Commercial Contracts Lawyer seeking International work

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Serial No: 7902

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Skills keywords: commercial contracts, contract management, contract negotiation, contract writing, procurement

Short Bio:

In 2002, managed to convince Tax Authority to waive employer's withholding tax liability and then put measures in place to ensure that employer complies with income tax obligations. Managed to convince superiors about the need for training of personnel involved in procurement activities and hence given task to source appropriate in-house training. In six years, managed to successfully mentor three junior staff in contract negotiation and drafting. Facilitated workshops on procurement and contract management.

Current location:  Gaborone City, Botswana - View on map

Preferred Sector of Employment:  accounting and finance

Spoken languages: Bemba, Chinyanja, english, Setswana

Location I am interested in working: Anywhere

Career history

2002 – present Chief Legal Advisor – Contracts and Procurement

Botswana Defence Force, Acquisition Branch, Botswana Government

Ensuring all procurement and commercial contracts comply with relevant legislation, best practice and deliver intended outcomes for the joint air and land military forces of Botswana and c15,000 personnel.

• Part of team responsible for multi-billion Pula budget – the largest procurement component of government

• Part of team responsible for vetting and improving on solicitation documents

• Wide variety of contracts from military hardware and software to food, provisions, accommodation, leases, services, works and disposal of goods with global supply chain

• Analyse and author contract documents ensuring compliance with relevant statutory obligations

• Built strong stakeholder relationships across government bodies and with international suppliers

• Successfully won credibility and respect as the only female and only civilian in this division

• Upon joining in 2002 there were few formal written contracts and the existing few were heavily biased in favour of the supplier with little or no government negotiation

• Audited 5 years of contracts in 2002 to find international suppliers avoiding tens of millions of Pula in tax and thereafter led tough negotiations with Minister of Finance to waive Defence Force tax liability of over 21m Pula

• Began successful process of re-negotiating and formalising all contracts to ensure improvement in terms and conditions and best value for money

• Received praise and acknowledgement from Attorney General and Public Procurement Board improved commercial contract processes and management

• In 2009 led contract negotiations on purchase of Presidential aircraft and later on disposal of old jet

• In 2011 part of team that planned, scoped and managed contract process for the first national Officer training College including all infrastructure, services and goods

• 2013 key role in team managing strategy to outsource catering services to obtain improved levels of service and best value including writing documents and tenders

1997 – 2002 Lecturer – Commercial Law

Botswana Public Service College

Creating stimulating curricular and classes for over 100 students year studying for a variety of courses in accounts and business studies and in public finance and accounting.

• Authored lectures and courses for students at Certificate and Diploma levels

• Prepared , invigilated, marked and moderated examinations

1991 – 1997 Professional Legal Assistant

Makgabenyana, Bayford and Associates

Liaised with clients, prepared documents for Court and provided a variety of commercial legal duties.

Professional memberships

• Certificate Member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply

• Member of Procurement Lawyers’ Association, UK

Selected professional development

Managing Public Sector Procurement Advantage Training South Africa 2013

Managing Risk and Meeting Service Delivery

Expectations

Postgraduate Diploma, Executive Programme in Public Procurement Law and Policy Nottingham University, UK Deferred

Certificate in Public Procurement CIPS Level 3 United Nations Development Programme, Denmark 2013

Project Management Workshop Projectmanagement.co.za 2012

Fundamentals of Procurement Workshop for Botswana Defence Force Botswana Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board 2012

Capacity Building Workshop on Procurement Planning and Evaluation Botswana Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board 2012

Negotiating, Drafting and Implementing Commercial Contracts Courgett (Pty) Ltd 2011

Introductory Certificate in Public Procurement, CIPS Level 2 United Nations Development Programme, Dubai 2010

Capacity Building Workshop Botswana Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board 2010

Tenderscan Workshop South African Govt Procurement Law and Practice, Cape Town 2010

Workshop on Revision of Consultancy Agreement Template Attorney General’s Chambers 2010

Executive Project Management University of Botswana 2008

Education

Master of Laws (Mercantile Law) University of Stellenbosch 2009

Bachelor of Laws University of Zambia 1985 – 1989

Languages

English (fluent) Bemba (fluent) Setswana (intermediate) French (basic)