Scanlen & Holderness Legal Practitioners

09/10/2026

Following our earlier invitation to attend the Strategic Intelligence Forum, find below links to a write up by Nellie Tiago and media coverage for highlights and key insights from the discussion.

https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/live-business-leaders-gather-for-czi-strategic-intelligence-forum/

https://www.scanlenandholderness.com/articles/navigating-regulatory-complexity-managing-legal-risk-in-zimbabwes-business-environment

06/10/2026

Join our Partner and Chairperson, Nellie Tiago, at the CZI Annual Business Conference- Strategic Intelligence 2026 Forum where she will be speaking about embedding legal and regulatory foresight into business strategy from 7 to 9 October 2026 at the Hyatt Regency, The Meikles.

06/10/2026

Our Partner, Rudo Magundani, is representing our firm at the International Bar Association in Copenhagen this week and will be joining a panel on Thursday to discuss cross boarder risk management, sharing perspectives from Zimbabwe.

Find below her thoughts on the conference and discussions so far:

It is that time of the year when the legal profession converges for the International Bar Association Annual Conference.⠀

This year, we are in Copenhagen, with lawyers from across the world meeting to reflect on developments affecting law, business and international commerce.⠀

The Opening Ceremony yesterday at the Bella Center Copenhagen opened a week of important conversations.⠀

IBA President Claudio Visco put the current moment into sharp perspective:⠀“We are living through a period in which the fundamental architecture of the post-war order is under strain.”⠀

His words spoke directly to the environment in which lawyers and their clients are operating.⠀Geopolitics is shifting. Technology is changing the way business is conducted. Markets are becoming harder to predict.⠀Lawyers are increasingly being asked to help clients understand these changes, structure transactions carefully and make sound decisions in difficult conditions.⠀

Today, these issues featured strongly in discussions on artificial intelligence, the future of legal practice, geopolitical risk, M&A, corporate governance and cross-border business.
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In the morning keynote on AI, Dr Nicklas Berild Lundblad posed a disruptive question:
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“So how does law deal with a will that is not ours?”
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Although he was speaking about artificial intelligence, the question goes beyond AI.
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Law is constantly having to respond to developments that move faster than regulation, institutions and established commercial practice.
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That is familiar territory in Africa and Zimbabwe.
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Businesses here routinely deal with regulatory change, currency movements, changing economic conditions, new technologies and the demands of operating across different markets and legal systems.
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Tomorrow, the conference moves into Day 2, with further discussions on technology, regulation, global finance, cross-border transactions and the changing business of law.
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The discussions so far have reinforced something I have believed for some time:
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Africa has much to contribute to the global discussion on cross-border business and risk.
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Our markets have given businesses and their advisers practical experience in dealing with currency exposure, regulatory change, political developments, contractual protection and risk allocation.
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This is experience that should inform the wider international discussion.
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That will be the subject of my contribution on Thursday when I join a distinguished panel for the masterclass:
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Cross-border risk management: mitigating political, economic and currency fluctuation risks.
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I will be joining Sucharita Basu, Morena Del Rio, Kevin Huber and Christian Johansen, with Bill Barton moderating the discussion.
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I look forward to sharing perspectives from Zimbabwe and learning from the experiences represented around the table.
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02/10/2026

We are pleased to welcome Lindsay McCosh as our newest Associate. Congratulations and welcome to the team!

21/09/2026

Inspiring reflection on building a legal career of distinction.

Featuring our Partner Brighton Regis Mahuni on

#𝐌𝐒𝐔𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 | 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐢: 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

A degree can open a door; what follows depends on the knowledge, discipline and character developed along the way. Brighton Mahuni’s journey from Midlands State University (MSU) to partnership at one of Zimbabwe’s leading law firms offers a compelling example of where an MSU education can lead.

Brighton graduated with a Bachelor of Laws Honours degree from MSU in June 2014, at a formative stage in the development of the University’s Law School. Three months later, he joined Scanlen & Holderness Legal Practitioners as an intern, becoming the first MSU graduate to join the firm.

His career progressed rapidly. He was admitted as a legal practitioner, Notary Public and Conveyancer in March 2015 and became a partner at the firm in 2020. He now heads its Conveyancing & Property Law department and chairs the Interns & Training Committee, placing his expertise at the service of both clients and the next generation of legal professionals.

The pursuit of excellence has remained central to his journey. Brighton earned a certificate in International Standards on Freedom of Expression from UNESCO and the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights at the University of Oxford in 2021, before attaining a first-class Master of Laws degree in Corporate & Commercial Law from Queen Mary University of London in 2026.

Looking back on his time at MSU, Brighton recalls joining the Faculty of Law in its infancy. He also credits the enabling MSU environment and support from University leadership as important elements of his development.

His message to students carries the same values that have shaped his career: “Remain grounded, focused, respectful, and honest. Your character and soft skills count a lot in the market and will determine the degree of success you attain in your career.”

Brighton’s story reflects the possibilities that an MSU education can unlock, showing how knowledge, character and continuous learning can equip graduates to build distinguished careers and contribute their expertise to the development of Zimbabwe.

07/09/2026

Our Chairperson, Nellie Tiago , contributed to the Virtual Assets Regulation Across Africa: South Africa, Rwanda and Zimbabwe Update exploring the key changes shaping the regulatory landscape across these jurisdictions and their implications for businesses, investors, and other market participants operating in the region.

Click on the link below for the full guide;
https://businesslink.co.za/what-south-africa-rwanda-and-zimbabwes-latest-reforms-mean-for-crypto-regulation-in-africa/finance-and-insurance/

07/09/2026

Congratulations to our Legal Intern, Lindsay McCosh, on her registration as a legal practitioner.

02/09/2026

We were honoured to have hosted Sona Pancholy, the President of Meritas Law Firms Worldwide.

Our George Gapu will be joining her and other Meritas members from across Africa for the 2026 Africa Regional Meeting which will be running under the theme “Unlocking Africa Markets: Driving Business in a Changing Economy", alongside the Meritas Board of Directors Meeting.

The meeting will be hosted by VDMA LAW running from 2-4 September.

18/08/2026

Our Chairperson, Nellie Tiago, together with newly appointed Senior Associate Mbalenhle Violet Mwase, explore the evolving landscape of Virtual Assets, Tokenised Securities, and Crypto-Asset Service Providers.

Click the link below for the full read.

https://www.scanlenandholderness.com/articles/virtual-assets-tokenised-securities-and-crypto-asset-service-providers-examining-zimbabwes-emerging-regulatory-framework

13/08/2026

The Partners of Scanlen and Holderness are pleased to announce the elevation of Mbalenhle Violet Mwase to Senior Associate. Wishing her great success in her new position!