Mapanza M Nkwilimba
Legal DirectorMapanza M. Nkwilimba has significant experience assisting in the resolution of disputes across a wide range of construction, engineering and other related service contracts in the energy and natural resources sectors and has advised on contentious matters relating to major infrastructure projects across the Middle East and Australia.
He is particularly skilled at providing ongoing strategic guidance to clients during project execution, including advice on contract administration and the management of a broad range of construction contract disputes, including those relating to delay, scope change and quality issues.
Mapanza regularly conducts arbitrations under various international arbitration rules, including the ICC and UNCITRAL rules.
Prior to joining DLA Piper in April 2020, Mapanza worked at various international law firms based in Doha, Qatar and Perth, Western Australia focusing on contentious construction, commercial litigation and international arbitration.
EXPERIENCE
- Acting for a Joint Venture (comprising various international and local contractors), in ICC arbitration proceedings involving multi-million dollar claims and counterclaims arising out of the to design, build and construction of a motorway in Slovakia.
- Acting for an international contractor engaged on the construction of utilities infrastructure relating to the construction a major highway in Qatar.
- Acting for a Joint Venture (comprising various international and local contractors), in ICC arbitration proceedings involving multi-million dollar claims and counterclaims arising out of the design and construction of a stadium for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
- Acting for a Joint Venture (comprising various international and local contractors), in advancing multi-million-dollar claims relating to the engineering and construction of a major rail package in Doha, Qatar.
- Acting for a Joint Venture (comprising various international and local contractors), engaged on the design and construction of a major highway network in Qatar.*
- Acting for an International energy company in UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings in relation to a multi-million dollar costs overrun and delay claim arising out of the design and construction of a billion-dollar oil sands project in Canada.*
- Acting for an International EPC contractor in ICC arbitration proceedings advancing a multi-million-dollar claim arising out of the construction of a gas processing plant in Oman.*
- Advising a confidential client on claims for delay costs arising under a subcontract for the construction of a combined cycle power plant for the Ichthys Onshore LNG Facilities Project located at Blaydin Point, in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.*
- Advising a confidential client on claims for variations, delay costs under a Civil Works Subcontract for the site development of the LNG plant, Flare Pad, Module Offloading Facility (MOF) causeway, Operations Complex and Site Access Road in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia for the Ichthys Onshore LNG Facilities Project.*
- Preparing responses to various adjudication applications made against a confidential client under the Construction Contracts (Security of Payments) Act (NT) relating to disputed payment claims under a subcontract for the design and construction of mechanical and electrical services as part of a contract for the design and construction of a 3,500 bed accommodation village at Howard Springs in the Northern Territory, Australia. for the Ichthys Onshore LNG Facilities Project.*
- Advice a confidential client on variation claims and the preparation of an adjudication application under the Construction Contracts Act 2004 (WA) in relation to works under a Contract for earthworks on the Marandoo Mine Phase 2 Project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.*
- Advising a confidential client on claims for variations and delay arising under a Contract for the installation of a dewatering system on the Marandoo Mine Phase 2 Project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. This included assisting in the defence of litigation in the Supreme Court of Western Australia commenced by a subcontractor engaged to undertake bore and electrical works.*
- Advising a confidential client on contractual obligations in relation to an Umbilical Installation and Trenching Contract on the Gorgon Project in Western Australia.*
- Advising a confidential client on contractual obligations in relation to an Onshore and Intertidal Pipeline Installation Contract on the Gorgon Project in Western Australia.*
- Advising a confidential client on contractual obligations in relation to a Heavy Lift and Tie-Ins Contract on the Gorgon Project in Western Australia.*
*Denotes experience prior to joining DLA Piper.
- University of Western Australia, Master of Commercial & Resources Law, MCRLaw, 2010
- University of Western Australia, Graduate Diploma in Commercial & Resources Law, GradDipCRLaw, 2008
- University of Notre Dame Australia, Bachelor of Laws, 2006
Memberships And Affiliations
- Member, African Arbitration Association
- Associate Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitration