecisionbytheHighCourtcanbetakenonappealbeforeafullbenchofthesamecourtortheSupremeCourtofAppealand,inlimitedinstances,theConstitutionalCourt.

TheSupremeCourtofAppealsitsinBloemfonteinandisthehighestappellatecourtforcommercialdisputeswhichdonotraiseconstitutionalissuesandwhicharenotdeemedtoraisepointsoflawwhichareofgeneralpublicimportancebytheConstitutionalCourt.


particularcourt?

Apartfromtheprescribedmonetarylimitsformatters,certaintypesofdisputesarealsoallocatedtoparticularspecialisedcourtsandtribunalsasaresultofthenatureofthedispute.

AlthoughnotformallyseparatedivisionsoftheHighCourt,thefollowingcourtsandtribunals(notanexhaustivelist)hearsomespecificdisputes:

• AdmiraltyCourt:eachprovincialandlocaldivisionoftheHighCourthasjurisdiction

44

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE

toadjudicateonanymaritimeclaim,irrespectiveofthe:

•placewheretheclaimarose; •placeofregistrationoftheship

concerned;or •residence,domicileornationalityof

theowneroftheship.

• LabourCourt:thiscourthasexclusivejurisdictioninrespectofallmattersintermsoftheLabourRelationsActoranyotherlawrelevanttotheLabourCourt.

• LandClaimsCourt:thiscourthasexclusivejurisdictiontodetermine,interalia,arighttorestitutionofanylandinaccordancewiththeRestitutionofLandRightsAct,titletosuchlandandissuesofcompensationinrespectofappropriationofland.

• EqualityCourt:thiscourthearscomplaintsofunfairdiscrimination.

• SpecialIncomeTaxCourt:thiscourthearsappealsbypersonsdissatisfiedwiththedecisionsmadebythecommissionerfortheSouthAfricanRevenueServices.

• TheCommissionerofPatents:theCommissionerofPatentsisaHighCourtjudgewhohasbeendesignatedtohearpatentdisputesunderthePatentsAct.

• TheCopyrightTribunal:theCommissionerofPatentsalsohearscopyrightlicensingdisputesintheCopyrightTribunal.

• TheCompetitionTribunal:thistribunaldealswithcompetitionlawissues.

• TheCompaniesTribunal:thisisanewlyestablishedbodyundertheCompaniesAct.ItsfunctionsincludeadjudicatinginrelationtoanyapplicationthatmaybemadetoitintermsoftheCompaniesActandservingasaforumforthevoluntaryresolutionsofdisputes.

• TheNationalConsumerTribunal:theNationalConsumerTribunalisanadjudicativebodyestablishedintermsoftheNationalCreditAct.


ofhighercourts?

Yes,SouthAfricahaswhatiscalledthedoctrineofprecedent.Intermsofthisdoctrine,thelowercourtsareboundbythedecisionsofthehighercourts.TheMagistrates’Courtsareboundby

thedecisionsofallthehighercourts.AllcourtsareboundbythedecisionsoftheSupremeCourtofAppeal,beingthehighestcourtforcommercialmatters,andthedecisionsoftheConstitutionalCourt,beingthehighestcourtinSouthAfrica.



aclaim?

Proceedingsusuallybeginwithaletterofdemandsettingouttheclaimant'sclaimandprovidingadatebywhichtheotherpartyistoadheretosuchclaim.Iftheotherpartydoesnotcomplywiththisdemand,theclaimantcanstartcivilproceedingseitherby:

• Bringinganaction:thisprocedureisusedinmattersinvolvingafactualdispute.Itinvolvesboththeplaintiffandthedefendantmakingsubmissionstocourt,producingevidence(bywayofexchangeofrelevantdocumentsandinvolvingwitnessesgivingoralevidence)andculminatesinatrial.Theactionisbegunwhenasummonswithparticularsofclaim(essentiallyastatementoftheclaimant’sclaim)hasbeenissuedoutofthecourtandservedonthedefendant.

• Launchinganapplication:thisprocedureisgenerallyquicker,butcanonlybeusedwherethereisnofactualdispute(ieinmattersinvolvingonlytheapplicationoftherelevantlaw).Thereisnooralevidencetothecourt,allthedocumentaryevidenceonwhichapartywantstorelymustbeannexedtotheaffidavitsitsubmitstothecourt.Thisprocessisstartedoncethefollowingdocumentshavebeenissuedoutofthecourtandservedontherespondent:

•anoticeofmotionsettingoutthereliefthattheapplicantseeks;and

•anaccompanyingwitnessstatement,intheformofanaffidavit.



Courtproceedingsareopentothepublic.Howeverthecourtshavethediscretiontoorderthatproceedingsbeconfidential.Confidentialcourtproceedingshappenonlyinlimitedcircumstances,wherethepresidingofficer

45


CONTENTS PAGE

considersittobeintheinterestsoftheproperadministrationofjustice(thatis,apublichearingwouldmateriallyhamperormakeimpracticaltheadministrationofjustice).Thisdiscretionisrarelyexercisedand,inpractice,partiesshouldexpectcasestobeheardinpublic.Theexceptiontothisisinmattersinwhichthecourtseekstoprotecttheidentityofaminor.

6.Arethereanypre-trialproceedingsprescribedbytherulesofcourt?

Thecourtrulesprovideforvariouspre-trialproceedingsandtimelimitsforthecompletionofeachstageoftheproceedings.Thepartiesmaygranteachothertimeextensionswithinwhichtofulfiltheseobligations.Ifthepartiescannotagreeanextensionoftimetocomplywithanyoftherules,aninterimapplicationcanbebroughtbyanyoneofthepartiestorequestthatthecourtgrantssuchextensionoftime(bearinginmindthatthecourthasdiscretioninthisregardandisnotrequiredtoallowanyextensions).Themainrequirementsareasfollows:

• Exchangeofdiscovereddocuments:

eachpartyisrequiredtoprepare,onaffidavit,ascheduleofalldocumentswhichithasinhandorunderitscontrolwhicharerelevanttotheissuesindispute(whetherthedocumentbenefitsthepartyorisadversetotheparty,ifitisrelevantitmustbedisclosed).Thepartiesthencallforandexchangetheitemslistedintheirrespectivediscoveryaffidavits.Thedocumentsarethencompiledintoabundleforpurposesoftrial.

• Applicationforatrialdate:aftercloseofpleadings(thatiswhenallpartieshavesubmittedtheirrespectivepleadings),anypartycanapplyforatrialdatetobeallocatedbytheregistrar.Onreceiptofthedatefromtheregistrar,anypartycanserveanoticeofset-downontheother(s),formallyconfirmingthedateofthetrial.

• Requestforfurtherparticulars:theparties’pleadingsoftenrequireclarificationinrespectofcertainfactsandlegalargumentsinordertoallowtheotherpartytoproperlypreparefortrial.Priortothetrialthepartiesthereforeexchangerequestsforfurtherparticularsandtheirresponsestosuch

requests.Theexchangeofthesedocumentsisintendedtoassistthepartiestounderstandeachother'spleadedissuesandtocurtailissuestoberaisedatthehearing.

• Pre-trialmeeting:oncethepartieshaveexchangeddocumentationandareinapositiontohaveameaningfuldiscussiononthehearingofthematterandpossiblesettlement,andatleastsixweeksbeforethehearingofthematter,thepartiesmustholdapre-trialconference,atwhichtheymustdiscusscertainissueswiththeaimofcurtailingtheissuestobedealtwithatthehearing.TheseissuesaredealtwithintheUniformRulesofCourtandinclude,amongothers:

•thepossibilityofsettlement;admissionsmadebyeachparty(ieagreedfacts);theonusordutytobeginatthehearingofthematter(thegeneralprincipleisapartythatmakesanassertionhasthedutytoprovethatassertion,andacorrespondingdutytobeginproceedings).

•Expertwitnessstatements:somedisputesmayrequiretheevidenceofanexpertinregardstoanissueofaspecificspecialisednature.Insuchevent,thepartiesarerequiredtosubmitexpertwitnessstatementswithin10daysofthetrial.

•Preparationofbundles:thepartiesarerequiredtopreparebundlesforthecourtandforthemselvesforpurposesofthehearing.Thesebundlesarepaginated,indexedandpreparedaccordingtotherelevantcourt’spracticedirectives(thesedifferforeachseatofthecourt).

