Khupe not leaving Collins Newman and Co

Staff Writer | Thursday June 5, 2014 08:47

Tafa

Tafa wondered why there were lawyers who have left and joined the company but the press did not write about them.

“Bookbinder left, you did not write about it, Neil Armstrong joined us, you did not write about him. Why are you interested in this. How is it newsworthy to you? You are being silly,” he asked.

Tafa stated that staff movement anywhere is a private matter. Tafa went further to condemn local media accusing it of writing false reports about the country, which reports are read worldwide. He warned that one day things will change, and that journalists will learn to draw the boundaries, and that, by then there will be talk of a dictatorship.

According to the law firm’s website, Khupe joined as a senior associate in 1996, until he became partner in 2003.

“As a commercial lawyer Laurence has advised on large scale projects and regularly services international clients doing business in Botswana. He has acted for large mining houses, financial institutions, big corporations and parastatals,” says the website.

The website added: “Laurence has been consistently ranked by Chambers Global as one of the leading lawyers in Botswana. Amongst his notable directorships, Laurence has been on the main Board of Botswana Tourism as a non- executive director since 2007. He also sits on the boards of several significant companies in Botswana and Uganda”.

Tafa wondered why there were lawyers who have left and joined the company but the press did not write about them.“Bookbinder left, you did not write about it, Neil Armstrong joined us, you did not write about him. Why are you interested in this. How is it newsworthy to you? You are being silly,” he asked.Tafa stated that staff movement anywhere is a private matter. Tafa went further to condemn local media accusing it of writing false reports about the country, which reports are read worldwide. He warned that one day things will change, and that journalists will learn to draw the boundaries, and that, by then there will be talk of a dictatorship.

According to the law firm’s website, Khupe joined as a senior associate in 1996, until he became partner in 2003. “As a commercial lawyer Laurence has advised on large scale projects and regularly services international clients doing business in Botswana. He has acted for large mining houses, financial institutions, big corporations and parastatals,” says the website.

Some of the recent transactions he handled were:

Acting for Cathay Fortune Investment in their proposed acquisition of Discovery Metals Limited valued at AUD830 million;
Acting for Botswana Public Officers Medical Aid Scheme in the acquisition of assets and business of Bokamoso Private Hospital;
Counsel and lead consultant of the Collins Newman Deloitte Consortium on the privatisation for Botswana Telecommunications Corporation and its IPO;
Botswana counsel to JSW Limited in its proposed acquisition of CIC Energy and in relation to its general exploration activities in Botswana;