Bernard Mukasa

Bernard Mukasa is a Partner in the Corporate & Financial Advisory Team and heads the Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) / Intellectual Property Law practice together with the Employment & Global Mobility team. He is also Co-Head of the Insolvency, Business Rescue & Restructuring practices and has over 16 years of experience.

He routinely advises on IP structuring, management, due diligence, enforcement and commercialisation. He has extensive experience drafting and negotiating IP-related agreements, including licensing and commercial contracts. He also advises on trade mark and copyright litigation, patent registration and enforcement, and issues involving infringement, passing off and anti-counterfeiting across sectors such as media and entertainment, telecommunications, advertising, sport, fashion, cosmetics, food and beverage, and electronics. He is a registered ARIPO Agent and Uganda Trade Mark Agent.

He is a registered Insolvency Practitioner in Uganda and has led and advised on high-profile receiverships, administrations and liquidations, including a high-value cross-border insolvency involving a major construction company. He recently led the recovery and restructuring of a leading food manufacturer in Uganda as a Receiver/Manager.

He advises clients on employment law, including labour compliance, occupational health and safety, workman's compensation, restructuring, global mobility and immigration. He has handled mass lay-offs and labour export matters, and regularly represents clients before the Labour Office and the Industrial Division of the High Court. He is experienced in mediating and arbitrating employment disputes.

He has previously worked at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP under the International Lawyers for Africa (ILFA) Secondment Programme. He is also active in commercial dispute resolution and routinely represents clients in mediations, arbitrations and commercial litigation.

He holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) (Distinction) from the University of East London, a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) (Hons) from Makerere University, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre. He also holds certificates in Corporate Governance and Board Competence, Mediation from Pepperdine University School of Law & Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Enforcement & Protection of Intellectual Property Rights from IDLO, Patent Drafting from WIPO, and Trial Advocacy from the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Justice Advocacy Africa & Uganda Law Society.