If,atanystage,apartydoesnotcomplywiththeHighCourtRulestimeouslyoratall,theaggrievedpartymayapplytotherelevantcourtforanordercompellingtheotherpartytocomply,failingwhichthatparty'sclaimordefencemaybedismissedatthediscretionofthecourt.


civilproceedings?

TheadversarialprocedureprevailsinSouthAfrica,althoughitdoeshavesome

46

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE

inquisitorialtraits.Thepartiesarethefactfindersandthejudgedoesnot,saveinexceptionalcircumstances,playanactiveroleintheproceedings.

Thejudgemay,however,andinfactdoesmoreoftenthannot,playaninquisitorialrolebyseekingclarificationfromtheparties’legalrepresentativearguingthematteroritswitnessestestifyingsoastobetterunderstandtheparties’cases.


todisclose?

Apartyisobligedtomakeafullandpromptdisclosureofalldocumentscurrentlyorpreviouslyinitspossessionorunderitscontrolorinthepossessionofanagent,thatarerelevanttotheissuesindispute(exceptlegallyprivilegeddocuments).Ifapartyfailstocomplywitharequestfordisclosure,theapplicantmayapplytocourttocompeldisclosure,failingwhichthecourtmaystrikeoutthedefence,dismisstheclaimorgranttheapplicantfurtherreliefwithinitsdiscretion.


Certaincategoriesofdocumentsaredeemedtobeprivilegedinformationwhichisnotrequiredtobedisclosedtoanotherparty.Theseinclude,interalia,communicationsbetweenalawyerandhis/herclientandanin-houselawyer'slegaladvicetohis/hercompany(althoughthelawisnotsettledonthelatter).

ThegeneralprincipleinSouthAfricanlawisthatanydocumentpreparedincontemplationoforinpreparationforlitigationisprivilegedanddoesnothavetobedisclosed.Adocumentisnotprivilegedmerelybecauseitiswrittenanddeliveredonthebasisthatitisconfidential.

Thereareotherinstances,otherthanclaimingprivilege,wheredocumentsdonothavetobedisclosed.Theseincludemedicalrecordswhichmaynotbedisclosedwithouttheconsentofthepatientconcerned,unlessdisclosureisrequiredbylaw.Wheretheconsenttodisclosemedicalrecordscannotbeobtained,asubpoenamustbeissuedandacourtorder

mustbeobtainedforthedisclosureoftherecords.

Itiscommonpracticeforpartiestoenterintonegotiationsinanefforttosettlependingmattersandthepartiesshouldbeabletodosowithoutthefearofprejudicingtheirclaims.Anydocumentand/orstatementmadewiththebonafideintentofsettlingadisputeisnotadmissibleincourtproceedings.Itispracticethatsuchdocumentsaremarked‘withoutprejudice’althoughfailuretodosodoesnotrenderthedocumentsadmissible.Inthisregard,substancetakesprecedenceoverform.


Witnessesoffactandexpertwitnessesinvariablygiveoralevidenceandaresubjecttocrossexaminationintrialproceedings.However,inapplicationproceedingsnooralevidenceisgivenandevidenceisplacedbeforetheHighCourtbywayofstatements,inaffidavitform.



• Summaryjudgment:afterthedefendanthasservedanoticeofintentiontodefend,aclaimantcanapplyforsummaryjudgmentifitsclaimisoneofthefollowing:

•basedonaliquiddocument(suchasachequeoracknowledgmentofdebt);

•foraliquidatedamountofmoney(thatis,anamountcapableofobjectivedetermination);

•forthedeliveryofspecifiedmovableproperty;or

•forejectment(theevictionofatenantfromaproperty).

Toobtainsummaryjudgment,theclaimantmustsatisfytheHighCourtthatthedefendant:

•doesnothaveabonafidedefencetotheaction;and

•enteredanoticeofintentiontodefendsolelyforthepurposeofdelay.

47


CONTENTS PAGE

Summaryjudgmentallowsaplaintifftohavethewholeofthedefendant’sdefencedisposedofwithouthavingproceedingtotrial.Althoughthisisaninterimapplicationinthesensethatitismadewhiletheactionispending,theoutcomeofasummaryjudgmentisfinal.TheHighCourtviewssummaryjudgmentasaharshremedyandisgenerallyreluctanttograntitunlesstheplaintiffhasclearlyshowntheaboverequirements.

• Provisionalsentencesummons:whensuingonaliquiddocument,aprovisionalsentencesummonsmaybeissued.Thiscompelsthedefendanttoappearbeforecourttoadmitordenyliabilityinrelationtotheliquiddocument.

Ifthecourtissatisfiedthatthedefendantisliableinrelationtotheliquiddocument,thedefendant:

•willbeorderedtopaytheamountsetoutintheliquiddocument;and

•isnotpermittedtodefendthesummonsuntilpaymenthasbeenmade.

• Applicationtostrikeout:thereisnoprocedurethroughwhichthedefendantcanapplytohavetheclaimant'sclaimstruckoutinitself.However,thedefendantcan,incertaincircumstances,fileanexception,throughwhichitcanboth

•objecttoadefectinthepleadingoftheclaim;and

•requesttheplaintifftoamendtheclaim'swordingtoremovethisdefect(forexample,wherethesummonsdoesnotdiscloseacauseofaction).

Iftheplaintiffdoesnotcomplywiththedefendant'srequest,thedefendantcanapplytotheHighCourtforanordercompellingtheplaintifftodoso.IftheHighCourtbelievesthatthereismeritinthedefendant'srequest,itcangrantanordercompellingtheplaintifftoremovethedefect.Iftheplaintifffailstoremovethecauseofcomplaint,thedefendantcanapplytotheHighCourtforanorderdismissingtheclaim.Anidenticalprocedureisavailabletotheplaintifftoobjecttothewayinwhichthedefendant'spleaispleaded.


Aplaintiffwhohasobtainedajudgmentforamonetaryclaimisentitledtorequesttheregistrartoissueawritofexecution.Thisallowstheplaintifftoinstructthesherifftoattendatthedefendant'spremisesanddemandpaymentofthejudgment.Ifthedefendantfailstopay,thesheriffcanattachmovablepropertytothevalueofthejudgment.Immovablepropertycanonlybeattachedbyaspecialcourtorder(whichisnotdifficulttoobtain).Afteranattachmentismade,theclaimantcaninstructthesherifftosellthepropertybyauction,toraisemoneyuptothevalueofthejudgment.

Certainformalitiesmustbecompliedwithbeforetheplaintiffcaninstructthesherifftomakeasale.

Ifaplaintiffobtainsajudgmentorderingadefendanttoperformorrefrainfromperformingacertainact,theplaintiffinstructsthesherifftoservethecourtorderonthedefendant,atwhichpointthedefendantmustperformorrefrainfromperformingtheact.


courtproceedings?

Dependingonwhichcourtaplaintiffinstitutesproceedingsin,assomecourtshavelesscapacitythanothers,theestimateddurationoftrialproceedingsisbetween18and36monthsfromthedateofissuingofthesummonstothedateofthehearing.Inrespectofapplicationproceedings,theestimateddurationisbetweenthreeandninemonths.


awardcosts?

Thecourthasthepowertoawardcostsandhasawidediscretioninrelationtocostorders.Theusualorderisthattheunsuccessfulpartyisliabletopaythesuccessfulparty'scosts,butonlythatpartofthesuccessfulparty'scostsprescribedbythetariff(task-basedtariffsthatdeterminetheamountrecoverablefromtheunsuccessfulparty).Thetariffsareoutoflinewithcostsactuallyincurredona‘lawyerandclient’basis,sothesuccessfulpartypaysasubstantialpartofitsowncosts.Inpractice,

48

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE

thesuccessfulpartyrarelyrecoversmorethan30%ofactualcostsincurred.


securityforcosts?

Iftheclaimantisforeign,adefendantresidentinSouthAfricacanapplytothecourtcompellingtheforeignclaimanttofilesecurityforcosts.Theregistrardeterminestheamountofsecurity,takingintoaccountthetariff-basedcoststhatarelikelytobeexpendedinthelitigation.Generally,securityforcostsisfurnishedintheformofabankguarantee.


Yes,itispossibletorecoverlegalfees.Oncethelegalfeeshavebeentaxedtheycanberecoveredinthesamemannerthatcourtordersareenforced.



