Timothy K. Masembe

Timothy K. Masembe is the Managing Partner and Head of the firm's Litigation team, with over 34 years of experience specialising in commercial litigation, arbitration, and corporate and commercial law. He is widely recognised as one of Uganda’s foremost litigators, with a distinguished practice before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and Commercial Court of Uganda, as well as in international arbitration under UNCITRAL, LCIA, and ICSID rules.

He has successfully acted for the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited in resisting a challenge to the enforcement in Uganda of its USD 153 million foreign arbitral award against AYA Investments (U) Ltd, and for the Uganda Bankers Association and thirty commercial banks in a Constitutional Petition challenging the Uganda Revenue Authority's attempt to compel banks to divulge customer data. He has also acted for the Bank of Uganda in high‑profile banking sector reconstruction cases, and for Barclays Bank and ABSA in defending a USD 29.4 million structured agricultural finance facility. His practice spans banking and finance, constitutional law, tax disputes, and international arbitration, delivering strategic legal solutions across multiple sectors.

He holds an LL.B (Hons) from the University of London, a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre, Uganda, and is a Barrister‑at‑Law and a Member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, UK. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1992. He is a member of the Uganda Law Society and the East African Law Society. He was recently granted a special license to appear in the Tanzania Courts and has served as a member of the Capital Markets Authority Board. He is consistently ranked as a leading lawyer by Chambers Global and The Legal 500.