Francis Gimara

Francis Gimara is the Head of ALP East Africa, practicing in International Trade Law. He is a well-respected attorney with cross-cutting experience in Regional Integration Law (acting as a pioneer of the field in East Africa), Corporate Governance Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution (Mediation and Arbitration), Banking and Finance Law, International Trade Law, Insolvency Practice, and Procurement and Disposal of Assets Law.

He served as President of the Uganda Law Society (2016-17) and was awarded the distinguished honour of Senior Counsel by the Law Society and then Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Bart Katureebe, in recognition of his contribution to the development of the legal profession. He is currently the Chairperson of the PPDA Appeals Tribunal of the Republic of Uganda. He has provided legal and consultancy services on trade and integration law to organizations including USAID East African Trade Investment Hub, the World Bank/IFC, the East African Law Society, and Trade Mark East Africa. He has been Lead Counsel on key disputes before the East African Court of Justice that set precedent for regional integration law.

Francis holds an LLM from the University of Cambridge, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from Edinburgh Business School (Heriot-Watt University), a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre, and an LLB (Hons) from Makerere University. He is a member of the International Bar Association, the Uganda Law Society, the East African Law Society, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and the Pan-African Lawyers Union. He has been recognized by Chambers Global for his arbitration counsel work and advice on business integration.