• Appeal:apartycanappealanorderofthecourtonthebasisthattheorderisincorrectonthefactsorthelaw.ThereisnoautomaticrightofappealincivildisputesintheHighCourt.Adissatisfiedpartycanappealafirstinstancejudgment,butmusthaveappliedfor,andbeengranted,leavetoappealbytheHighCourt.Ifsuchapartyisnotgrantedleavetoappeal,itcanpetitiontheSupremeCourtofAppealor,ifapplicable,theConstitutionalCourttograntitleavetoappeal.ThesamealsoapplieswithregardstoappealingajudgmentoftheSupremeCourtofAppealtotheConstitutionalCourt.

• Review:areviewcanbeboughtonthebasisofanirregularityorillegalityintheproceedings.Areviewisconcernedwiththemethodatwhichalegalresultwasobtained.



arbitralawards?

• Enforcementofforeignjudgments:inmostinstances,aclaimantwishingtoenforceaforeignjudgmentinSouthAfricamustapplytoalocalcourtforanorderrecognisingthe

judgment.Followingthis,theclaimantcanobtainawritofexecutionandenforcethejudgment.

SouthAfricancourtswillenforceaforeignjudgmentwithoutre-examiningthemeritsofthedecisionaslongasthejudgmentsatisfiescertainrequirementswhichincludethatthe:

•judgmentisfinalandconclusive;•foreigncourtmusthavehadinternational

jurisdictionorcompetencetodecidethecase;and

•recognitionandenforcementofthejudgmentmustnotbeagainstpublicpolicy.

TheenforcementofcertainjudgmentswillrequiretheconsentoftheMinisterofTradeandIndustrywhoseconsentisrarelywithheld.

ForeignjudgmentsfromcertaincountriescanbeenforcedbyregisteringthejudgmentwithalocalcourtintermsoftheEnforcementofForeignCivilJudgmentsAct.Unfortunately,theonlycountythatthisactappliestoatpresentisNamibia.

• Enforcementofforeignarbitralawards:SouthAfricaispartytotheConventionontheRecognitionandEnforcementofForeignArbitralAwards(theNewYorkConvention).TheRecognitionandEnforcementofForeignArbitralAwardsActgiveseffecttotheprovisionsoftheNewYorkConventionwithinSouthAfrica.IntermsofthisAct,anyforeignarbitralawardmaybemadeanorderbyaSouthAfricancourtwithoutare-examinationofthemerits.Thegroundsuponwhichsuchanapplicationmayberefusedbyacourtincludethat:

•itwouldnotbepermissibleforthesubject-matteroftheawardtobesubmittedtoarbitrationinSouthAfrica(forexample,theliquidation/bankruptcy)ofanentityorsequestrationofanyperson);

•theenforcementoftheawardwouldbecontrarytopublicpolicyinSouthAfrica;or

•thearbitrationorawardwasinvalidinsomerespect.

49


CONTENTS PAGE




resolvedisputes?

Themainalternativedisputeresolutionmethodsavailabletoresolvedisputesarearbitrationandmediation,aswellashybridformscombiningtheseprocessesincludingarb-med(arbitrationfollowedbymediation).

Mediationisaflexibleandconfidentialconsensus-basedprocessfacilitatedbyaneutralthirdpartyinwhichthepartiesremaininultimatecontrolofthedecisionwhethertosettleandonwhatterms.Themediationstylesemployedbyamediatorwillvarydependingonthenatureofthedisputeandtherequirementsoftheparties.Theprimarystyleisafacilitativeone–wherethemediatormanagesanegotiationprocessthatisdesignedtoassistthepartiesfindanagreedoutcome.Themediatoravoidsgivingadviceormakingrecommendationsonthesubstanceofthedispute.Inanevaluativemediationthemediatormaygiveadviceorrecommendationstothepartiesontheappropriateoutcomeaswellasevaluatingthestrengthsandweaknessesofparties’positions.

ArbitrationrunintheSouthAfricacontextwillberecognisabletoforeignparties.Itisanadjudicationprocessunderanagreementbetweenthepartiestoadispute.Thedisputeisreferredforfinaldeterminationtoanindependentandimpartialtribunalappointedbyoronbehalfoftheparties.TheArbitrationActregulatesarbitrationparticularlyinsituationswherethepartiestoanarbitrationhavenotrecordedallthetermsofthearbitrationinwriting.TheActishoweverfairlyoutdatedanddoesnotprovidesufficientguidanceforpartiestorelysolelyontheActtorunanarbitrationinpracticalterms.PartiesshouldinsteaddrafttheirownarbitrationagreementsincorporatingproceduralrulessuchastheUNCITRALArbitrationRules.




SouthAfricahasnotyetenactedlegislationcompellingpartiestosubmittoalternativedisputeresolutionproceedings.Itishowevercommonpracticeforcommercialpartiestoincludealternativedisputeresolutionprovisionsintheircontractualarrangements.Thecourtswillgenerallycompeltheuseofalternativedisputeresolutionwherethepartieshaveagreedcontractuallytosubmittoalternativedisputeresolution.



Costsaredeterminedintermsofthealternativedisputeresolutionagreementconcludedbetweentheparties.Itiscommonforpartiestoagreetopaytheirowncostsandsharethemediator’sfeesequallyinmediationwhilearbitrationagreementsgenerallyprovidethatcostsaredealtwithinthesamewayascostsinHighCourtlitigation(ietheunsuccessfulpartyisorderedtopaytheotherparty’scostsonapartyandpartybasis).



Astheconfidentialityofmediationisnotgovernedbystatute,itisvitalthatpartiesincludeconfidentialityprovisionsintheirmediationagreements.Whiledocumentsproducedoradmissionsmadeduringmediationproceedingsareusuallyprivilegedastheyformpartofasettlementprocess,inadditiontoagreeingtheconfidentialnatureofthemediationitself,partiesshouldconsiderincludingacontractualprovisionagreeingthatthemediatorcannotbecalledasawitnessinsubsequentlitigation.

Unlessthepartiesagreeotherwise,thearbitrationisconfidentialintermsofthecommonlawandstatuteunlessthearbitralawardismadeanorderoftheHighCourtundertheArbitrationActwhichresultsintheawardbeingamatterofpublicrecord.

50

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE






• AssociationofArbitrators(Southern

Africa):hasanextensivepanelofarbitratorsallofwhomhavequalifiedasFellowsoftheAssociation.TheAssociationcanbereliedontoappointanappropriatearbitrator.TheAssociationofArbitratorsdoeshowevernotadministerarbitrationsandpartiesarenotrequiredtopayanyagencyadministrationfees.

• TokisoDisputeSettlement:offersarbitration,mediationandfacilitationservices.InadditiontoitspanelincludingmediatorsandarbitratorsinallprovincesofSouthAfrica,therearealsopanellistsinAustralia,Canada,MozambiqueandtheUK.AllofTokiso’smediatorsareCEDRandDiSACaccredited.

• ArbitrationFoundationofSouthernAfrica

(AFSA):offersarbitration,mediationandafullyadministereddisputeresolutionservicewithcostsbasedonthequantumofthedispute.AFSAmaintainspanelsofexpertsandoffersdisputantsachoiceofrulesdependingonthesizeandcomplexityofthematter.TheAlternativeDisputeResolutionAssociationofSouthAfricaisawhollyownedsubsidiaryofAFSA.

ARBITRATION



Ingeneral,arbitrationproceedingsaremoreexpeditiousthanproceedingsthroughthecourts.Importantly,thedurationofarbitrationsmayvarydependingupontheruleswhichgoverntheprocess.Suchrulesareagreedbetweenthepartiesandinclude,forexample,therulesofalocalarbitralbodyortheUniformRulesofCourt(whichregulateHighCourtproceedings).Somelocalarbitralrulesmakeprovisionforexpedited

arbitrationprocedureswhichcanservetolimitthedurationofproceedings.Havingsaidthis,partiesoftenselecttheUniformRulesofCourtastheapplicableruleswhichdeterminetheproceduresandprocessesfortheproceedings.

Aswithlitigationthroughthecourts,arbitrationproceedingswillvaryindurationdependingonvariousfactors,mostnotablywhetheranyinterlocutoryproceedingsarebroughtduringthecourseofthearbitration(ieapplicationsregardingsecondaryissueswhichneedtobedeterminedsuchasproceduralmatters).

