PROGRAMME

Day One: Thursday November 13th 2014

(All day registration at Rwanda Bar Association
Offices)
2.00pm 5.00pm: Leading Law Firms Forum
7.00pm 11.00pm: Leading Law Firms Networking

Dinner

Day Two: Friday November 14th 2014.

Morning Session.
7.30am 8.15am: Registration
8.15am 10.30am: Opening Ceremony
MCs: To be nominated by the Rwanda Bar Association

19 Annual Conference
and General Meeting of
the East Africa Law Society
(13thto15th November 2014)
at the Kigali Serena Hotel.
th

Welcome Remarks: Mr. Athanase

Rutabingwa; Batonnier Rwanda Bar
Association

Introductory Remarks: Mr. James

Aggrey Mwamu President East
Africa Law Society

Remarks by the Minister of Justice/

Attorney General of Rwanda

Official Opening of the AC/AGM

by His Excellency President Paul
Kagame President of the Republic
of Rwanda

Vote of thanks by the EALS Secretary

General

10.30 11.00am: Refreshments and Group

Photographs
11.00 12.00: Keynote Address:
His Lordship Justice Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja
President Judge of the East African Court of Justice
Thekeynote address will focus the legal profession on the
emerging aspects and trends both within and affecting the
practice of law within the region and offer potential avenues
through which legal practitioners can take advantage of this
fast developing trends.
12.00 12.30pm: Plenary
12.45 1.45pm: Lunch.

Afternoon Session
TIME

TRACK 1

TRACK 2

Member Services

Trends and Patterns

What should your law society do for you?

2:00PM From Bar Associations to Law Societies, what is it

to
3:00PM that your professional organization should do for
you; and what should you, as a member, contribute
to the success of your Bar Association or law society?
The panel draws on tested examples of the services
and programs of Law Societies and Bar Associations
from across the region, and the globe; in addition to
identifying any best practices that could be replicated
across the East African Region.

3.00PM
to
3:30PM
3:30PM
to
4:30PM

Giving your law firm the competitive edge

Four panellists will provide a contextual strategy

on how law firms and legal practice within the
region can benefit from the growing investment
and business potential of the East African Region
through adopting competitive and outward looking
approaches.
The panel discussion will also highlight the
vehicles that would propel the law firms into this
arena including but not limited to legal process
outsourcing, alternative business structures, virtual
law firms, external investment into law firms, and
advertising.

PLENARY 1

Trans-boundary legal practice; are we there

yet?

With 80% of all legal fees in Africa going to offshore

firms, there is need for local firms to combine their
strengths in order to compete for these lucrative
deals. CBLP remains the best hope for this and the
panellists will discuss progress on this agenda, what
role members and bar associations can play to fast
track this process and the practical challenges being
faced by firms and individuals already undertaking it
in spite of the absence of an enabling legal framework.

Alternative Dispute Resolution: Friend or Foe?

Disputes from commercial agreements and

transactions and their attendant costs and litigation
delays are on the rise. With case backlog reaching
chronic levels in our Courts and frustrating business
and Foreign Direct Investment due to its effect on
business competitiveness, does ADR portend an
alarming decline in revenue or is it a faster way to
solve judicial disagreements and hence a faster flow
of income for the legal profession? The panellists will
examine ADR mechanisms as well as the existent
national, regional and continental ADR mechanisms
and rules.The Panel will also review the process
through which lawyers can become accredited
arbitrators at any of these centres would also be
helpful.

4:30PM
to
5:00PM

PLENARY 2

7.00 10.00pm: Gala Dinner and entertainment

Day 2. Saturday November 16th 2014.

7.30 9.00am: Registration
9.00am 2.00pm: AGM as per notice
2.00pm: Lunch
3.00 pm: Tours and Excursions