New Perimeter teams with EADB to provide training on contract negotiation to East African government lawyers

New Perimeter, DLA Piper’s nonprofit affiliate that provides long-term pro bono legal assistance in under-served regions around the world, conducted a five-day virtual training on negotiating international agreements for government lawyers from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

DLA Piper teamed with the East African Development Bank (EADB) to deliver the training between August 4-10 for approximately 55 public sector lawyers from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda who are involved in negotiating and reviewing contracts related to natural resources on behalf of their governments. This marks the eighth year New Perimeter has collaborated with EADB and the second year the training has been delivered virtually.

“It is a pleasure to collaborate again with EADB to deliver this important training for East African government lawyers,” said Jay Finkelstein, the DLA Piper partner who developed the training. “Working with the talented and motivated lawyers, we are providing essential skills to enhance the participants’ ability to represent their governments effectively as negotiators and to enable better negotiated agreements and improved outcomes for the governments and the people they represent.”

The interactive program focused on negotiating complex agreements and explored substantive issues involved in joint venture agreements, supply agreements and technology license agreements, as well as issues related to the political, social and economic context in which the agreements are negotiated. The training included active involvement from all participants and was conducted with a combination of interactive lectures and simulated negotiations.

“EADB takes the upskilling of public sector lawyers in the Member States as a key tool in enhancing the capacity of government lawyers to effectively represent their governments when negotiating agreements related to the extractive industries which are now being exploited,” said Vivienne Yeda, EADB Director General. “The Bank appreciates the continued support of New Perimeter and all the facilitators that made the training possible.”

“We are grateful for the continued collaboration with EADB on this important initiative and appreciate the high level of engagement from the government lawyer participants,” said Sara Andrews, New Perimeter Assistant Director. “The energy and commitment put forth by the East African delegations helped make this second virtual delivery of the negotiations course a worthwhile endeavor for all involved.”

The DLA Piper team that participated in the training included partners Jay Finkelstein (Washington, DC), Lisa Jacobs (Philadelphia), Ehab Elsonbaty (New York) and Casey Sobhani (Los Angeles); senior counsel Sandra Bell (Washington, DC); of counsel Peter Mugo (Austin); counsel Bruno Gay (Paris); and senior associate Ngowari Adikibi (Paris). Joining the team from DLA Piper Group Firms S&L Advocates and IKM Advocates were partners Nicholas Ecimu (Kampala) and Beatrice Nyabira (Nairobi).