Inlightofthefactthatthepartieshavesomecontrolinagreeingtimelines(forexample,hearingdates),arbitrationsaregenerallymoreexpeditiousthanproceedingsthroughthecourts.

Litigantsinarbitrationproceedingscouldexpectproceedingstobecomefinalisedwithinaperiodof12to18monthsalthoughtheprocesscouldbelongerorshorter.


proceedings?

Ourcourtsdonotacceptacompleteousteroftheirjurisdictionandretainthepowertomakefindingsinrespectofmatterswhichfallwithintheirjurisdiction.Havingsaidthis,SouthAfricancourtsrespectarbitrationagreementsandwillonlyinterveneinextremelyrareinstances.Courtshavebeenatpainsnottointerveneindisputeswherethepartieshaveagreedthattheymustbedealtwithbyarbitration.

IntermsoftheArbitrationAct,thecourtretainsitspowerovercertainmattersincluding:

• applicationsforsecurityforcosts;• theexaminationofanywitnessbeforea

commissionerintheRepublicorabroadandtheissueofacommissionorarequestforsuchexamination;

• aninteriminterdictorsimilarrelief;and• securingtheamountindisputein

thereference.

51


CONTENTS PAGE

Ifapartywishestoavoidanarbitrationclauseitmay,intermsoftheArbitrationAct,makeanapplicationtocourtforanorder:

• settingasidethearbitrationagreement;• thatanyparticulardisputereferredtoin

thearbitrationagreementshallnotbereferredtoarbitration;or

• thatthearbitrationagreementshallceasetohaveeffectwithreferencetoanydisputereferred.


interimrelief?

Anarbitratordoesnothavepowertograntinterimrelief.Forexample,whereapartyseeksanorderforaninterdict(orinjunction),acourtwillberequiredtomakesuchanorder.

IntermsoftheArbitrationAct,unlessthearbitrationagreementprovidesotherwiseanarbitratormaymakeaninterimaward(forexample,duringinterlocutoryproceedings).Similarly,theUniformRulesofCourt,whichareusuallyadoptedbytheparties,givesthearbitratorthepowertomakeinterimawards.


todisclose?

TherulesregardingthediscoveryofdocumentsinarbitrationproceedingswillbeasagreedbythepartiesastheArbitrationActdoesnotsetoutadiscoveryprocess.InSouthAfrica,itiscommonforthepartiestoagreethattheUniformRulesofCourtwillgovernthearbitrationprocess.Intermsoftheserules,partiesarerequiredtomakediscoveryofalldocumentsrelevanttothematter(whetherpotentiallysupportiveorharmfultotheirrespectivecases)andwhichareintheirpossessionorundertheircontrol.Legallyprivilegeddocumentsare,however,notdiscoverable.


Yes,communicationsbetweenclientsandtheirattorneysordocumentscreatedforthepurposeofobtaininglegaladviceorincontemplationoflitigationareprivilegedandarenotdiscoverable.


Generallyspeaking,therulesagreedbythepartiesthatgovernthearbitrationproceedingswilldictatehowevidenceistobepresented.Someprocessesarelessformalthanothers.Forexample,partiesmaynotberequiredtofollowtheformalrulesofevidenceaswouldberequiredincourtproceedings.

WheretheUniformRulesofCourt(andvariouslocalarbitralrules)areadopted,evidencewillbepresentedinthesamemannerasincourt.Inthisregard,theplaintiffbearstheonusofproofandthedutytobegin.Witnesseswillbecalledbythepartieswhowillgiveevidenceunderoath.Awitnesswillfirstprovideevidenceinchief(direct)andthenbesubjectedtocross-examinationbytheopposingparty’slegalrepresentatives.Thewitnesswillthenhaveanopportunityforre-examination(re-direct)byhis/herorherlegalrepresentatives.

Inarbitrations,muchlikecourtcases,thearbitratormayposequestionsorseekclarityfromawitness.

Expertevidenceistypicallypresentedinareportpriortothehearing.Theexpertusuallythenconfirmsthecontentsofhis/herreportatthehearingbeforehe/sheiscross-examined.Thearbitratordoesnothavethepowertoappointhis/herorherownexpertforassistance.

Afteralloftheevidenceispresented,eachpartywillpresentlegalargumenttothearbitratorwhowillthendecidethematteronabalanceofprobabilities.


IntermsoftheArbitrationAct,anypartymayapplytoacourtofcompetentjurisdictiontohavethearbitrationawardmadeanorderofcourt.

Thecourtwillnotconsiderthemeritsofthecaseandtheapplicantonlyhastoprovethatthedisputewassubmittedtoarbitrationin

52

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE

termsofanarbitrationagreement,thatthearbitratorwasdulyappointedandthattherewasavalidawardintermsofthereference.

TheArbitrationActprovidesthatanawardwhichhasbeenmadeanorderofcourtmaybeenforcedinthesamemannerasanyjudgmentorordertothesameeffect.


arbitrationaward?

TheArbitrationActprovidesthatanawardwillbefinalandnotsubjecttoappealunlessotherwiseagreedbytheparties.

InSouthAfricathemajorityofarbitrationproceedingsdonotincludeamechanismforappeals.

IntermsoftheArbitrationAct,anaggrievedpartymayapplytocourttosetasidethearbitrationaward.Thisisknownasanapplicationforreview.Reviewproceedingsaredistinguishablefromappealproceedings.Underreviewproceedings,acourtwillnotrevisitthemeritsofthemattertodeterminewhetherthearbitratorcametothecorrectdecisionwhetherinlaworinfact.Reviewproceedingsarelimitedandmayonlybebroughtwheretheaggrievedpartycontends,forexample,that:

• thearbitratorwasbiased;• thearbitratorcommittedagross

irregularity;• thearbitratorexceededhis/herpowers

whenhe/shemadetheaward;or• anawardhasbeenimproperlyobtained.




Foreignjudgmentsorarbitralawardsmaynotbeenforcedbywayofarbitrationproceedings.However,thesejudgmentsorawardsmaybeenforcedbySouthAfricancourts.


securityforcosts?

Iftheclaimantisforeign,adefendantwhoisresidentinSouthAfricacanapplytothecourtforanordercompellingtheforeignclaimanttoprovidesecurityforcosts.ThecourtretainsitspowertomakeanysuchorderintermsoftheArbitrationAct.

REFORM



resolutionsystem?

AsaresultoftherecognitionthattheArbitrationActdoesnotadequatelycaterfordevelopmentsininternationalarbitration,theinternationalArbitrationBillwasapprovedbycabinetin2016andisawaitingassentbythePresident.

Whenpassed,theInternationalArbitrationActwillalignSouthAfricanInternationalArbitrationlawwithinternationalbestpractice.

53


CONTENTS PAGE

Tanzania

BOWMANS

54CONTENTSPAGE

CONTENTS PAGE

DISPUTE RESOLUTION


ThelegalprofessioninTanzaniaisdividedintotheBenchandtheBar.

LawyersintheBencharejudicialofficersservingasjudgesoftheCourtofAppealortheHighCourt.MagistratesserveasResidentMagistrates,DistrictMagistratesorPrimaryCourtMagistratesandregistrars.

LawyerswithintheBararefurtherclassifiedasthoseinprivatepracticeandthoseservingintheAttorneyGeneral’soffice.



ThemaindisputeresolutionmethodsusedtosettlelargecommercialdisputeinTanzaniaarelitigationandarbitration.Othermethodsincludemediation,negotiationandreconciliation.

LitigationisgovernedbytheCivilProcedureCodeAct,theHighCourt(CommercialDivision)ProcedureRulesandtheEvidenceAct.

Theselawsprovideforthecourtproceduresincludingpreparationofstatements,evidence,trialandappeal.Thesystemisbroadlyadversarial.Theapplicablestandardofproofincommercialcasesisonthebalanceofprobabilities.TheprinciplestatutegoverningarbitrationistheArbitrationAct.



GenerallyforeignlawyersdonothavearighttoappearincourtunlesstheyareadmittedasadvocatesundertheAdvocatesAct.AforeignlawyermayobtainatemporarypermitfromtheChiefJusticetoappearincourtforaspecificmatter.

4.Whatisthetimeperiodwithinwhicha

civilclaimmustbebrought?

ThelimitationperiodsaregovernedbytheLawofLimitationAct.Limitationperiodsvarydependingonthetypeofclaim,forexample,aclaimtoenforceajudgmentmustbemadewithin12years.Theprescribedperiodtofileaclaimforbreachofcontractissixyears,whileclaimsbasedontortmustbefiledwithinthreeyears.


