Thompson Luhanga - Senior Partner
Telecommunication, Investment, Corporate and Commercial
Thompson Luhanga is a Senior Partner and our Head of Telecommunication, Investment, Corporate and Commercial department. Thompson’s area of practise includes business set-ups, corporate governance and financing, regulatory compliance and transactional negotiations. He possesses knowledge in advising on telecommunication licensing, mergers and acquisitions, commercial contract drafting and negotiations, corporate restructuring and reorganisations and guiding investors through the intricacies of local investment laws and regulations, offering strategic insights to maximize returns while mitigating risks.
Thompson also has vast experience in taxation ranging from litigation to advisory support and has also served as a litigator, representing clients in diverse commercial disputes across all levels of the judicial system. Thompson’s practise extends to other areas including banking and finance, real estate, family law and probate and administration.
Office - General: +255 (0) 222 700 594 Email: thompson@lawhill.co.tz
Office - Direct: +255 (0) 222 700 591 Website: www.lawhill.co.tz
Mobile: +255 (0) 743 922 000 Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Credentials
- Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M.), University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
- Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (PGDLP), the Law School of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
- Admitted as an Advocate in Tanzania Mainland.
Notable Experience(s)
A: Corporate & Commercial
- Advised and led the incorporation and establishment of fibre, tower and data canter companies in Tanzania Mainland and the establishment of the tower and data centre branches in Zanzibar including obtaining all relevant regulatory certificates/approvals.
- Served as a liquidator in the winding up of a company, overseeing all aspects of the dissolution process including asset distributions, creditor settlements and regulatory compliance, ensuring a smooth and orderly conclusion to the company’s affairs.
- Advised and assisted a consultancy company with navigating the procedures of both voluntary and involuntary winding up of a subsidiary company and de-registration of a Danish company’s branch in Tanzania Mainland.
- Managing all aspects of corporate secretarial duties of three subsidiary companies of an international oil and gas company based in United Arab Emirates, including board meeting preparations, minutes drafting, statutory filings and maintenance of corporate records, facilitating transparent and efficient corporate governance practices across the organisations.
B: Telecommunications
- Applied for National Network Facility and Class Licenses for Tower and Data Centre Companies in Tanzania Mainland.
- Advised an international telecommunications company on the necessary licenses required by a Fibre Company in Tanzania and the regulatory requirements for the establishment of the company, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and facilitating the successful launch of the venture.
- Advised and took part in a high-profile transaction in which a telecommunications company acquired 100% ownership of another telecommunications company, overseeing all legal aspects of the transaction from due diligence to regulatory approvals from TCRA.
C: Investment
- Advised an international telecommunications company on the applicable tax incentives in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar and the best recommended incorporation options. The advice explored available incentives issued by TIC and ZIPA under the ordinary certificate of incentives, strategic or major investment, special strategic investment status and incentives in Free Economic Zones.
- Played a key role in applying and procuring a certificate of incentives for a telecommunications company and spearheaded the application for a strategic investment status, leading the preparation of a comprehensive cover letter and business proposal outlining the company’s strategic objectives, growth plans and the anticipated benefits of obtaining the investment status.
D: Other Proven Experience(s)
- Took part in a comprehensive tax health check for a logistics and consultancy company on all tax related matters covering; Corporate Income Tax, withholding tax, Value Added Tax, Pay as You Earn, Skills and Development Levy and provided a due diligence report that offered strategic recommendations to optimize tax compliance and mitigate risks.
- Advising and representing clients in Corporate Income Tax, withholding tax, Value Added Tax, Pay As You Earn, Skills and Development Levy, Capital Gains Tax and import duty disputes before the Tanzania Revenue Authority, Tax Revenue Appeals Board, Tax Revenue Appeals Tribunal, and the Court of Appeal of Tanzania.
- Played a pivotal role as a legal advisor in a collaborative team effort for the structuring and issuance of a five-year medium term notes (corporate bonds) of TZS 300 billion for one of the leading banks in Tanzania.