ABOUT THE ROLE

KTA Advocates is seeking an experienced and ambitious Senior Associate to join and support the leadership of its Technology, Media, Telecoms, Intellectual Property & Sustainability (TMT/IP & Sustainability) Practice Group.

The Senior Associate will work on sophisticated and emerging legal and policy matters at the intersection of technology, intellectual property, digital transformation, sustainability, ESG, climate finance and carbon markets.

Reporting directly to the Partner & Head of TMT/IP & Sustainability, the Senior Associate will take significant responsibility for client relationships, matter management, supervision of lawyers, business development, thought leadership and the day-to-day performance of the Practice Group.

The role requires a lawyer who combines strong technical ability with commercial judgement, leadership, client-management skills and an entrepreneurial approach to developing new areas of legal practice.

KEY PRACTICE AREAS

Technology, Media & Telecommunications

• Technology and telecommunications regulation;
• Fintech, electronic payments and digital financial services;
• Data protection, privacy and data governance;
• Cybersecurity and cyber law;
• Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies;
• Digital commerce and digital platforms;
• Cloud computing, SaaS and outsourcing;
• Software development, licensing and technology procurement;
• Digital infrastructure and regulatory compliance.

Intellectual Property

• Trademarks, copyright, patents and related IP rights;
• IP registration, protection and enforcement;
• IP commercialisation, licensing and technology transfer;
• Brand protection and portfolio management;
• Software and digital IP;
• IP audits, policies and strategy; and
• IP aspects of corporate and commercial transactions.

Sustainability, ESG & Carbon Markets

• Sustainability and ESG legal and regulatory advisory;
• Carbon-market regulation and carbon-credit transactions;
• Carbon project development and regulatory approvals;
• Carbon credit purchase, sale and offtake agreements;
• Legal and regulatory due diligence for carbon projects;
• Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, including Articles 6.2 and 6.4;
• Host-country authorisations, corresponding adjustments and international transfers;
• Carbon registries, standards and methodologies;
• Benefit-sharing arrangements and stakeholder agreements;
• Voluntary and compliance carbon markets;
• Climate finance and sustainable investment;
• ESG governance, policies, reporting and disclosure frameworks;
• Climate-related regulation and policy development; and
• Engagement with regulators, government agencies, registries, standards bodies, project developers, investors and other carbon-market stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Associate will:

• Lead and manage complex TMT/IP, sustainability, ESG and carbon-market assignments;
• Act as a key point of contact for clients and maintain trusted client relationships;
• Draft and review sophisticated legal opinions, agreements, policies, transaction documents and regulatory submissions;
• Advise technology companies, telecommunications operators, banks, fintechs, digital platforms and multinational businesses;
• Advise carbon project developers, investors, financiers and other market participants on regulatory and transactional matters;
• Supervise Associates, junior lawyers, legal assistants and interns;
• Review work for technical accuracy, commercial relevance and overall quality;
• Manage matters, timelines, budgets and client expectations;
• Conduct legal and regulatory due diligence;
• Lead client trainings, workshops and stakeholder engagements;
• Support regulatory applications, registrations and approvals;
• Monitor developments in technology, IP, sustainability, ESG and carbon markets; and
• Deputise for the Partner & Head of TMT/IP & Sustainability when required.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

The Senior Associate will be expected to contribute actively to the commercial growth of the Practice Group by:

• Identifying and developing new business opportunities;
• Leading and contributing to pitches, proposals, EOIs and tenders;
• Developing relationships with clients, regulators, industry associations and development partners;
• Publishing articles, legal alerts, policy briefs and thought-leadership pieces;
• Speaking at and participating in relevant conferences and industry engagements;
• Supporting the development of innovative legal products and service offerings;
• Contributing to firm-led conferences, forums, workshops and roundtables; and
• Supporting the Practice Group’s regional and international growth strategy.

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP

The Senior Associate will:

• Support the Partner in managing the day-to-day operations of the Practice Group;
• Coordinate allocation and delivery of work across the team;
• Mentor and develop Associates and junior lawyers;
• Promote high standards of client service and professional excellence;
• Support staff performance reviews and professional development;
• Monitor time recording, billing, collections and profitability of assigned matters;
• Ensure compliance with Firm procedures and quality standards;
• Contribute to annual Practice Group strategy, budgets and business plans; and
• Foster a collaborative, innovative and high-performance culture.

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate should have:

• A Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from a recognised university;
• A Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre or equivalent professional qualification;
• Admission to practise law in Uganda; and
• A Master’s degree or professional certification in technology law, IP, sustainability, ESG, climate change, environmental law or a related field will be an added advantage.

EXPERIENCE

The successful candidate must have:

• At least five (5) years of relevant post-qualification legal experience;
• Demonstrable experience in TMT/IP, technology, telecommunications, fintech, data protection, intellectual property, sustainability, ESG, climate finance, carbon markets or related regulatory work;
• Strong experience drafting and negotiating technology, commercial and/or regulatory agreements;
• Experience managing significant client matters with limited Partner supervision;
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior lawyers;
• Experience dealing with regulators, government institutions and/or other sophisticated stakeholders; and
• Strong legal research, drafting, negotiation and client-management skills.

• Lead and manage complex TMT/IP, sustainability, ESG and carbon-market assignments;
• Act as a key point of contact for clients and maintain trusted client relationships;
• Draft and review sophisticated legal opinions, agreements, policies, transaction documents and regulatory submissions;
• Advise technology companies, telecommunications operators, banks, fintechs, digital platforms and multinational businesses;
• Advise carbon project developers, investors, financiers and other market participants on regulatory and transactional matters;
• Supervise Associates, junior lawyers, legal assistants and interns;
• Review work for technical accuracy, commercial relevance and overall quality;
• Manage matters, timelines, budgets and client expectations;
• Conduct legal and regulatory due diligence;
• Lead client trainings, workshops and stakeholder engagements;
• Support regulatory applications, registrations and approvals;
• Monitor developments in technology, IP, sustainability, ESG and carbon markets; and
• Deputise for the Partner & Head of TMT/IP & Sustainability when required.
• Identifying and developing new business opportunities;
• Leading and contributing to pitches, proposals, EOIs and tenders;
• Developing relationships with clients, regulators, industry associations and development partners;
• Publishing articles, legal alerts, policy briefs and thought-leadership pieces;
• Speaking at and participating in relevant conferences and industry engagements;
• Supporting the development of innovative legal products and service offerings;
• Contributing to firm-led conferences, forums, workshops and roundtables; and
• Supporting the Practice Group’s regional and international growth strategy.
• Support the Partner in managing the day-to-day operations of the Practice Group;
• Coordinate allocation and delivery of work across the team;
• Mentor and develop Associates and junior lawyers;
• Promote high standards of client service and professional excellence;
• Support staff performance reviews and professional development;
• Monitor time recording, billing, collections and profitability of assigned matters;
• Ensure compliance with Firm procedures and quality standards;
• Contribute to annual Practice Group strategy, budgets and business plans; and
• Foster a collaborative, innovative and high-performance culture.

• Strong legal research, drafting, negotiation and client-management skills.

• A Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from a recognised university;
• A Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre or equivalent professional qualification;
• Admission to practise law in Uganda; and
• A Master’s degree or professional certification in technology law, IP, sustainability, ESG, climate change, environmental law or a related field will be an added advantage.