Advocatesgenerallychargetheirclientsbasedonhourlyratesorenterintofixedfeearrangements.Ifanadvocateentersintoafixedfeeagreement,thefeeisgenerallyfixedbylawat3%ofthesubjectmatterbutcanbehigherdependingonthecomplexityofthematter.



Partiespaytheirownlegalcosts.Dependingontheoutcomeofthelitigation,aportionofthecostsmayberecoveredfromtheunsuccessfulparty.Thirdpartyfundingisnotprohibitedbylaw.ContingencyfeeagreementsarenotallowedinTanzania.

THE COURT SYSTEM


ThecourtsysteminTanzaniaisstructuredintothreetiersnamely:theCourtofAppeal,theHighCourt(includingspecialiseddivisions-CommercialDivision,LandDivisionandLabourDivision)andtheMagistrates'Courts.

TheMagistrates'CourtsareestablishedandgovernedbytheMagistrates’CourtsActandtheyarefurtherdividedintothreecategories:ResidentMagistrates’Courts,DistrictMagistrates'CourtsandPrimaryCourts.

55


CONTENTS PAGE

Therearealsotribunalsandboardswhicharevestedwithexclusivejurisdictionoverspecificmatters.ExamplesincludetheTaxAppealsBoardandtheFairCompetitionTribunal.

2.Arecertaintypesofdisputesallocatedto

aparticularcourt?

InTanzania,allocationofdisputestoaparticularcourtdependsonthreemajorfactors,namely:subjectmatter;territorialjurisdiction;andpecuniaryjurisdiction.

Certaindisputeshavetheirownresolutionmechanisms.Forexample,allemploymentdisputesareresolvedthroughtheCommissionforMediationandArbitrationandtheHighCourt(LabourDivision).


ofhighercourts?

Yes,alllowercourtsareboundbythedecisionofthehighercourts.TheHighCourtandtheCourtofAppealareregardedascourtsofrecordsandjudgesofthesecourtsarenotboundbydecisionsmadebyotherjudgesofthesamecourt.



aclaim?

Mostcivilproceedingsareinitiatedbyfilingofaplaint.Otheravailableoptionsincludingseekingenforcementofaclaimbywayofasummarysuit;makinganapplicationforattachmentbeforejudgement;andapplyingfordepositofsecurityforcostsbeforethehearingofamatter.



Proceedingsaregenerallypublic,andjudgmentsarepronouncedinopencourt.Courtdocumentsarealsogenerallyconsideredtobepublicdocuments.Partiesmustdiscloseinformationrequestedbythecourt,includingconfidentialdocuments.Thecourtmay,however,determinethatdocumentscanbewithheldiftheycontaincommercialsecretsorforpublicinterestreasons.



Pre-trialproceedingsaregovernedbycertainordersoftheCivilProcedureCode.Pre-trialproceedingsincludethefirstschedulingandsettlementconferencewhichisattendedbythepartiesortheirrecognisedagentsoradvocates.

Thepurposeofthefirstpre-trialconferenceisto:

• ascertainthetimingofthecase;and• attempttoresolvethecasethrough

negotiation,mediation,arbitrationorsuchotherproceduresnotinvolvedinatrial.

Thisisthenfollowedbyacourtsupervisedmediationwheretheparties,withtheassistanceofthecourt,makeanattempttoresolvethematteramicablyfailingwhichthematterisreferredforfinalpre-trialconferencepriortocommencementoftrial.


proceedings?

TheTanzaniancivilsystemisanadversarialsystemwherebycasesarecontestsbetweenopposingsides.Thejudgeremainsabovethefray,providinganindependentandimpartialassessmentofthefactsandhowthelawappliestothosefacts.


todisclose?

Atthefirsthearingpartiesmustproduceallthedocumentsthattheyintendtorelyonandwhichhavenotalreadybeenfiledincourt.Partiesarealsorequiredtoprovidedocumentswhichthecourthasorderedtobeproduced.


Generallydocumentsareregardedaspublicinformation.However,incertaincircumstances,documentsareregardedasprivilegedforinstance,professionalclient–attorneycommunicationorgovernmentcommunication(wheresuchinformationisintheopinionof

56

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE

theMinisterofJusticeprejudicialtothepublicinteresteitherbyreasonofthecontentthereoforongroundsofpublicpolicy).10.Howisevidencepresented?

EvidencemaybepresentedorallyandinsomecasesinwritingforinstanceintheCommercialDivisionoftheHighCourt.Witnessesarerequiredtofilewrittenwitnessstatementsandthisevidenceisfollowedbyoralcrossexamination.Wheredocumentsarereliedupon,originaldocumentsmustbeproduced.Incertaincircumstancesthecourtmayallowawitnesstoproduceacopyoracertifiedcopymadefromtheoriginalcopyofthedocument.



Yes.Thelawallowsanypartyincivilproceedingstoseekinteriminjunctionsunderspecificcircumstances,forinstancewhere:

• theassetsindisputeareindangerofbeingdissipatedormaysufferlossofvaluebyreasonoftheircontinuedusebyadefendant,ormaybewronglysoldinexecutionofadecree;or

• wherethedefendantthreatens,orintendstoremoveordisposeof,itspropertywithaviewtodefrauditscreditors.

Insuchcircumstances,thecourtmaygrantatemporaryinjunctiontorestrainsuchactormakesuchotherorderforthepurposeofstayingandpreventingthewasting,damaging,alienation,sale,lossinvalue,removalordispositionofthepropertyasthecourtthinksfit,untilthedisposaloftheclaimoruntilfurtherorders.


Apartywishingtoenforceacourtorderorjudgmentmustapplytothecourtwhichissuedthedecreeforexecutionoftheorder.Theapplicationmuststatethetypeofcourtassistancerequired.Thiscaninclude,forexample:

• deliveryofspecificproperty;• attachmentandsale,orsalewithout

attachment,ofanyproperty;

• arrestanddetentioninprisonofanyperson;or

• appointmentofareceiver.


courtproceedings?

TheCivilProcedureCodeActprovidesforspecifictimeframesunderwhichcasesshallbedetermined.Thislawprovidesforfourtypesofspeedtracksrangingfrom10to24monthsfromcommencementofthecase.Inspiteofthisprovisioninthelaw,thecourtssufferahugeback-logindisposalofcasesinevitablyleadingtodelaysincompletionofcourtproceedings.

IntermsofCommercialCourtRules,commercialcasesinstitutedintheCommercialDivisionoftheHighCourtmustbecompletedwithinaperiodof12months.Mattersinthecommercialcourttendtobecompletedinreasonablyshortertime.


awardcosts?

Yes.Thelawpermitspartiestobeawardedcostsandinmostcases,costsareawardedtothesuccessfulparty.



Yes.ForeignclaimantswhodonothaveanyknownimmovableassetsinTanzaniaarerequiredtodepositsecurityforcosts.


Yes.Whereapartyisawardedcosts,suchcostswouldusuallyincludeanylegalfeespaidbytheparty.



Anappealcanbebroughtonapointoflaworfact.Theappellantmustsubmitamemorandumofappealclearlystatingitsgroundsofobjectionstothedecreeappealed.

57


CONTENTS PAGE

Apartythatisaggrievedbyanorderfromwhichanappealisnotallowedmayapplyforreviewofsuchorderordecree.Generallythegroundsforreviewinclude:

• theexistenceofnewandimportantmattersorevidencewhich,aftertheexerciseofduediligence,werenotwithintheknowledgeoftheaggrievedpartyorcouldnotbeproducedatthetimewhenthedecreewaspassedorordermade;

• theexistenceofamistakeorapparenterroronthefaceofrecord;or

• wherethereisanyothersufficientreasondesirestoobtainareview.



arbitralawards?

Yes.TheReciprocalEnforcementofForeignJudgmentActprovidesfortheenforcementofforeignjudgments.ThemainjurisdictionswhosejudgmentscanbeenforcedinTanzaniaincludeBotswana,Lesotho,Mauritius,NewSouthWales,Seychelles,Somalia,SriLanka,theKingdomofSwaziland,theUnitedKingdom,ZambiaandZimbabwe.




ThealternativedisputeresolutionmechanismsavailableinTanzaniaincludenegotiation,mediation,reconciliation,andarbitration.




Yes.TheHighCourt(CommercialDivision)ProcedureRulesrequirepartiestosubmittocourtsupervisedalternativedisputeresolutionintheformofmediationpriortocommencementoftrial.



Theawardofcostsisusuallythediscretionofthemediator.Inmostcases,partiesbeartheir

owncosts.Theissueofcostscouldalsobeaddressedasonethetermsofsettlementwherepartiesreachanamicableresolution.



Yes.Proceedingsofthemediationsessionremainconfidentialanddonotformpartofthecourtrecords.Inmostcases,theseproceedingsarediscardedwheremediationfailsandpartiesproceedtofulltrial.






Alternativedisputeresolutionincommerciallitigationisconductedbythecourt.Partiesarealsofreetoreferdisputestoanyotherlocalorinternationalforums(otherthancourtsoflaw).ExamplesoflocalalternativedisputeresolutionforumsincludearbitrationbodiessuchastheTanzaniaInstituteofArbitratorsandtheNationalConstructionCouncil.

ARBITRATION



Inmostcasespartiesagreeonthetimingforarbitrationproceedingsinwhichcasetheyhavecontrolofvariousaspectsoftheprocesssuchastheduration.Therearenohardandfastrulesonthisandpartiesarefreetoagreeonreasonabletimelinesbasedonseveralfactorsincludingtheavailabilityofthepartiesinvolved.


proceedings?

Yes.Thelawpermitspartiestoseekinterimreliefpendingdeterminationofarbitrationproceedings.


interimrelief?

Yes.Thelawpermitsarbitratorstograntinterimrelief.

58

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE


todisclose?

Partiesarerequiredtodisclosealldocumentsthatmayberelevanttodeterminethedispute.


Yes.Arbitrationproceedingsincludingdocumentssubmittedduringsuchproceedingsareregardedasprivileged.


Evidencemaybepresentedorallyorinwriting.Inthecaseofthelatter,partiesarerequiredtofilewitnessstatements.


AnarbitralawardmustfirstberegisteredwiththeHighCourtafterwhichitbecomesenforceableasifitwereadecreeofthecourt.


Generallyanarbitrationawardisnotappealableunlesstheagreementbetweenthepartiesprovidesforanappealprocedure.Howeverapartymayaskthecourttosetasideanarbitrationawardoncertaingroundsincludingwhereanawardisobtainedbyfraudorwherethereismisconductonthepartofthearbitrator.




ForeignjudgementscanonlybeenforcediftheyarejudgementsissuedbyspecificcourtsofcountrieswithwhichTanzaniahasanarrangementforreciprocalenforcementofjudgements.

ArbitralawardscanberecognisedandenforcedinTanzania.Inboththeseinstances,theforeignjudgmentandarbitralawardmustberegisteredbytheHighCourtofTanzaniaforittobeenforceable.


securityforcosts?

No.Thelawdoesnotprovideforanyrequirementforforeignclaimantsinarbitrationproceedingstoprovideforsecurityforcosts.

REFORM



resolutionsystem?

InanefforttobringmoreefficiencytotheadministrationofjusticethegovernmentisexpectedtorevamptheperformanceofPrimaryCourts.ThisexercisehasstartedwiththerecruitmentofmagistrateswhichnowinvolvesstipulatedminimumqualificationsthatmustbemetinordertobeappointedasamagistrateinthePrimaryCourt.

59


CONTENTS PAGE

Togo

BOWMANS

60CONTENTSPAGE

CONTENTS PAGE

DISPUTE RESOLUTION


TogoleselawyersarecalledAvocats.TheyhaveamonopolywhenitcomestorepresentingandassistingpartiesaswellaspleadingforthebenefitofthesepartiesbeforetheTogolesecourts.TogoleseAvocatsarealsoentitledtorepresentapartybeforetheTogolesepublicadministration.



Tribunalsoffirstinstance(sittingincommercialmatters)cansettlecommercialdisputes.Partiestoacommercialdisputecanalsorelyonconciliationmediationandarbitrationtosettletheirdispute.



Yes.AvocatscalledtotheTogolesebararetheonlyonesallowedtopracticeasAvocatsinTogo.Asaconsequence,inprinciple,foreignlawyersdonothavetherighttointerveneinlitigationproceedingsinTogo.However,foreignlawyersmayinterveneinlitigationproceedingsinTogoifaninternationalconventionenteredintobetweentheircountryoforiginandTogoallowsit.


claimmustbebrought?

Althoughexceptionsdoexist,acivilclaimmustgenerallybebroughtwithin30years.


Ingeneral,incaseofajudicialintervention,TogoleseAvocatsarepaidonafixedfeebasis,increasedbyapercentageofthequantumofthedispute.Thisamountrepresentstheamountoftheclaimbroughtbeforeacourt.ThismethodofcalculationisvalidwhenanAvocatactsbeforeacourtoffirstinstanceandbeforetheCourt

ofAppeal.However,thereisanhourlyrateforAvocatspleadingbeforetheSupremeCourt.Avocatsarealsopaidonafixedfeebasis(withoutthepercentageoftheamountatstake)forspecificcases,examplewhenanAvocatisinvolvedinsummaryproceedings(référé).

Forextra-judicialinterventions,Avocat’sfeesarefreelynegotiatedbetweenhim/herandhis/herclient(forexample,feesrelatingtoasimpleconsultation).



Yes.Athirdpartycanfundlitigation.However,Avocatscannotclaimcontingencyfees.

THE COURT SYSTEM


TheTogolesecourtsystemisstructuredasfollows:

• atthebottomofthecourtsystemarethetribunalsoffirstinstancewhichsitincommercial,civilorcriminalmatters;

• thesecondleveloftheTogolesecourtsystemismadeupofCourtsofAppealwhichsitincivil,commercial,social,andcriminalmattersetc.;and

• thehighestcourtinTogoistheSupremeCourt.Ithasjurisdictionoveralljudicialandadministrativematters.ThisisduetothefactthattheSupremeCourthastwochambers–ajudicialchamberandanadministrativechamber.

2.Arecertaintypesofdisputesallocated

toaparticularcourt?

Yes.Forexample,commercialdisputesareallocatedtotribunalsoffirstinstancesittingincommercialmatters.LabourTribunalshavejurisdictionoverlabourdisputes.

61


CONTENTS PAGE


highercourts?

Yes.Lowercourtsareboundbythedecisionsofhighercourts.



aclaim?

Therearetwotypesofcivilproceedingsincourttoenforceaclaim.Apartycanaskforajudgmentonthemeritsofitscaseor,inanemergency,askforasummaryjudgmentalsoknownas‘référé’.



Inprinciple,courtproceedingsareheldinpublic.However,thetribunalcanorderproceedingstobeheldincamera(huis clos)inthefollowingcases:

• ifthecourtproceedingswereheldinpublic,itwouldviolateprivatelife;

• ifapartyasksfortheproceedingstobeheldincamera;

• ifsomethingtroublestheserenityofjustice;and

• ifallthepartiesaskfortheproceedingstobeheldincamera.

Courtdocumentsareconfidential.However,ifapartytolitigationusesadocumenttosupportitsclaim,thesaidpartymustcommunicatethedocumenttotheotherparty.

6.Arethereanypre-trialproceedingsprescribed

bytherulesofcourt?

No.


proceedings?

Theroleofajudgeincivilproceedingsistoattempttosettledisputesbetweenparties.


todisclose?

Partiesarerequiredtodisclosealldocumentscurrentlyorpreviouslyintheirpossession,that

arerelevanttothecase.Apartyisrequiredtomakeaspontaneousdisclosureofthedocumentsrequired.Ifapartyfailstocomplywitharequestfordisclosure,theapplicantmayapplytocourttocompeldisclosure.Thecourtmayorderapenalty.


TheTogoleselawdoesnotprovidealistofdocumentsthatareregardedasprivilegedbut,inpracticethecommunicationsbetweenanAvocatandhis/herclientarestrictlyprivileged.AninhouseAvocat’slegaladvicetohis/hercompanywouldberegardedasprivileged.Documentspreparedincontemplationof,orinpreparationfor,litigationarealsoprivileged.


Evidencecanbepresentedinwritingororally.However,forcivilmatters,evidencemustbeinwriting.Itisworthnotingthatthejudgecouldorderaninquirymeasure,ifrequired,forthedisclosureofevidence.



Yes,interimremediessuchasaprotectiveseizureofassetsandfreezingaccountsareavailabletoapartybeforeorduringcivilcourtproceedings.Protectiveseizureisalsousedincaseofemergencyoriftheenforcementoftheclaimmaybeendangeredorimperilled.

Theaimofinterimremediesistopreventtheriskofthedefendantdissipatingmonetaryassetandthedestructionofevidence.



Acourtorderisalwaysenforcedandimplementedbythebailiffwiththeassistanceofthepoliceforceifrequired.

Itisworthnotingthattheenforcementofajudgmentmaynotbemadebefore06:00andafter21:00,andduringtheofficialholidayoranonworkingday.

62

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE


courtproceedings?



awardcosts?

Yes.Thejudgmentrenderedbythetribunalcontainsdamagesaskedbytheclaimant.However,beforetheinscriptionofthecaseatthecourt,theclaimantmustdepositsufficientfundstopaythecourtcosts.Thejudgmentcontainsfeesandcosts(whichrepresentcourtcosts).Thelosingpartymustpaythefeesandcosts.


securityforcosts?

Yes.Foreignclaimantsarerequiredtoprovidesecurityforcosts,unlessotherwiseprovidedbyatreaty.


Yes.Asuccessfullitigantisentitledtorecovercostswhichwillbesetoutinthejudgement.



Inprinciple,iftheclaimantorthedefendantisnotsatisfiedwiththejudgmentrenderedbythecourtoffirstinstance,eachcanlodgeanappeal.IfoneofthepartiesisnotsatisfiedwiththeCourtofAppeal’sdecision,eachisentitledtocontestthesaiddecisionbeforetheSupremeCourt.



arbitralawards?

Itisnecessarytorequestanexequaturofaforeignjudgmentoraforeignarbitralaward,inorderforaforeignjudgmenttobeenforceableinTogo.




resolvedisputes?

ThefollowingtypesofalternativedisputeresolutionareavailableinTogo:

Conciliation-mediation:thismechanismattemptstoresolveadisputeamicablywiththeassistanceofaconciliator.Theconciliatorischosenbythepartiesandactsasaneutralthirdparty.Theproceedingendsbythesigningofanagreement(protocole d’accord)betweenthepartiesprovidingthesolutionofthedisputeorbythedraftingofanon-conciliationminute(procès-verbal de non-conciliation);Arbitration:thisisaprivateprocessfortheresolutionofadispute,inwhichpartieschooseoneormorethirdparties(iearbitrator/s)tohelpthemresolvetheirdispute.Arbitrationprovisionsareinsertedincontractsbywayofarbitrationclauses(clause compromissoire)oraseparateagreement(compromis)concludedbetweentheparties.Inarbitrationproceedings,thedisputeisdeterminedbythearbitratorandthearbitrator’sdecisionisbindingontheparties.

Arbitrationandconciliation-mediationarevoluntaryproceedingswhichoffertothepartiestheopportunitytosettletheirdisputewithoutgoingthroughcourtsasthesemechanismsarequick,impartial,effective,confidentialandcost-efficient.





3.Howarecostsdealtwithinalternativedispute


Inpractice,thepartiespayfortheirowncosts.However,thearbitratorortheconciliatorcanalsodecidetoallocatethepaymentofthefeesbetweentheparties.

63


CONTENTS PAGE



Yes.






TheCour d’Arbitrage de Médiation et de

Conciliation du Togo(CATO)isthemainbodythatoffersandconductsalternativedisputeresolutioninTogo.PartiesarenotobligedtouseCATOforalternativeresolutionproceedings.

ARBITRATION



Thedurationofarbitrationproceedingsvariesonacase-by-casebasisbuttakeslesstimethancourtproceedings.

Thearbitrator’sauthorityisdeterminedinthearbitrationagreement.Itshallnotexceedsixmonthsfromthedateoftheappointmentofthelastarbitrator.However,theperiodcanbeextendedeitherbyparties’consentorupononeparty’srequest.


proceedings?

Thecourtcanonlyinterveneinarbitrationproceedingsbyvirtueofaparty’srequesttoobtaininterimrelieforaprotectivemeasureincaseofmotivatedandjustifiedemergency,ontheconditionthatthesemeasuresdonotinvolveexaminationofthemeritsofthedispute,inwhichonlythearbitraltribunaliscompetent.Thearbitraltribunalisalsoentitledtorequesttheassistanceofthelocaljudgeintheeventthatsuchassistanceisrequiredforthemanagementofevidences.


interimrelief?



todisclose?

Thearbitraltribunalcanrequesttheexplanations,argumentsandevidenceitdeemsnecessaryfromthepartiesforthesettlementofthedispute.Thedocumentationincludesinteraliastatementsandexpertreports.







AnarbitrationawardisenforcedbyvirtueofanexequaturgrantedbythecompetentcourtinTogo.


No.Anarbitrationawardisnotsubjecttoanappeal.However,anarbitrationawardmaysubjecttoanactionforacancellation.Theactionforacancellationisadmissibleonly:


• ifthearbitraltribunalwasirregularlyconstituted;


• iftheadversarialprinciplewasnotrespected;and/or

• intheeventofbreachoftheinternationalpublicorder.

64

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE

Theactionforcancellationisopenfromtheissuanceofthearbitralawardandremainsvalidforonemonthaftertheaffixationoftheexequaturtothearbitralaward.




No.ForeignjudgementsandarbitrationawardscanonlyberecognisedandenforcedbyvirtueofanexequaturgrantedbythecompetentcourtinTogo.


securityforcosts?

Whetherornotaforeignclaimantwillberequiredtoprovidesecurityforcostsdependsontheclauseofpaymentinsertedbythepartiesinthearbitrationagreement.

REFORM



resolutionsystem?

No.

65


CONTENTS PAGE

Uganda

66

BOWMANS

CONTENTSPAGE

CONTENTS PAGE

DISPUTE RESOLUTION


ThelegalprofessioninUgandaisnotfused.Theroleofanadvocatediffersfromthatofalawyer.Anadvocateisanenrolledlawyertothebarandcanaddresscourtwhereasalawyerdoesnothavearightofaudiencebeforethecourt.



Commercialdisputescanbesettledbynegotiation,mediation,conciliationorarbitration.Ifalloftheabovefail,partiesmayresorttolitigationwhichisadversarialinnature.



ForeignlawyerscurrentlyrequireauthorisationtotemporarilyparticipateinlitigationproceedingsinUganda.Thoseinactivepracticecanobtainaspecialcertificatetopracticewithinthejurisdiction.UndertheAdvocatesAct,aforeignlawyerisrequiredtoobtaina‘specialpractisingcertificate’whichadmitsthelawyertopracticeinUgandancourtsforthepurposeofanylegalmatter.


claimmustbebrought?

TheLimitationActprovidesdifferentperiodsfordifferentclaims.Landmattersmustbebroughtwithin12years;aclaimbasedoncontractortortmustbebroughtwithinsixyears;andaclaimbasedonnuisanceornegligencemustbebroughtwithinthreeyears.


ThelegalfeestructureforcontentiousandnoncontentiousmattersisprovidedforundertheAdvocates’RemunerationandTaxationofCosts

Act.Thereisaslidingscaleandfeesarecalculatedaccordingtopercentageofvalueofthesubjectmatter.Forhighercourts,namelytheCourtofAppealandSupremeCourt,theJudicatureCourtofAppealRulesandtheJudicatureSupremeCourtRulesapply.Complexity,noveltyofissuesinvolvedandamountofresearcharealsoconsideredwhenchargingafee.



IntermsofthecommonlawinUganda,itisillegalforlitigationtobefundedbyathirdparty.Advocatesareprohibitedfromenteringintocontingencyfeeagreements.Anadvocateshallnotenterintoanyagreementforthesharingofaproportionoftheproceedsofajudgementwhetherbywayofpercentageorotherwiseeitheraspartofortheentireamountofhis/herprofessionalfeesorinconsiderationofadvancingtoaclientfundsfordisbursements.

THE COURT SYSTEM


AccordingtotheConstitutionoftheRepublicofUgandaandtheJudicatureAct,thecourtstructurefromthehighestinhierarchyis:

• theSupremeCourt;• theCourtofAppeal;• theHighCourt;and• theMagistrates'Courts

TheMagistrates'CourtsstructureaccordingtotheMagistratesCourts’Actfromthehighestinhierarchyisasfollows:

• ChiefMagistrates'Courts;• MagistrateGradeICourts;and• Magistrates'GradeIICourts.


particularcourt?

67


CONTENTS PAGE

Magistrates'Courtsadjudicatealltypesofdisputesindiscriminatelyunlessexpresslybarredbystatute,forexampleMagistrates'Courtsdonothavejurisdictioninemploymentmatters.

EmploymentmattersareexclusivelyhandledbytheIndustrialCourt.TaxmattersarehandledbytheTaxAppealsTribunal.

TheHighCourthasjurisdictioninallmatters.However,administratively,mattersarehandledbyspeciallysetupdivisionsoftheHighCourtforLand,Criminal,Civil,Family,WarCrimesandExecutionDivisions.ThisappliesinKampala(thecapitalcityofUganda).OutsideKampala,HighCourtcircuitshandleallmattersindiscriminately.MattersofconstitutionalinterpretationarehandledbytheCourtofAppealexclusively.


highercourts?

Yes.Thedoctrineofprecedent(stare decisis)issalientinthejurisprudenceofUgandancourts.



aclaim?

Aclaimcanbeinstitutedbyordinaryplaint;noticeofmotion;chambersummons;originationssummons;orpetitiontoenforceaclaim.



Courtproceedingsarepublichearingsandcourtdocumentsareavailabletothepublicunlessthecourtmakesaspecificordertothecontrary.Anorderthattrialbeheldincameracanbemadeincertaincases.

6.Arethereanypre-trialproceedingsprescribed

bytherulesofcourt?

Yes.Therulesofcourtprescribediscoveryapplicationsandinterrogatoriesasandwhenapplicable.IntermsoftheCivilProcedureRules,beforeatrialcancommencepartiesarerequiredtoparticipateinaschedulingconferencetodeterminetheissuesofcontention,agreedissuesanddisputedissues.


civilproceedings?

Thejudgeconciliatestheparties,guidesthemontheproceduralaspectsofpresentationoftheirrespectivecasesandfinallyadjudicatesthecaseonitslegalmerits.


todisclose?

Documentsthatarerelevantandadmissiblearerequiredtobedisclosedbytheparties.Theseincludebutarenotlimitedtodocumentsoftitle,agreements,receiptsandthelike.


Yes.Certaindocumentsthatareclassifiedandpartofgovernmentrecordsareprivilegeddocuments.Thecourt,uponapplicationbyaparty,canhoweveradmittheprivilegeddocumentsiftodosowouldbeinthepublicinterestorforothersufficientcause.


Evidenceispresentedbyoralanddocumentaryproofofthepartiesinvolved.Oralproofisbyexaminationinchief,crossexaminationandre-examinationofwitnessesonastandincourt.Documentaryproofisdonethroughtenderingofauthenticateddocumentsduringahearing.



Interimremediesareavailablemainlybeforecivilcourtproceedingtopreservethestatusquoduringthehearingofthesuit.


Acourtorderisenforcedthroughexecutionproceedings,byarrestanddetentionofthejudgementdebtororbyattachmentorsaleofthejudgementdebtor’sproperty.Garnisheeproceedings(attachmentofaccounts)canalsobetakenoutagainstthejudgementdebtor.


courtproceedings?

Thedurationofcourtproceedingsisdependentonvariousfactorsandthespecificcircumstancesofaparticularcase.Administratively,afasttrialisonethatisconcludedinonecalendaryear.

68

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE


awardcosts?

Yes.Courtscanawardcoststothesuccessfulparty.Generally,costsfollowtheevent.15.Areforeignclaimantsrequiredtoprovide

securityforcosts?

Ifaforeignclaimanthasnoassetsorpropertywithinthejurisdiction,thecourtnormallyrequirestheclaimanttofurnishsecurityforcosts.16.Isitpossibletorecoverlegalfees?

Legalfeesarerecoverableinthebillofcostsasistheinstructionfee.Thisisnormallythefirstitemontheitemisedbillofcostswhichissubjectedtotaxationproceedingsattheendofthetrial.17.Onwhatgroundscanpartiesappeal


Thereisnosuchthingasaninherentrightofappeal.Anappealisacreatureofstatute.Thegroundsforreviewarealsoprovidedinstatutesuchasdiscoveryofnewandimportantevidence(whichwasnotwithintheapplicant’sknowledgeandcouldthereforenotbeproducedbyhim/her),somemistakeorerrorapparentonthefaceoftherecordoranyothersufficientreasonsanalogoustotheforegoing.



arbitralawards?

Yes.TheForeignJudgements(ReciprocalEnforcement)Actstipulatestheprocedurefortherecognitionandenforcementofaforeignjudgment.Therelevantprocedurewilldependonwhethertheforeignjudgementwasgrantedwithinoroutsidethecommonwealth.

TheArbitrationandConciliationActprovidesthesameprocedurefortherecognitionandenforcementofforeignarbitralawards.




Themainalternativedisputeresolutionmethodsavailablearenegotiation,mediation,conciliationorarbitration.




Yes.ThereareHighCourtCommercialCourtMediationRulesthatrequireallpartiesincommercialdisputestosubmittoalternativedisputeresolutionproceedingsbeforetrialcancommence.



Eachpartyisresponsibleforpayingtheirowncostsduringmediationproceedings.



Yes.






Thecourtshavemediatorswhopresideoveralternativedisputeresolutionproceedings.Variousbodiesexistincluding:

• UgandaMediationChamberswhichisaprivatemediationbody;and

• CentreforArbitration&DisputeResolutionwhichisastatutorybodyvestedwiththemandatetoaccreditarbitrators.

Beforeanytrialcancommence,itismandatorythatpartiesusethesebodiesinanattempttoresolvethedisputeamicably.

ARBITRATION

69


CONTENTS PAGE



Thedurationofanarbitrationwilldependonthespecificcircumstancesofthecase.Aroughestimateissixmonths.


proceedings?

IntermsoftheArbitrationandConciliationAct,nocourtcaninterveneinarbitrationproceedings.


grantinterimrelief?

ThepartyhastoapplytotheHighCourtbeforeorduringarbitrationproceedingstogetinterimrelief.


todisclose?

Relevantdocumentstothetransactioninissueshouldbedisclosedinarbitration.


ThenatureofarbitrationproceedingsinUgandaisthattheseproceedingsarealternativedisputeresolutionmechanisms.Arbitrationproceedingsarenotasadversarialaslitigationinthecourts.Consequently,thehardandfastrulesofcivilprocedureandlawofevidencearerelaxedduringarbitrationproceedings.

Themoreinformationthatapartyelectstodisclose,thegreaterthechancesareofthearbitrationsucceeding.PrivilegebetweenanadvocateandclientcouldbewaivedtofostermutualtrustandgoodfaithdespitethefactthatthistypeofprivilegeisstillavalidprincipleundertheUgandanlawofevidence.


Evidencecanbepresentedeitherorallyorinwrittenform.


Anarbitrationawardcanbeenforcedinthesamemannerasadecreeofcourt.


Yes,ifpartiesagree,anappealcanbemadetotheHighCourtonaquestionoflaw.




No.Foreignjudgementsandarbitrationawardscanonlyberecognisedandenforcedbywayofcourtproceedings.


securityforcosts?

ThepracticeisthatforeignclaimantswithoutassetsorpropertyinUgandaaretoprovidesecurityforcosts.

REFORM



resolutionsystem?

Thereisnoreformtothecourtsystemoralternativedisputeresolutionintheimmediatefuture.

70

BOWMANS

CONTENTS PAGE

Key Contacts

Toviewprofilesofourlawyers,

pleasevisitwww.bowmanslaw.com

ADAMANDERSON

HeadofLitigationJohannesburg,SouthAfrica

T:+27116699000E:[email protected]

FREDERICKJ.MPANGA

PartnerKampala,Uganda


EVANSMONARI

PartnerNairobi,Kenya


WILBERTKAPINGA

ManagingPartner,TanzaniaDaresSalaam,Tanzania


71


CapeTown


DaresSalaam

T: +255768988640E: [email protected]

Durban


Johannesburg


Kampala


Nairobi


FollowusonTwitter:

@Bowmans_Law

www.bowmanslaw.com

CONTENTSPAGE

AFRICA GUIDE – LITIGATION - Bowmans

Documents

Transcript of AFRICA GUIDE – LITIGATION - Bowmans